IMDb > The Slender Thread (1965)

The Slender Thread (1965) More at IMDbPro »

Videos
The Slender Thread (1965) -- Trailerfan.com - Trailer (Flash)

Oscar Nominations    Photos    more »

Overview

User Rating:
7.2/10   536 votes
Your Rating:
Saving vote...
Deleting vote...
/10   (delete | history)
Sorry, there was a problem
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 6% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
Contact:
View company contact information for The Slender Thread on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
28 March 1966 (Sweden) more
Genre:
Plot:
A college volunteer at the crisis phone gets a call from a suicide caller. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 1 nomination more
NewsDesk:
(4 articles)
Sydney Pollack Dies at 73
 (From IMDb News. 27 May 2008, 4:12 AM, PDT)

Director Sydney Pollack dies at 73
 (From digitalspy. 27 May 2008, 1:39 AM, PDT)

User Reviews:
Bancroft is excellent... more (23 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Sidney Poitier ... Alan Newell

Anne Bancroft ... Inga Dyson

Telly Savalas ... Dr. Joe Coburn
Steven Hill ... Mark Dyson

Edward Asner ... Det. Judd Ridley
Indus Arthur ... Marian
Paul Newlan ... Sgt. Harry Ward

Dabney Coleman ... Charlie

H.M. Wynant ... Doctor Morris (as H. N. Wynant)
Robert F. Hoy ... Patrolman Steve Peters (as Robert Hoy)
Greg Jarvis ... Christopher 'Chris' Dyson
Jason Wingreen ... Medical technician
Marjorie Nelson ... Mrs. Thomas

Steven Marlo ... Arthur Foss
Thomas Hill ... Liquor salesman
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Runtime:
98 min
Country:
Language:
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
During the opening sequence of the film, there's a view of a man piloting a boat, and the boat's name is "Silliphant," which is a reference to the writer of the film, Stirling Silliphant. more
Goofs:
Factual errors: After Inga attempts suicide by drowning herself in the bay, she arrives at hospital with perfectly styled hair. more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Three Days of the Condor (1975) more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
3 out of 3 people found the following review useful.
Bancroft is excellent..., 26 July 2007
9/10
Author: MarieGabrielle from United States

This film tackles subject matter which we still do not see addressed as often as it could be, with Sidney Poitier as a young suicide hot-line worker/college student who works helping out a Seattle psychiatrist Dr. Coburn (well-portrayed by Telly Savalas).

At the time this was even more of a taboo subject. A housewife feeling despair, Bancroft portrays her alienation and desperation sympathetically and in an understated manner. She has a child from her first boyfriend, concealed this from her husband (well-portrayed by Steven Hill) Her husband becomes angry and she begins to feel as if her life is a sham. Her office job no longer satisfying, she takes to wandering the city of Seattle, there are several intriguing scenes of the coastline.

There is one moving scene where she is on the beach and comes across a small group of children who are trying to rescue an injured bird. She rushes to a liquor store to buy some brandy (not sure how this can quite help the bird, but anyway...) she returns to the beach to find the children have abandoned the bird. It is an effective and disturbing scene.

Poitier is outstanding as usual, in that he is trying to locate Bancroft when she calls threatening suicide. She has checked into the Hyatt Hotel somewhere in the city. He becomes alternately frustrated, caring, sympathetic, angry and joyous in various aspects of the film.

Overall this is an excellent film with some very good performances. Highly recommended. 9/10.

Was the above review useful to you?
more (23 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Slender Thread (1965)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
The Long View wilson-pote
Predecessor to FAX machine? 1lafayette
who is go-go dancer guy? miriamwebster
The Ending Tim-O-T
Tonight on TCM (June 2, 2008) Dead_Head_Filmmaker
Sydney Pollack ga526
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
Little Miss Sunshine Thirteen Conversations About One Thing Bad Timing Blow Bug
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb Drama section IMDb USA section
Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.