A Broadway playwright puts murder in his plan to take credit for a student's play.
Director:
Writers:
Awards:
- 6 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Michael Caine | ... |
Sidney Bruhl
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| Christopher Reeve | ... |
Clifford Anderson
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| Dyan Cannon | ... |
Myra Bruhl
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| Irene Worth | ... |
Helga ten Dorp
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| Henry Jones | ... |
Porter Milgrim
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| Joe Silver | ... |
Seymour Starger
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Tony DiBenedetto | ... |
Burt, the Bartender
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Al LeBreton | ... |
Handsome Actor
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Francis B. Creamer Jr. | ... |
The Minister
(as Rev. Francis B. Creamer Jr.)
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Stewart Klein | ... |
Stewart Klein
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| Jeffrey Lyons | ... |
Jeffrey Lyons
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| Joel Siegel | ... |
Joel Siegel
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| Jenny Lumet | ... |
Stage Newsboy
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Jayne Heller | ... |
Stage Actress
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| George Peck | ... |
Stage Actor
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Perry Rosen | ... |
Stage Actor
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Jon-Erik Hexum | ... |
Theater audience (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Sidney Lumet | ||
Written by
| Ira Levin | ... | (based on the stage play by) |
| Jay Presson Allen | ... | (screenplay by) |
Produced by
| Alfred De Liagre Jr. | ... | associate producer |
| Burtt Harris | ... | producer |
| Jay Presson Allen | ... | executive producer |
Music by
| Johnny Mandel | ||
Cinematography by
| Andrzej Bartkowiak | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| Jack Fitzstephens | ... | (as John J. Fitzstephens) |
Editorial Department
| Andrew Mondshein | ... | assistant editor (as Andrew S. Federman) |
Production Design by
| Tony Walton | ||
Art Direction by
| Edward Pisoni | ||
Set Decoration by
| George DeTitta Sr. | ||
Costume Design by
| Tony Walton | ||
Makeup Department
| Colleen Callaghan | ... | hair stylist (as Coleen Callaghan) |
| Joe Cranzano | ... | makeup artist |
| Tony Lloyd | ... | makeup artist |
Production Management
| Joseph M. Caracciolo | ... | unit manager |
| Jennifer Ogden | ... | unit production manager (as Jennifer M. Ogden) |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Burtt Harris | ... | first assistant director |
| Mark McGann | ... | second assistant director |
| Duncan Scott | ... | dga trainee |
Art Department
| Joseph M. Caracciolo Jr. | ... | props (as Joseph Caracciolo Jr.) |
| George DeTitta Jr. | ... | set dresser |
| Edward Garzero | ... | scenic artist |
| John Oates Jr. | ... | prop master (as John Oates) |
| Carlos Quiles | ... | construction foreman (as Carlos Quiles Sr.) |
| Joe Williams Sr. | ... | construction grip |
| Bill Gold | ... | poster designer (uncredited) |
| Richard Shelton | ... | painter (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Lee Dichter | ... | re-recording mixer |
| Al Nahmias | ... | sound editor |
| James Sabat | ... | sound mixer |
| Louis Sabat | ... | boom operator |
| Rick Shaine | ... | sound editor |
| Jess Soraci | ... | sound editor |
| Mel Zelniker | ... | adr recordist (uncredited) |
Visual Effects by
| Bran Ferren | ... | special visual effects |
Stunts
| Norman Deming | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
| Andy Epper | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
| Gary Epper | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
| Jeannie Epper | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
| Donna Garrett | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Garrett Brown | ... | steadicam operator |
| Louis Goldman | ... | stillman |
| Michael Green | ... | second assistant cameraman |
| Dave McClean | ... | rig electrician |
| Richard Reis | ... | assistant cameraman |
| William H. Steiner | ... | camera operator (as William Steiner) |
| Louis S. Toth Jr. | ... | dolly grip (as Louis Toth) |
| Dusty Wallace | ... | gaffer |
| Robert Ward | ... | key grip (as Bobby Ward) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Marilyn Bishop | ... | wardrobe |
