The Silent Partner (1978)

A timid bank teller anticipates a bank robbery and steals the money himself before the crook arrives. When the sadistic crook realizes he's been fooled, he tracks down the teller and engages him in a cat-and-mouse chase for the cash.

Director:

Daryl Duke

Writers:

Curtis Hanson (screenplay), Anders Bodelsen (novel)

Stars:

Elliott Gould, Christopher Plummer, Susannah York

3 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Elliott Gould	...	Miles Cullen
Christopher Plummer	...	Harry Reikle
Susannah York	...	Julie Carver
Céline Lomez	...	Elaine
Michael Kirby	...	Charles Packard
Sean Sullivan	...	Frank, Bank Guard
Ken Pogue	...	Detective Willard
John Candy	...	Simonsen
Gail Dahms-Bonine	...	Louise (as Gail Dahms)
Micheal Donaghue	...	Berg
Jack Duffy	...	Fogelman
Nancy Simmonds	...	Girl in Sauna
Nuala Fitzgerald	...	Safety Deposit Box Woman
Guy Sanvido	...	Locksmith
Charlotte Blunt	...	Mrs. Vivian Packard

Storyline

This is an imaginative plot, yet one with which the viewer can readily identify. A bank teller is held up at gun point in his bank. Luckily for him he receives a clue that this is going to occur and diverts most of the cash into his own safety deposit box, leaving only a nominal amount for the crook. The ruse works well, but for the fact that the crook resents the fact that he has been outsmarted. There ensues a terrific battle of wits involving the clever but basically "moral" teller, and the cunning and totally uninhibited bank robber, which involves several other people in ways which cannot be revealed here.

---

Plot Keywords:

bank teller | bank robbery | money | neo noir | canuxploitation | 

---

Taglines:

A masterpiece of cunning and suspense... In a web of mounting tension, a beautiful girl is trapped and torn between two lovers, climaxing in a scene more terrifying than a nightmare!

---

Genres:

Drama | Crime | Thriller

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence, language and some sexuality

Details

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

30 March 1979 (USA)

Also Known As:

L'argent de la banque

Filming Locations:

Eaton Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

CAD 2,500,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Carolco Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

106 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The name of the financial institution was the fictitious "First Bank of Toronto".

---

Goofs

The bank robber flees and steals a car from someone that is tying a Christmas tree to the roof of it. The bank robber drives away, throwing the car owner on the wet pavement. But, before that, you can see that the seat of his pants are already wet, proving they did the stunt more than once.

---

Quotes

Julie Carver: I don't understand you, Miles.
[long pause]
Julie Carver: And I'm not sure I want to.

---

Connections

Remake of Tænk på et tal (1969)

---

Soundtracks

C'mon Downtown
Written and Recorded by Nancy Simmonds

User Reviews

Like a Game of Chess

Director Daryl Duke makes a very taut thriller here about a figurative chess game between Elliot Gould, a bank teller who stole in excess of $48,000, and Christopher Plummer the real thief who gets outwitted. Gould and Plummer have some remarkable scenes between them - most of them on phones - one upstairs and the other in a phone booth. The tension created has roller-coaster effects through much of the film to see what the next move is for each character. I was riveted through much of it. Added in for some extra measure are various love liaisons for Gould and lots of depth given to the main characters. Gould does a very good job carrying off a very difficult role as a man who is quiet, overlooked, and introspective. Plummer is his equal as a maniacal killer/thief who knows how to play cat and mouse. The film has several memorable scenes: the ending in the mall was just fantastic as were all the scenes shot in Gould's apartment. Susannah York gives an integral performance as a co-worker at the bank. The director gives this rather pedestrian material lots of life, though the film obviously is a product of the 70s with way too much nudity for a film like this. Just about every woman in the movies goes bare-chested at some point(not that I am complaining mind you). If you are looking for a real edge of your seater then the Canadian production The Silent Partner might just be what you need to see.