Sleuth (1972)

Andrew Wyke (Sir Laurence Olivier), a genteel upper-class mystery writer, has invited a younger man, Milo Tindle (Michael Caine) to his country mansion for a chat. Tindle’s a bit unsure why, though – they met after Wyke discovered Tindle was having an affair with his wife. But surprisingly, Wyke seems fine with letting her go – he’s also been having an affair, and he and his wife fell out of love years ago. In theory, he’s willing to let Tindle have her – but he, warns Tindle, he also knows that she’s used to a much more lavish lifestyle than the middle-class Tindle can provide, and he wants to make sure that she wouldn’t try to come crawling back. So he has a proposition – a staged robbery of Wyke’s mansion, followed by Tindle selling Mrs. Wyke’s jewelry on the black market. Tindle will get the money, Wyke will get his peace, everyone’s happy. Tindle readily agrees – but then Wyke starts getting a little too caught up in the staging of the burglary, insisting Tindle don a costume and…