Woodyanders Review of The Silent Partner

The Silent Partner (1978)

A marvelously smart and suspenseful thriller knockout

[9/10 · 10 May 2007]

Quiet, timid, but shrewd Miles Cullen (an outstanding performance by the always affable and reliable Elliott Gould) works as a teller at a bank in a shopping center. One day Miles gets held up by vicious psychotic criminal Harry Reikle (a superbly chilling portrayal by Christopher Plummer). However, Miles only gives Harry a small percentage of the money he asked for. Miles pockets the rest of the bread himself. Pretty soon Miles finds himself playing a dangerous cat and mouse battle of wills with the lethal Harry. Moreover, Miles aggressively pursues sweet, fetching coworker Julie Carver (a wonderfully radiant and ravishing Susannah York) and becomes involved with Harry's lusty girlfriend Elaine (a charming turn by the lovely Celine Lomez). Director Daryl Duke, who also helmed the terrific "Payday," ably wrings plenty of nerve-wracking tension from Curtis Hanson's supremely twisty, gripping, intelligent script, astutely creates a vivid atmosphere, and elicits uniformly first-rate acting from a stellar cast. Billy Williams' handsome, polished cinematography and Oscar Peterson's rousing, jazzy, elegant orchestral score are likewise strong and impressive. A pre-stardom John Candy has a small part as one of Miles' goofy fellow tellers. The occasional outbursts of brutal violence are genuinely shocking and upsetting. A real bang-up little thriller winner.