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The Slender Thread

The Slender Thread

Drama · 1965

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?

Movie details

The Slender Thread

“When a woman's emotions sway away on a slender thread, expect anything…”

1965 Drama 1h 38m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.1 / 10

Community rating

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?

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over The Slender Thread?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Sydney Pollack

Written by

Stirling Silliphant

Sidney Poitier

Sidney Poitier

Alan Newell

Anne Bancroft

Anne Bancroft

Inga Dyson

Telly Savalas

Telly Savalas

Dr. Joe Coburn

Steven Hill

Steven Hill

Mark Dyson

Ed Asner

Ed Asner

Det. Judd Ridley

Indus Arthur

Indus Arthur

Marian

Paul Newlan

Paul Newlan

Sgt. Harry Ward

Court is in session

Put The Slender Thread on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Ambition earns the room.”

The film reaches for consequence and scale, accepting the risk of seriousness instead of shrinking from it.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Importance has entered the chat.”

The production keeps announcing its significance, as though awards-season posture were proof of insight.