The Slender Thread

1965
Approved
1h 38m

IMDb RATING

7.0/10

2.5K

YOUR RATING

Anne Bancroft and Sidney Poitier in The Slender Thread (1965)

College volunteer Alan Dyson is working alone at the crisis center one evening when he receives a telephone call from suicidal caller Inga Dyson.

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98 Photos

Drama

College volunteer Alan Newell is working alone at the crisis center one evening when he receives a telephone call from suicidal caller Inga Dyson, who has swallowed a bottle of sleeping pill... Read allCollege volunteer Alan Newell is working alone at the crisis center one evening when he receives a telephone call from suicidal caller Inga Dyson, who has swallowed a bottle of sleeping pills. Can Alan save her?College volunteer Alan Newell is working alone at the crisis center one evening when he receives a telephone call from suicidal caller Inga Dyson, who has swallowed a bottle of sleeping pills. Can Alan save her?

Director
- Sydney Pollack
Writers
- Shana Alexander
- Stirling Silliphant
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.0/10

2.5K

YOUR RATING

Director
- Sydney Pollack
Writers
- Shana Alexander
- Stirling Silliphant
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

Nominated for 2 Oscars
- 2 wins & 4 nominations total

Trivia
This film shows the tedious process in 1965 of what was required in tracing a telephone call on actual central office equipment that was state of the art such as number 5 cross bar and step-by-step electro/mechanical equipment. It was filmed in central offices of the old Northwest Bell Telephone company which as of 2010 is now Century Link. Modern telephone switching equipment can trace a call in less than a minute or even 30 seconds.

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
Featured in The Directors: The Films of Sydney Pollack (2000)

Soundtracks
Preludium
Written and Produced by Quincy Jones
Performed by Quincy Jones

User reviews37

Review

Featured review

8/10

I should have known. Poitier = Acting 101

I saw this title coming up on TCM, read the synopsis, and KNEW instantly that this one I had to see. And like I said, I should have known. Poitier is probably one of the top ten dramatic actors of ALL TIME! I'm not sure I've ever seen a bad film that he was in. This little gem, was tremendous. I don't comment on many film's but when I see one I haven't seen before, and it's as good as this one, I can't restrain myself. Watch it when/if you can, and you won't be disappointed! There are many subplots and twists to this film, and it has many fine performances, including Telly Savalas, and Ann Bancroft. There are small parts, for a young Dabney Coleman, and one of Ed Asner's early ones as well. I am a classic movie buff, with over 800 titles in my library, and I simply love it when I come across a new one that I hadn't seen/heard of before. Like I said, Watch this one when/if you can.