The Slender Thread (1965)

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

Director:

Sydney Pollack

Writers:

Shana Alexander (article), Stirling Silliphant

Stars:

Sidney Poitier, Anne Bancroft, Telly Savalas

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 1 win & 2 nominations.

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)
Bob 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

Storyline

Alan is a Seattle college student volunteering at a crisis center. One night when at the clinic alone, a woman calls up the number and tells Alan that she needs to talk to someone. She informs Alan she took a load of pills, and he secretly tries to get help. During this time, he learns more about the woman, her family life, and why she wants to die. Can Alan get the cavalry to save her in time before it's too late?

---

Plot Keywords:

attempted suicide | tracing a telephone call | student | telephone | volunteer | 

---

Taglines:

When a woman's emotions sway on a slender thread, expect anything ...

---

Genres:

Drama

---

Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 March 1966 (Sweden)

Also Known As:

Voice in the Wind

Filming Locations:

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

Company Credits

Production Co:

Stephen Alexander Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Sydney Pollack's feature film directorial debut. Pollack had worked for years in television before getting his break with this film.

---

Goofs

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 not getting caught in a lie is the same as telling the truth?

---

Connections

Referenced in American Masters: Sidney Poitier: One Bright Light (2000)

---

Soundtracks

Theme For Inga
Written and Produced by Quincy Jones
Performed by Quincy Jones

User Reviews

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.