The Slender Thread
When a woman's emotions sway away on a slender thread, expect anything…
1965 | 98m | English
Popularity: 1 (history)
| Director: | Sydney Pollack |
|---|---|
| Writer: | Stirling Silliphant |
| Staring: |
| 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? | |
| Release Date: | Dec 15, 1965 |
|---|---|
| Director: | Sydney Pollack |
| Writer: | Stirling Silliphant |
| Genres: | Drama |
| Keywords | suicide attempt, seattle, washington, crisis line, overdose, race against time, son, fisherman, marriage, telephone, workplace, psychologist, discotheque, help line, police search, father son relationship, african american, parentage, husband wife conflict, will to live |
| Production Companies | Paramount Pictures, Athene Productions |
| Box Office |
Revenue: $0
Budget: $0 |
| Updates |
Updated: Jul 30, 2025 Entered: Apr 20, 2024 |
| Name | Character |
|---|---|
| Sidney Poitier | Alan Newell |
| Anne Bancroft | Inga Dyson |
| Telly Savalas | Dr. Joe Coburn |
| Steven Hill | Mark Dyson |
| Ed Asner | Det. Judd Ridley |
| Indus Arthur | Marian |
| Paul Newlan | Sgt. Harry Ward |
| Dabney Coleman | Charlie |
| H.M. Wynant | Doctor Morris |
| Robert F. Hoy | Patrolman Steve Peters |
| Greg Jarvis | Chris Dyson |
| Jason Wingreen | Medical Technician |
| Marjorie Nelson | Mrs. Thomas |
| Steven Marlo | Arthur Foss |
| Thomas Hill | Liquor Salesman |
| Lane Bradford | Al McCardle |
| Janet Dudley | Edna |
| John Napier | Dr. Alden Van |
| Stephen Pellegrini | Police Cadet |
| Jerome R. Brand | Police Cadet |
| Kay Doubleday | Jinny |
| Jo Helton | Registration Nurse |
| Richard Doorish | Pete |
| Charlotte Stewart | Telephone Operator |
| Viola Harris | Telephone Supervisor |
| George Savalas | Pool Player |
| O.L. Haavik | Pastor (as Dr. O.L. Haavik) |
| Nicholas Prebezac | Child at Beach |
| Drew Eskenazi | Child at Beach |
| Erin Almond | Child at Beach |
| Pam Bagby | Child at Beach |
| William R. Rhodes | Police Station Dispatcher |
| Charles C. Andrews | Motel Manager |
| Melody Greer | Zipper Girl |
| Sons of Adam | Discotheque Band |
| Walter Maslow | 1st TV Newsman (as Walter Mazlow) |
| Allen Emerson | 2nd TV Newsman |
| Lou Clark | Nightwatchman |
| David Harris | Nightwatchman |
| Phillip Browne | Office Boy |
| Archie Smith | Janitor |
| Joseph R. Denini | Fire Station Dispatcher |
| Fay Baker | Telephone Supervisor (uncredited) |
| Susan Bartel | Typist (uncredited) |
| John Benson | Patrolman Bert Enyard (uncredited) |
| Regina Carrol | minor role (uncredited) |
| Karen Norris | Mrs. Hillman, Inga's Nurse (uncredited) |
| Name | Job |
|---|---|
| Stirling Silliphant | Writer |
| Edith Head | Costume Design |
| Sydney Pollack | Director |
| Quincy Jones | Original Music Composer, Conductor |
| Jack Poplin | Production Design |
| Loyal Griggs | Director of Photography |
| William Davidson | Unit Production Manager |
| William R. Poole | Assistant Director |
| Hal Pereira | Production Design |
| Thomas Stanford | Editor |
| John R. Carter | Sound Recordist |
| Joseph Kish | Set Decoration |
| Robert R. Benton | Set Decoration |
| Donald Roberts | Assistant Director |
| David Rayfiel | Additional Writing |
| Nellie Manley | Hair Supervisor |
| Wally Westmore | Makeup Supervisor |
| Nelson Tyler | Aerial Director of Photography |
| Farciot Edouart | Visual Effects |
| Charles Grenzbach | Sound Recordist |
| Frank London | Dialogue Coach |
| Shana Alexander | Short Story |
| James A. Corbett | Boom Operator |
| Jack Hayes | Orchestrator |
| Dave Grusin | Musician |
| Carol Kaye | Musician |
| Leo Shuken | Orchestrator |
| Name | Title |
|---|---|
| Stephen Alexander | Producer |
| Organization | Category | Person | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Globes | Best Actress | Anne Bancroft | Nominated |
Popularity History
| Year | Month | Avg | Max | Min |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 4 | 6 | 11 | 3 |
| 2024 | 5 | 8 | 14 | 3 |
| 2024 | 6 | 7 | 15 | 4 |
| 2024 | 7 | 8 | 15 | 4 |
| 2024 | 8 | 7 | 17 | 3 |
| 2024 | 9 | 5 | 16 | 2 |
| 2024 | 10 | 5 | 10 | 2 |
| 2024 | 11 | 6 | 14 | 2 |
| 2024 | 12 | 5 | 10 | 3 |
| 2025 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 2 |
| 2025 | 2 | 5 | 12 | 1 |
| 2025 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 1 |
| 2025 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| 2025 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 0 |
| 2025 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| 2025 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2025 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 2025 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Trending Position
| Year | Month | High | Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5 | 705 | 781 |