| Dona Granata | ... | assistant: Mr. Walton |
| Ron Knopf | ... | wardrobe |
| James Roberts | ... | wardrobe (as Jim Roberts) |
Music Department
| Robert Fernandez | ... | score mixer (uncredited) |
| Gary Grant | ... | musician: trumpet (uncredited) |
| Warren Luening | ... | musician: trumpet (uncredited) |
| Malcolm McNab | ... | trumpet soloist (uncredited) |
| Angela Morley | ... | orchestrator (uncredited) |
| Louise Di Tullio | ... | musician: flute (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Martha Pinson | ... | script supervisor |
Transportation Department
| Michael Fennell | ... | transportation captain (as Michael J. Fennell) |
Additional Crew
| Alfred De Liagre Jr. | ... | stage producer (as Alfred de Liagre Jr.) |
| Lilith Jacobs | ... | assistant: Mr. Lumet |
| Gabrielle Kelly | ... | assistant: Mrs. Allen |
| Ellen Levene | ... | unit publicist |
| Randee Lois Smith | ... | production office coordinator |
| Roger L. Stevens | ... | stage producer |
| Deborah Guardian | ... | production assistant (uncredited) |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Warner Bros. (1982) (United States) (theatrical) (as Warner Bros. Pictures A TimeWarner Company)
- Columbia-EMI-Warner (1982) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Warner Bros. Pictures (1982) (Argentina) (theatrical) (through Warner-Columbia Films)
- Warner-Columbia Films (1982) (Argentina) (theatrical) (through)
- Warner Bros. (1983) (Japan) (theatrical)
- Warner-Columbia Film (1983) (France) (theatrical)
- Warner-Columbia Film (1983) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Warner Home Video (1984) (Belgium) (VHS)
- Warner Home Video (1984) (Netherlands) (VHS)
- Argentina Video Home (Argentina) (VHS)
- CBS (1986) (United States) (tv)
- Warner Home Video (1989) (United States) (VHS)
- Warner Home Video (1998) (United States) (VHS)
- Warner Home Video (1999) (United States) (DVD)
- Ciné Polar (2015) (France) (tv)
- Pidax Film (2017) (Germany) (DVD)
- Warner Archive Collection (United States) (Blu-ray) (video)
- Warner Home Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Michael Sporn Animation (titles)
- Panavision (lenses and Panaflex camera)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
To make Sidney's slump all the more painful, Clifford Anderson, a student of one of Sidney's writing seminars, has recently sent his mentor a copy of his first attempt at playwrighting for Sidney's review and advice. The play, "Deathtrap", is a five character, two-act thriller so perfect in its construction that, as Sidney says, "A gifted director couldn't even hurt it." Using his penchant for plot, and out of his desperate desire to once again be the toast of Broadway, Sidney, along with Myra, cook up an almost unthinkable scheme: They'll lure the would-be playwright to the Bruhl home, kill him, and present the sure-fire script as Sidney's own. But shortly after Clifford arrives, it's clear that things are not what they seem. Even Helga Ten Dorp, a nosey psychic from next door, and Porter Milgram, Sidney's observant attorney, can only speculate where the line between truth and deception lies. Written by Craig C. Bailey |
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| Taglines | Join us for an evening of lively fun... and deadly games. [UK Theatrical] See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
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Box Office
| Budget | $10,000,000 (estimated) |
| Opening Weekend United States | $2,238,977, 21 Mar 1982 |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | Director Sidney Lumet once commented on the real stage-play scenes seen in this movie: "We used the original set of 'Deathtrap' as our set for Sidney Bruhl's flop play. The Music Box (Theatre) is dark on Mondays, so we shot there on a Monday, along with six hundred dress extras as first-nighters. Thus, the opening scene is a movie of a play-within-a-play which takes place within the play on which the movie is based. If that's not completely clear, it's at least a 'first'!" See more » |
| Goofs | When Sidney has the Deathtrap script and threatens to throw it into the fireplace, the fire isn't lit. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in Porky's/El Salvador: Another Vietnam/Das Boot/Deathtrap/Richard Pryor: Live On The Sunset Strip (1982). See more » |
| Crazy Credits | Murderous weapons by Eoin Sprott. See more » |
| Quotes |
Myra Bruhl:
Is it really that good? Sidney Bruhl: I'll tell you how good it is. Even a gifted director couldn't hurt it. See more » |