Tag: Rian Johnson

The Last Of Sheila (1973)

When Rian Johnson was doing the press rounds for Knives Out and discussing “Whodunnit” influences, one title he would offer, which I’d never even heard of before, was The Last Of Sheila (1973). It has the distinction of being written by actor Anthony Perkins and musical composer Stephen Sondheim, and apparently based on Sondheim’s love of parlour games and staging mysteries for celebrity friends. The plot concerns a successful Hollywood producer (James Coburn with his toothy grin at full devilish beam) inviting his less than successful Hollywood friends to his yacht for a week of games. It’s one year since his wife Sheila was killed in a hit and run accident, and the tragedy becomes part of the game playing. His guests – a stacked cast including Richard Benjamin, Joan Hackett, Dyan Cannon, James Mason, Raquel Welch and a young sexy Ian McShane – start to suspect there might be an element of revenge to the twisted festivities. There are lots of witty one liners, lovely seaside locations, stylish 1970s fashions, and complicated twists as things get murderous. There’s also a few strange attitudes that are either cultural artefacts of the era or represent a very cynical take on Hollywood by the writers (without spoilers, one character’s disturbing criminal past is met without comment or reaction). Directed by Herbert Ross, I had a great time watching this alongside its peculiar turns and its jaded denouement. Available to rent on iTunes (though the sound mix is a bit tinny). Recommended.

Sleuth (1972)


Listening to several interviews with Knives Out director-writer Rian Johnson, he mentioned several influences on his take on the “Whodunnit?” genre (including some very obscure ones like The Last Of Shelia). I’d heard of Sleuth (1972) ever since an old movie book I once read spoiled the ending with its chapter on ‘Classic Movie Deaths’. I knew that it was based on a play (written by Anthony Shaffer) and was a battle of oneupmanship between two protagonists. Finally watching it, even though I knew some of the twists and some turns might be a bit obvious now, I still had a rollicking good time thanks to the spirited performances by Sir Laurence Olivier as the wealthy mystery writer and Michael Caine as the hairdresser who is having an affair with his wife, invited to their countryside mansion to indulge in some games that turn quite nasty. Caine is in peak form with his blue blazer and shouty cockney accent while Olivier is having a ball as the mischievous upper crust snob. The class politics of Knives Out have their antecedent in the on-going clash between Olivier’s ruling class attitude and snide commentary on Caine’s working class, immigrant parent origins. Directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz, there’s an elaborate set design of contraptions, fineries, puzzles and creepy animated dolls in the house where the main action is set. Sleuth is an entertaining puzzle movie that adds commentary to the murder mystery genre while serving a full banquet of acting between the two co-leads. Available to stream on Amazon Prime – hopefully there’s a better quality version elsewhere. I know there’s a remake with Caine in the older part but am wary of anything Kenneth Branagh directs. Anyway, the original is recommended.