As one reviewer said "It's hard to talk about this film without giving too much away" - and I do agree with this statement about the film. This is a movie one just has to simply watch for themselves because if you are told to much about the film then it would ruin the entire movie.

Is Deathtrap good? Yes it is a very good mystery dramedy (comedy-drama). It has it's comical moments but the film also has it's times of drama. If you like mysteries then you may enjoy this film.

Are you wanting a double feature? I would recommend this movie (Deathtrap) along with movies like: "Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid", "Clue", "Sleuth", or "Murder by Death".

8/10

I saw DEATHTRAP late in its initial Broadway run at the Music Box with Farley Granger in the lead. It had already been bought for the movies at the highest price any non-musical, and the question in my mind was how to open it up for the screen. Part of the tension in a show is maintained by shocking the audience by focusing the attention on the performers on one part of the stage, then shifting that focus abruptly. You can't do that in a movie, where attention is forced by camera and editing, and I don't believe that that cameraman Andrzej Bartkowiak's restless viewpoint and editor Jack Fitzstephens' punctuated pace quite accomplish that.

Even so, the movie works because of Ira Levin's clockwork plotting and impenetrable performances by Michael Caine and Christopher Reeve taking a break from Superman. Dyan Cannon also gives a fine performance; she's a great screamer. Certainly, being directed by Sidney Lumet was no small part in their performances' success. It's about as good a translation to cinema as can be managed.

Nonetheless, it remains a stage piece, and as much as you may enjoy the movie, I think it shows best in its original format as a two-set, five-actor play.

Sidney Bruhl (Michael Caine) is a struggling playwright. His latest Broadway play is a critical flop. He retreats to his Long Island home with his wife Myra (Dyan Cannon). He has a copy of a play called Deathtrap written by his student Clifford Anderson (Christopher Reeve). He's bitterly jealous. She wants him to produce it. The question is would he kill for a new play. He invites Clifford to the remote house and bring the original drafts. The discussion breaks down and Clifford wants to send copies of the play to various agents.

There is a bit of tension with Clifford in handcuffs. The story meanders after that. It needs to build on that tension. Then comes the twists. The twists are fine but I need more tension. Sidney Lumet may be more concerned about the kiss which is not so shocking nowadays. This may work better as a play. There are some fair back and forth in the last act but I don't care about which ever way it could turn out.