a man ( michael caine ) want the wife of a famous mystery writer name andrew wyke ( sir laurence olivier ) and go to his huge remote estate to ask for her . he find wyke eager for him to take his wife . or do he . then an elaborate ( and plod ) game of cat and mouse begin . why this be so acclaimed be beyond me . i be not a young kid ( i be 45 ) and i usually find talky movie downright fascinate ( rope and my dinner with andre be two great example ) but i be bore silly by this . it move way too slowly and i do not find the character or their dialogue even remotely interest . olivier constantly keep digress to the point where i just want to hit him . caine just walk around look confuse . the twist at the end be good but by that point i be so bored i could have care less . i actually doze off for a few minute . the acting do help . i have never be too impressed by olivier a an actor in the shakespeare film and wuthering height he seem unable to change expression . however he be good here . he chew the scenery and go roar through his role . but and a i say before and he constantly go off the subject and get into these little speech that quickly get annoy . caine be a wonderful actor but he look a little out of his depth here . he be excellent at the end though . the production design be incredible wyke mansion be just incredible . still i find this slow and boring . this might have work on stage but it certainly doesn not transfer to film . i can only give this a 4 .