Search - Deathtrap [Fullscreen] on DVD

MPAA Rating: PG Content Advisory: Violence, Adult Situations, Questionable for Children, Adult Language Movie Release: 1982 DVD Release: 07/27/1999 Format: DVD - Pan and Scan Audio Tracks: English, French Subtitles: English SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 56 mins Studio: Warner Home Video Total Copies: 38 Genres: Comedy, Mystery, Black Comedy, Psychological Thriller, Whodunit

Sidney Lumet provides another of his film adaptations of Broadway successes -- in this case Ira Levin's 1978 clever Broadway murder mystery that starred John Wood in a triumphant turn as down-on-his-luck playwright Sidney Bruhl. Wood's brittle airiness is replaced in the film version by Michael Caine's smoldering bitterness. Sidney Bruhl is a successful writer of Broadway mystery plays who was at one time considered the Neil Simon of Broadway mystery writers. Unfortunately, Bruhl is now struggling to live up to his own reputation, suffering through a series of four consecutive flops. But then Bruhl comes upon the manuscript of a brilliant suspense drama written by unknown writer Clifford Anderson (Christopher Reeve). Bruhl, desperate for a hit play, invites Clifford to come to see him, telling him that he is interested in collaborating with him on the play. Actually, Bruhl plans to murder Clifford and pass off Clifford's play as his own. What Bruhl doesn't know, however, is that Clifford has some surprise plot points of his own up his sleeve. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide

Michael Caine - Sidney Bruhl
Christopher Reeve - Clifford Anderson
Dyan Cannon - Myra Bruhl
Irene Worth - Helga Ten Dorp
Henry Jones - Porter Milgrim

Essentially a filmed play, Deathtrap isn't essential viewing but it is smartly directed on basically a single location by Sidney Lumet and features another superb performance by Michael Caine in the lead role. Released relatively early in the DVD cycle, the Warner Home Video release of Deathtrap leaves a lot to be desired. The movie comes in the pan-and-scan full-screen format only while the Dolby Digital 2.0 audio track is more acceptable. On top of this, the disc doesn't feature any DVD extras but it is a budget-priced release so expect a widescreen edition of Deathtrap to be released in the future. ~ Nick Dedina, All Movie Guide