Spoiler Warning #1
June 16, 2000

Sleuth (1972)

First of all, if you haven't seen this film, you U.S. residents have one more chance this month. It is showing June 20 on American Movie Classics. This article is intended primarily for those who have seen the film, and who might be puzzled (as I was) about exactly what's going on at the end. If you haven't seen it, and want this article to make a little more sense, please read the pooper first.

Here's what's strange about the end of the film: I know that I spotted Milo (Michael Caine) setting up yet another elaborate trick on Andrew (Laurence Olivier). He moves one significant item, and yet the film ends without further reference to the item, and what it could possibly have meant. Please allow me to walk you through a few stills captured from a recent AMC showing using a DV camcorder, an iMac DV and iMovie.

As Andrew searches the foyer wardrobe for Thea's shoe, we can see a red raincoat inside of the wardrobe, and nothing red hanging on the coat rack.

 

After Andrew leaves to search the cellar, Milo removes the raincoat and a hat, and hangs them on the coat rack.

 

Milo, revealing his deception in the "death" of Thea, gestures toward the door where a non-existent Detective Tarrant and Constable Higgs are not entering. He happens to also be prominently pointing out the raincoat.

 

Milo, flaunting his ability to deceive Andrew, attempts to depart with Marguerite's fur coat. Andrew shoots him in the back as he passes the coat rack.

 

Milo dies on the floor.

 
So, is it possible that writer Anthony Shaffer or director Joseph Mankiewicz intended a different ending for the film? Both the film's screenplay and the script of the original stage play are in print, and I intend to read them, but I wanted to get this article in place while you Moviepooper readers would have a chance to view the film. This way i can solicit your thoughts before finding a definitive answer (if one exists).

The easy answer, based on the evidence, is yes, there was another ending (at some point). It's relatively straightforward to imagine an alternate scenario: Milo has put blank cartridges back into Andrew's pistol, and secreted packets of stage blood on the raincoat. When Andrew fires, Milo grabs a blood packet (camouflaged by the red coat) and falls to the floor. After Andrew delivers his eloquent, egomanaical sermon about not trying the same trick three times running, the "police sirens" are heard outside. Then Andrew does what? Breaks down? Attempts to shoot himself? Something significantly dramatic, and ultimately humiliating. After which, Milo jumps up and walks out the front door, leaving a sobbing Andrew alone, with neither wife nor mistress to comfort him. Could an ending like this have been discarded due to preview audiences disliking it? It's been known to happen.

Or are Shaffer and Mankewicz having a trick on us, the audience? We, like Andrew, feel confident that Milo is telling yet another lie in his revenge plot. But, in addition, we've learned to be extremely observant while watching this movie. Noticing the raincoat clues, we believe that Milo is hedging his bets, preparing an escape route from the murderous rage that he's driving Andrew toward. So, when Milo actually dies, and the real police arrive, we get a double shock.

What do you think, Moviepooper readers? Send your thoughts, opinions and insults. I'll post them here, and maybe we can do some exploring together to get to the bottom of this mystery. Use this link for your e-mail. I'll update frequently, and close out the column when it seems appropriate. Thanks!

Curt Wiederhoeft
editor, moviepooper.com