kk2840 Very uneven with mediocre performances by Reeves, miscasting of Dyan Cannon,and even Caine, although good, couldn't carry this feeble performance.(Spoilers) Inexplicably, they change the two genuinely scary parts of the movie: the reappearance of "Clifford" both from the first "attempt" and the second attempt at murder. In the first, he's supposed to break through the french doors, and the second, he appears out of the dark when, illuminated by a bolt of lightning, he is suddenly seen above Sidney's head swinging a pike or axe for one final attempt to kill Sidney with his dying breath. Both of these sudden appearances are genuinely startling--in the play, but not in the movie. The very end, too, is inextricably squandered.Don't waste your time or money. Unfortunately, no other version exists. Wait until a performance comes to your town. We just saw one by a volunteer amateur company in a small gin-rickety playhouse, which was far better than this.

MisterWhiplash Deathtrap is one of those films, by proxy of its stage play roots (both based upon and being a satire of), that not only gets better by the halfway point, it becomes something even more incredible when it focuses on two characters we wouldn't think would be like this together. I'm not talking about the 'gay' thing, that shouldn't be looked upon as anything more than a garnish to the piece. I mean how it really becomes even more about the nature of plotting, how to make up something that has a beat-for-beat rhythm, but is strong enough and clever enough to throw people off guard. A work like Deathtrap would've impressed Hitchcock (there's a reference at one point, in due notice, to Dial M For Murder, also based on a play about the intricacies of plotting murder), as it's about the devilish wanton things with characters, and being stylish with camera-work so that nothing is ever too static. This is Sidney Lumet's territory, and he does very well at it.It's about two writers- one an old pro who is turning sour after a string of flops, another who is just about to come out with a first play to show to people- and how they spar off. A potential murder is plotted by Sidney (Caine), and his wife is hearing in plain earshot (i.e. in front of her) of how it will be done. And, indeed, we see it done on screen in a moment that is shocking despite what has been leading up to it, such as a trick with Houdini's handcuffs (not really his cuffs, by the way). But then a twist comes - it's a humdinger, one of the great ones in movies really - and I was engaged even more than before. What was at first an interesting little story of envy turned plotting for murder becomes a contorted piece on what it means to make it in the theater world. It's self-reflexive, even meta. I would kill (no pun intended) to see how it played on the stage.For Lumet, timing is everything, how to bend the comedy towards the believable and madcap without losing the reality of the thriller. He called it a melodrama, but I'm not sure that would be accurate despite its tendencies. It's a comedy in the style of Sleuth (also starring Caine) where the fun and what-will-happen-next aspect of it is intrinsic with the character's thoughts and actions. We soon learn, if not quickly than at some point, that no one can be trusted at their word, and that the thrill and fright can turn on a dime into absurdity and wild moments of fancy. There's a scene, for example, where Sidney discovers something written that follows the events of what has happened so far in the film's story, beat for beat. He's enraged, it can't get made, how dare the person who wrote it! And yet there's not a moment that we can believe what they're saying, while it is totally believable how Caine and Reeve are playing the scene. I loved that about the film, and about the characters.A note about Christopher Reeve: he's better here than in almost anything else I've seen him in, outside the obvious choice of Superman. He's given a meaty character with so much that he can play with; first he's the young, naive guy ready to collaborate with the great Bruhl... then when his "true" nature is revealed, he becomes a horse of a different color. He's a "sociopath" as Bruhl calls him, but Reeve makes him almost sympathetic in a way, and every note of his performance felt right, funny, scary, tinged with that glee we have with characters who are craven in what they'll do. Caine, to be sure, is at his usual tip-top professional self, and has some surprises in store with his far he goes with the character as well. But Reeve is the real breakout here. Dyan Cannon, too, is quite good, though somewhat overshadowed by her two male co-stars.Deathtrap might be too clever or not clever by half, but I couldn't see that the first time watching the film. I saw electrifying acting and some amazing dialog, and a few moments of direction and cinematography (one shot tracking up to Caine's face reading something is remarkable, as is the over the top lightning effects at the climax), and that it was about something even as it is popular entertainment. It's not as sharp or like a landmark as Network, but in its own right is as memorable for its intended audience.

nixskits I've bought certain films on disc even though the second rate presentation wasn't an option. A certain company I won't identify here has put out several pan and scan dvds ("Clean and Sober", "Star 80", and this one, to name just three!) of films I don't think anyone wants to see in this compromised format. Some discs give the viewer a choice of 16x9 or full screen and others are just in their theatrical release 1.66:1 ratio.That off my chest, I'll say "Deathtrap" was a spooky and oddly enough, amusing picture. My only complaints are the tinny score (what IS that f____g instrument that is usually dragged out for films set in 18th century France?) and Dyan Cannon screaming at regular intervals. Couldn't her character have been an asthmatic who grabbed for an inhaler when she was stressed? Minor complaints, both. The benefits of discs include being able to fast forward to get beyond those things which you don't like.I never saw a staged version of "Deathtrap", so having these folks in the roles sets a great impression of their careers at the time. Before Broadway tickets cost an arm and a leg, the theatre was more affordable to average people. Now, anyone paying less than a king's ransom to get live entertainment probably isn't going to a hit show on the great hyped way.Michael Caine and Christopher Reeve were both large, virile specimens in the early 80s and that's integral to how we'll react to their profession and overall image here. They're definitely not bookish men who can't fight or will back down from an obstacle. The two are equally great as their criminal stubbornness becomes their ultimate "deathtrap".

Arctic_Wizard Shame really - very rarely do I watch a film and am left feeling disappointed at the end. I've seen quite a few of Ira Levin's adaptations - 'Rosemary's Baby' and 'The Stepford Wives' - and liked both them, but this just didn't appeal to me.When I read the plot outline - an award winning playwright (Michael Caine) decides to murder one of his former pupils (Christopher Reeve) and steel his script for his own success - I was excited. I like thrillers, Michael Caine's a good actor, Sidney Lumet's a good director and Ira Levin's work is generally good.I won't spoil it for anyone who hasn't seen it yet, but all I'd say is there are LOADS of twists and turns. So many its kind of hard to explain the film's plot line in detail, without giving it away. I enjoyed the first ... 45 minutes, before the twists and turns began to occur and at that point my interest and enjoyment began to fade out. Though I have to give Lumet credit for the very amusing ending which did make me laugh out loud.The main cast - Michael Caine, Christopher Reeve, Dyan Cannon and Irene Worth - were all brilliant in their roles. Though Worth's obvious fake Russian accent got on my nerves slightly (nothing personal Irene, I think any actor's fake accent would irritate me). Not sure if Cannon's character was meant to be annoyingly funny but Dyan managed to annoy and amuse - at the same time.Anyone reading this - I don't want you to be put-off watching this because of my views - give it a chance, you may like it, you may not. It's all about opinion.