Trailer

The Slender Thread (1965)

Not Rated   |    |  Drama

The Slender Thread (1965) Poster

College volunteer Alan is working alone at the crisis center one evening when he receives a telephone call from suicidal caller Inga Dyson.

7/10
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  • Sidney Poitier in The Slender Thread (1965)
  • Sidney Poitier in The Slender Thread (1965)
  • Steven Hill in The Slender Thread (1965)
  • Sidney Poitier in The Slender Thread (1965)
  • Anne Bancroft in The Slender Thread (1965)
  • Indus Arthur and Jason Wingreen in The Slender Thread (1965)

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Cast & Crew

Top Billed Cast

Director:

Sydney Pollack

Writers:

Shana Alexander (article), Stirling Silliphant
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Awards

Nominated for 2 Oscars.

Another 1 win & 2 nominations.

Reviews & Commentary

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User Reviews
25 June 2008 | BaronBl00d
6
| Telephone Extension Taken Literally
Sydney Pollack's first feature directorial debut after years of directing episodic television is crisp, tense, and generally very well-acted. Anne Bancroft plays a woman facing a turning point hard to cope with in her life and Sidney Poitier plays a young college student raking in hours at a suicide hot-line extending a figurative helping hand. Though the two great actors share no scenes together - they have a certain chemistry as they talk, talk, and talk on the phones, and we are given flashback sequences showing us how and why Bancroft is fighting her new found depression. Though the story itself is rather mundane in terms of the impetus for her disposition, the dialog and performances easily make up for any inadequacies. Both Bancroft and Poitier really shine in their roles and the rest of the cast - especially Telly Savalas do fine work. It is evident that Pollack was honing his craft but also possessed a great deal of ability in terms of framing a shot and creating a strong pace and presence throughout the picture.

Critic Reviews

Did You Know?

Trivia

This film shows the tedious process in 1965 of what was required in tracing a telephone call on actual central office equipment that was state of the art such as number 5 cross bar and step-by-step electro/mechanical equipment. It was filmed in central offices of the old Northwest Bell Telephone company which as of 2010 is now Century Link. Modern telephone switching equipment can trace a call in less than a minute or even 30 seconds.

Quotes

Mark Dyson: Do you think that not getting caught in a lie is the same as telling the truth?

Goofs

During the opening titles, in the opening scene where the camera zooms from an aerial shot onto Anne Bancroft, The fountain in the film is played backwards. The water flows up from the bottom of the fountain up to the top and back down into where the water spout appears from. After the aerial shot scene change, the water then runs in the correct direction.

Soundtracks

No Place To Go
Written and Produced by Quincy Jones
Performed by Quincy Jones

Storyline

Plot Summary

Genres

Drama

Details

Release Date:

16 December 1965

Language

English

Country of Origin

USA

Filming Locations

Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

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