The Slender Thread (1965)

Director:

Sydney Pollack

Writers:

Shana Alexander (article)
Stirling Silliphant (written by)
(more)

Release Date:

28 March 1966 (Sweden)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

A college volunteer at the crisis phone gets a call from a suicide caller.

Plot Keywords:

Student | Telephone | Overdose | Volunteer | Suicide

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 1 nomination

Cast

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	...	Chris Dyson
Jason Wingreen	...	Medical Technician
Marjorie Nelson	...	Mrs. Thomas
Steven Marlo	...	Arthur Foss
Thomas Hill	...	Liquor Salesman
Lane Bradford	...	Al McCardle
Janet Dudley	...	Edna
John Napier	...	Dr. Alden Van
Stephen Pellegrini	...	Police Cadet Pellegrini
Jerome R. Brand	...	Police Cadet
Kay Doubleday	...	Jinny
Jo Helton	...	Registration Nurse
Richard Doorish	...	Pete
Charlotte Stewart	...	Telephone Operator
Viola Harris	...	Telephone Supervisor
George Savalas	...	Pool Player
O.L. Haavik	...	Pastor (as Dr. O.L. Haavik)
Nicholas Prebezac	...	Child at Beach
Drew Eskenazi	...	Child at Beach
Erin Almond	...	Child at Beach
Pam Bagby	...	Child at Beach
William R. Rhodes	...	Police Station Dispatcher
Charles C. Andrews	...	Motel Manager
Melody Greer	...	Zipper Girl
Sons of Adam	...	Discotheque Band
Walter Maslow	...	1st TV Newsman (as Walter Mazlow)
Allen Emerson	...	2nd TV Newsman
Lou Clark	...	Nightwatchman
David Harris	...	Nightwatchman
Phillip Browne	...	Office Boy
Archie Smith	...	Janitor
Joseph R. Denini	...	Fire Station Dispatcher
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Fay Baker	...	Telephone supervisor (uncredited)
Susan Bartel	...	Woman in Elevator / Typist (uncredited)
John Benson	...	Patrolman Bert Enyard (uncredited)
Regina Carrol	...	(uncredited)
Keith Larson	...	Telephone Repairman with Glasses (uncredited)
Karen Norris	...	Mrs. Hillman, Inga's Nurse (uncredited)

Directed by
Sydney Pollack

Writing credits
Shana Alexander		(article)
Stirling Silliphant		(written by)
David Rayfiel		uncredited

Produced by
Stephen Alexander	....	producer

Original Music by
Quincy Jones

Cinematography by
Loyal Griggs		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Thomas Stanford

Art Direction by
Hal Pereira
Jack Poplin

Set Decoration by
Robert R. Benton		(as Robert Benton)
Joseph Kish

Costume Design by
Edith Head

Makeup Department
Nellie Manley	....	hair style supervisor
Wally Westmore	....	makeup supervisor

Production Management
William Davidson	....	unit production manager (as William C. Davidson)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Donald Roberts	....	assistant director (as Don Roberts)
William R. Poole	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Sound Department
John R. Carter	....	sound recordist (as John Carter)
Charles Grenzbach	....	sound recordist

Visual Effects by
Farciot Edouart	....	process photography

Camera and Electrical Department
Nelson Tyler	....	aerial photographer

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Joan Joseff	....	costume jeweller (uncredited)

Music Department
Jack Hayes	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Leo Shuken	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Other crew
Frank London	....	dialogue coach

Production Companies

• Stephen Alexander Productions (as Athene Productions)

Distributors

• Paramount Pictures (1965) (USA) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1969) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Paramount Home Video (1992) (USA) (VHS)
• Paramount (1966) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Olive Films (2011) (Canada) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Olive Films (2011) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | West Germany:12 (old rating: 16)

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

Stephen Alexander Productions

Trivia:

Although top-billed, Sidney Poitier and Anne Bancroft don't appear on screen together in a single scene. Bancroft later repeated this odd accomplishment when she and Anthony Hopkins co-starred, but played no scenes together, in 84 Charing Cross Road.

Goofs:

Factual errors: After Inga attempts suicide by drowning herself in the bay, she arrives at hospital with perfectly styled hair.

Quotes:

Mark Dyson:[to Inga] Do you think that getting caught in a lie is the same as telling the truth?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Coffee House Rendezvous (1969)

Anne Bancroft, RIP

I believe that this was Sydney Pollack's directorial debut. If so, then he certainly gave an interesting insight into his future work. Seattle college student Alan Newell (Sidney Poitier) is working at a crisis hotline center when he gets a call from housewife Inge Dyson (Anne Bancroft), who is reaching the breaking point. Because they can't see each other, it gives the movie a real sense of tension, as implied by the title - even if it drags a little bit at times.

A previous reviewer said that Poitier plays his usual role: a morally superior black man in a white-dominated society. That's partly true, but here, he has a job that anyone could have, and his race doesn't really matter (although as the reviewer noted, they could have been subtly talking about race). As for Anne Bancroft, her death six months ago brings her filmography to mind. This may have not been her most famous role, but I would recommend it.