Plot Details: This opinion reveals minor details about the movie's plot.

Deathtrap is a movie about a play. Sidney Bruhl is a washed up playwright who's latest effort bombed, just like its three predecessors. He drags home, tale between his legs, to his rich, sweet, and exceedingly annoying wife, Myra.

To make matters worse, Sidney has just received a play in the mail from a former story. It is flawless. It is a five character, one set, two act play with a juicy murder in act one, and compelling characters to work through act two. As Sidney says, "Do you want to know how good it is? It could survive even a talented Director."

Sidney jokes about inviting the author out for drinks and killing him, burying his body in the garden, and claiming the work, Deathtrap, as his own.

But when the author, Clifford Anderson, shows up, one begins to wonder if he was joking.

Then all doubt is removed.

Now, I am not the kind of miscreant who would tell you the butler did it, and that means the plot synopsis has to stop here.

Deathtrap is a five character, one set, two act play. It is brilliant. It is tight. By that, I mean there is very little extraneous material in it, everything is there for a reason, every scene moves the plot forward. It is also incredibly well done.

Sidney Bruhl is played by the legendary Michael Caine. He hits just the right note of smug "I'm ever so clever" and likability. It is important that you like Sidney, and Caine makes it happen.

Myra Bruhl, a rich, jittery wife with a heart condition, is played to the hilt by Dyan Cannon. Myra is sweet, high strung, and intrinsically annoying. You have to like Myra, but not want to hang out with her. Boy, does Cannon nail the character. She screams every time someone comes in the room; its enough to make anyone homicidal.

Clifford Anderson is played by the Late Great Christopher Reeve. This was one of his first roles after Superman, and proved that the man could act. Clifford is the author of Deathtrap, and a man with his own agenda. For the plot to work, Clifford has to be sexy, likable, and just a little too clever. Reeve is brilliant in the role.

This trio forms the core of the movie. The extra two provide support, and tension.

Porter Milgram is Sidney's friend and lawyer. He is the support character, played by Henry Jones.

Helga ten Dorp is a Dutch psychic, famous for helping the police solve impossible cases. She is the Bruhl's temporary next door neighbor, having a six month lease on the next door cottage. Helga provides tension, her visions prompting her to show up at the most inopportune times. She is played very amusingly by Irene Worth.

The setting is the Bruhl home, a converted 17th century windmill. Warm and cosy, it is decorated with mementos from Sidney's career, medieval weapons, and manacles that belonged to Harry Houdini.

And that is really all there is. The rest is all plot and dialogue, and it is brilliant.

The movie was directed by Sidney Lumet, adapted from the stage play by Ira Levin. Deathtrap is timeless. It works as well today as it did when it first came out. I suspect it will work as well fifty years from now. Its simple, direct, and incredibly tight, there is nothing extraneous here. If it is in the movie, it serves a purpose, whether you see it or not. How rare and wonderful a thing is that?

I love this movie. I hope you will to.

Gay Movies:

La Mission***Burnt Money***8: The Mormon Propo$ition***In The Flesh***The Sensei***The 24th Day***Wrangler: Anatomy of an Icon***ZMD: Zombies of Mass Destruction***East Side Story***Dorian Blues***Creatures From the Pink Lagoon***Satyricon***Ice Men***Richard O'Briens Rocky Horror Tribute Show***Prom Queen***The Kids are All Right***Between Love and Goodbye***The Mudge Boy***That Man: Peter Berlin***A Single Man***Almost Normal***Outing Riley***Outrage!***Law of Desire***Love is the Devil***Cowboy Junction***Horror in the Wind***Bedrooms and Hallways***Cut Sleeve Boys***Big Eden***For A Lost Soldier***Midnight Cowboy***Redwoods***The Massuer***Boy Culture***Breakfast With Scot***The Fluffer***Flesh***Little Ashes***L.I.E. ***Dorian Gray***9 Dead Gay Guys***Shank***I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry***Beautiful Boxer***Bangkok Love Story***Schoolboy Crush***Shelter***Back Soon***Dog Tags***Theft***The Mulligans***The Velvet Goldmine***Swashbuckler***Smoke Signals
***C'Thulhu***Milk***The Picture of Dorian Gray***Brideshead Revisited***Notes on a Scandal***RocknRolla***Mamma Mia!
***Priscillia: Queen of the Desert***The History Boys***Brokeback Mountain***The Broken Hearts Club*** Yaji and Kita: Midnight Pilgrims ***Surge of Power ***In & Out ***Mambo Italiano ***Touch of Pink ***To Wong Foo, Thanks For Everything, Julie Newmar ***Wolves of Kromer ***Rocky Horror Picture Show ***Taboo ***Deathtrap 


Gay Themed Series:

Spartacus: Blood and Sand
Dante's Cove
Hex
Carnivale Season One
Carnivale Season Two
Rome Season One
Rome Season Two
True Blood
True Blood: Season Two
The Book of Daniel: The Complete Series
Torchwood: Children of Earth
Torchwood: Season One


Gay Animation:

Pirate's Booty***Sensitive Pornograph***Loveless: The Complete Series***Loveless: Hope on the Run***Loveless: Soul of Chains***Loveless: Lost and Found***Embracing Love: A Cicada in Winter***Embracing Love: Cherished Spring ***Stonewall & Riot***Drawn Together Movie: The Movie***Drawn Together: Season 2***Drawn Together: Season 3

Recommended: Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Fit for Friday Evening
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older