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	...	Reikle
Susannah York	...	Julie
Céline Lomez	...	Elaine
Michael Kirby	...	Charles Packard
Sean Sullivan	...	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. Packard

Storyline

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.

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Plot Keywords:

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

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Taglines:

He steals, he tortures, he murders. Only he is a her ... And the 'lady' has been robbed.

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Genres:

Drama | Crime | Thriller

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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:

The Silver Dollar Room, Spadina Avenue, 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 picture was filmed entirely in Toronto, Canada.

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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.

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Quotes

Harry Reikle: [threatening Miles Cullen] Give me the money, fucker.

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Connections

Referenced in From Stereo to Video (2014)

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Soundtracks

C'mon Downtown
Written and Recorded by Nancy Simmonds

User Reviews

Cat-and-Mouse Game

In Toronto, the methodical and lonely bank teller Miles Cullen (Elliott Gould) works in a bank in a shopping mall. He feels unrequited love for his coworker Julie Carver (Susannah York) but she is having a love affair with the married bank manager Charles Packard (Michael Kirby). One day, Cullen discovers a note on the counter indicating that the bank will be robbed and he soon identifies the handwriting of a Santa Claus in the mall as the author of the note. However he does not tell the police about of his findings and he hides a large amount of cash in his lunch box. When the thief heists the bank, he keeps the money for him. Soon the thief Harry Reikle (Christopher Plummer), who is a psychopath, tracks Cullen down, breaks in his apartment and threatens him to give the robbed money to him. However Cullen sets Reikle up and he is arrested for stealing a van. Meanwhile Cullen's father dies and he meets his nurse Elaine Muriel (Céline Lomez) at the funeral. They have a love affair and Cullen finds that she is working with Reikle that is in jail. But she is in love with Cullen and helps him to recover the key of the safety deposit box that he had lost. But soon Reikle is released from jail. What will happen to Cullen and Elaine?

"The Silent Partner" is one of the best thrillers from the 70's, with an intelligent story and top-notch performances. Christopher Plummer is scary in the role of psychopath. The gorgeous Susannah York and Céline Lomez have important participations. Elliott Could steals the show with another brilliant performance. The unforgettable John Candy has a minor role in the plot. The cat-and-mouse game between Elliott Gould and Christopher Plummer is breathless and increases the intensity along the story. After almost forty years, this film has not lost the impact. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Parceiro do Silêncio" (VHS)("Silent Partner")