Sleuth (play) and Patrick Macnee. Baxter was succeeded by Brian Murray, Donal Donnelly, Jordan Christopher and Curt Dawson. "Sleuth" received the 1971 Tony Award for Best Play, and received nominations for Best Direction of a Play (Clifford Williams) and Best Lighting Design (William Ritman). Anthony Quayle and Keith Baxter received the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Performance. "Sleuth" also received the Mystery Writers of America Edgar Award for Best Play. In 1972, Shaffer adapted his play for film, directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz, starring Laurence Olivier and Michael Caine. Another film adaptation was released in 2007 with a screenplay by Harold Pinter.
Baretta would occasionally speak in asides to his late father, Louie Baretta. He drove a rusted-out Mist Blue 1966 Chevrolet Impala four-door sport sedan nicknamed "The Blue Ghost" (license plate 532 BEM). He frequented Ross’s Billiard Academy and referred to his numerous girlfriends as his "cousins". The theme song, "Keep Your Eye on the Sparrow", was written by Dave Grusin and Morgan Ames; initially an instrumental, lyrics were added in later seasons that were sung by Sammy Davis, Jr. Every episode of "Baretta" began with the song, which contained the motto, "Don't do the crime if you can't do the time."