It's kind of a bummer that the legendary Stephen Sondheim and the iconic Anthony Perkins only worked together on a film like this once. Their mutual love of puzzles and scavenger hunts (created for friends over the years) led them to write the screenplay for The Last of Sheila (1973), encouraged by producer/director Herbert Ross, who ended up directing the film. In truth, two other collaborations existed at one point in the years after Sheila, but neither ended up being made.
In what ends up feeling like a John Dickson Carr novel, the plot finds James Coburn hosting a sun-filled getaway on his yacht for a few friends, with more than just sunbathing and swimming on the agenda. The elaborate 'mystery identity' games begin harmlessly enough, but it isn't long before things take a dark turn. The cast is fantastic and very 70's. Richard Benjamin, Dyan Cannon, Joan Hackett, James Mason, Ian McShane, and Raquel Welch all join Coburn on the water, unaware that they're particpants in a classic whodunit.
In addition to the cast, the scenery is gorgeous and a clear inspiration - confirmed by director Rian Johnson himself - for the 2022 mystery Glass Onion. According to a vintage Hollywood Reporter story (via IMDB), director Ross purchased numerous puzzles and games with which to decorate the yacht and serve as props. These kinds of details, plus a low-key and dark sense of humor running throughout the film (very Sondheim), add up to a very fun, vintage watch, with a satisfying dénouement that should make you wish you'd figured it out yourself.
