The Slender Thread

The Slender Thread

1965 Theatrical Poster
Directed by Sydney Pollack
Produced by Stephen Alexander
Written by Shana Alexander
David Rayfiel
Stirling Silliphant
Starring Sidney Poitier
Anne Bancroft
Music by Quincy Jones
Cinematography Loyal Griggs
Editing by Thomas Stanford
Release date(s) December 23, 1965 (1965-12-23)
Running time 98 minutes
Country United States
Language English

The Slender Thread is a 1965 film starring Anne Bancroft and Sidney Poitier. It was the first feature length film directed by Academy Award-winning director, producer & actor Sydney Pollack.

Poitier portrays Alan, a Seattle college student who is volunteering at Seattle's then-new Crisis Clinic, a crisis call center. Shortly after beginning his night shift, Alan receives a call from a woman named Inga (Bancroft) who says she has just taken a lethal dose of pills and wants to talk to someone before she dies. The story line follows the efforts of Alan, a psychiatrist (Telly Savalas) and a detective ( Ed Asner) to locate the woman and her husband (Steven Hill of Law & Order fame).

The film was inspired by a Life Magazine article by Shana Alexander about actual events and partially shot on location in Seattle, Washington.

This movie is noted for the physical tracing of the call to find Inga (Bancroft) before she dies. Throughout the movie, the call is traced by hand through several electro-mechanical telephone central office switches which leads to the hotel where Inga was staying (originally the Hyatt House) near the Seattle-Tacoma Airport.

Contents

Plot

Poitier portrays Alan, a Seattle college student who is volunteering at Seattle's then-new Crisis Clinic, a crisis call center. Shortly after beginning his night shift, Alan receives a call from a woman named Inga (Bancroft) who says she has just taken a lethal dose of pills and wants to talk to someone before she dies. The story line follows the efforts of Alan, a psychiatrist (Telly Savalas) and a detective ( Ed Asner) to locate the woman and her husband (Steven Hill of Law & Order fame).

Cast

Awards

The film was nominated for two Oscars:[1]

References

External links