Nope! But that’s a fantastic guess for one specific reason.
Well I guess now I have to say something that flashed across my mind earlier, but I dismissed: Get Carter
Nope! Also, the clue in #8 has to do with some of the lyrics, but it may be a bit obscure - I’m confident someone will get it with the tenth clue eventually.
Nope! However, I can’t believe how incredibly close these guesses are.
Last clue:
- A fake Olympic sexual athlete, but true pool expert
- A jovial sailor
- Some opening credits that could have been spoilery
- A suprematist puzzle
- Aiming for a safe
- An Edgar Allan Poe bust
- A maze
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJRP3LRcUFg
- One of the actors went on years later to star in a remake of this movie, although in a different part.
and:
- The entire cast was nominated for Academy Awards.
I have no idea, but it was sorta remade with the same actor and involves pool, so The Hustler?
Interesting guess, but no. We’re looking for a movie that had a proper remake You guys were incredibly close with some of your clues yesterday.
dtolman
3134
Never seen it - but wasn’t Michael Caine in both versions of Sleuth?
JoshL
3135
If the entire cast was nominated, then I suspect a one-person or two-person show. But it can’t be My Dinner with Andre, because Wallace Shawn has (criminally) never received an academy award nomination.
I googled this two days ago as I was certain I had not seen it. Sounds like a hearty recommendation from Buckaroo, so I will seek it out.
Yes! It is indeed Sleuth (1972), the last movie directed by the great Joe Mankiewicz, and starring Laurence Olivier, Michael Caine and Alec Cawthorne (in his only apparition on screen - I would have loved to see more of him). It is one of my favourite movies of all time. It is such a perfect movie, and by far the best “mystery” movie ever made (far superior to Deathtrap, if you want my opinion). It is a movie to watch with a warm blanket and a cup of hot chocolate.
I strongly suggest watching it not knowing anything about it. I mean, Mankiewicz, Olivier and Caine in a mystery movie set in the best manor you’ll ever see on film should be enough to convince you already!
Before explaining the clues, I should address something: among the last proposed movies, we had The Italian Job, Get Carter and The Quiet American. The two first movies, as well as their respective remakes, both feature one Michael Caine, and the latter was directed by Mankiewicz (moreover, Caine also plays in its remake!). I don’t think we’ve ever had such incredibly close guesses in this game before!
Alrighty, the clues:
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A fake Olympic sexual athlete, but true pool expert:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bR_eNuyIIM4
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A jovial sailor: the manor is full of games, odd objects and eclectic items. One of these is a statue of “Jolly Jack Tar, the Jolly Sailor”, which is omnipresent in the movie (incidentally, Jolly Jack also makes an apparition in the recent Knives Out, a soulless, inoffensive movie, but filled with such references to other mystery movies)
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Some opening credits that could have been spoilery: well, don’t look this up if you haven’t watch the movie! The credits mention Alec Cawthorne in the part of Inspector Doppler". However, I’m afraid Alec Cawthorne never existed…
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A suprematist puzzle: Andrew Wyke (Olivier), is a well-known murder mystery writer, famous for his character of St John Lord Merridew (a clear reference to Carr’s Sir Henry Merrivale) and who has a passion for games. His house if full of on-going games, enigmas and other puzzles. One of these is a completely white jigsaw puzzle - which could well have been a Malevich painting.
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Aiming for a safe: I’m sorry this one may have been a bit misleading, as I think everyone was looking for a heist movie based on it. Actually, at some point in the movie, Caine has to find and open a hidden safe (as part of Olivier’s “games”). The safe is actually located behind a dartboard - to open it, Caine masterfully throws a dart right on the bull, prompting this reaction by the aristocratic Olivier “There are certain skills best acquired in public bars, I suppose.”
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An Edgar Allan Poe bust: a lone bust of EAP sits on the fireplace mantelpiece, overseeing all the action of the movie.
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A maze: such an amazing manor naturally has its own maze, where Andrew Wyke finds his inspiration and hides his booze.
The Smiths - This Charming Man (Official Music Video)
Some of the lyrics of this song (“A jumped-up country boy who never knew his place”) are direct quotes from the movie. I’m sure Morrissey certainly didn’t fail to recognize the homoerotic aspect of the relation between Olivier and Caine.
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One of the actors went on years later to star in a remake of this movie, although in a different part: I already explained this one above. Funny to see how this clue immediately screamed “Michael Caine” to many of us!
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The entire cast was nominated for Academy Awards: apart from very small apparitions, yes, all the actors of this movie were nominated for an Oscar. I think Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf managed to accomplish more or less a similar feat (Wikipedia also mentions Give 'em Hell, Harry!, which features only one actor - I haven’t seen it).
I was actually quite certain you had seen it, and was kind of expecting you to find it at any point! Yes, please, do yourself a favor and watch it. It is fantastic! If I were to make a top 20 of my favourite movies, this one would make the cut for sure.
Well, I’m relieved it’s one I haven’t seen. That would have been embarrassing if I had. Also, how good a gig does Michael Caine have? He gets to star in so many movies twice!
I suspect in every contract of a movie he’s in, there’s a mention stating “No remake of this motion picture can legally be made without also featuring Sir Michael Caine”. But he could have an easier life playing the same part in the remakes: instead, he always plays a different part (in the remake of Sleuth, he takes Olivier’s role).
Bonus: some (fantastic) Michael Caine impressions:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qIy1DmGLWI
I presume you’ve seen The Trip, with Brydon and Coogan doing duelling impressions?
No, but this video features a clip from the Trip I think, and it made me want to watch it. Plus, some episodes where shots near to where I live.
Also, I’m not sure how well it ages, but as a teen I loved Stella Street, which features in that compilation. Caine was a regular character, along with Mick and Keith, Bowie, Al Pacino, Jack Nicholson and more.
Great! I’ve just found this on YT -I had never heard of it before (never had a TV). You sir certainly made my day!
I’d definitely recommend starting from the beginning if possible. It’s generally episodic but there’s something of an overarching narrative.
