The Silent Partner

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Alan W Perhaps the mother of the Christmas action movie genre (though only half the film is actually set around Christmas), this distinctively Canadian curiosity is very much a product of its time, with some very dated depiction of female characters and gratuitous toplessness for its female cast, yet there's also a gritty and gripping crime thriller at its core that has amazingly stood the test of time. Adapted from a Danish novel by future L.A. Confidential director, Curtis Hanson, who also took over directorial duties after original director Daryl Duke walked off due to creative differences, the story pits Elliott Gould's mild-mannered bank teller against Christopher Plummer's psychopath bank robber in a cat-and-mouse game of wit and escalating violence when the former foils the latter's plan and took off with his loot. While Gould is the personification of your typical resourceful Milquetoast dreaming of escaping his mundane life with Susannah York's Julie, a co-worker he's smitten with who happens to be having an affair with their married bank manager, Plummer relishes the rare chance to play an icy and dangerous baddie with eye-liner and nails so buffed, they are practically menacing. Brimming with tension and unexpected intrigue stemming from a screenplay that holds together well enough and actually knows how to anticipate its audience's expectations, I only wish the cavalier treatment of women, especially Celine Lomez's Elaine, as disposable sex objects here isn't so unforgivably bad, so I can enjoy this with a less guilty conscience. Admittedly, the ending unravels a little, but the surprisingly grisly and almost amoral finale throws up at least two memorable moments that's truly shocking and remarkable. Compared to the lacklustre attempts at Christmas-themed action movies recently on the streamers, this little Canadian indie from the 70s sure shows them how it ought to be done. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/09/25 Full Review Dallas H This movie must be one of the greatest holiday-themed bank heist stories ever. It stars Elliot Gould in the leading role as a socially awkward bank teller who quickly finds himself in the deep end of a bank heist plan gone awry. John Candy also appeared in a small role before his acting career took off a few years later. I truly enjoyed this movie and want to watch it several more times, most likely around the Christmas holiday yearly. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 09/30/24 Full Review Jeffrey S Intense thriller with some comedy mixed in with the help of John Candy. Couldn't ask for anything better! Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 11/21/23 Full Review Audience Member It's Christmas time and no better time than to have a silent partner in crime Elliot Gould stars in one of his many early 1970s thrillers Based on the book by Anders Bodelson directed by Daryl Duke Gould co-stars with the late Christopher Plummer, the late John Candy, Susannah York, and Celine Lomez He plays a bank teller in Miles Cullen getting ready for the holidays Yet when a robbery occurs at his work he decides to skim $50,000 off of it But a crook Arthur in a Santa outfit is mad about the fact that it was his money Now he wants it back and will target Miles in any way Miles then meets a woman named Elaine but what are her real motives? The plot is very murky and this is so slow Not enough thrills only in spades It gets very violent near the end too But Gould and Plummer make for good rivals Rated 2.5/5 Stars •  Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 11/07/23 Full Review ed m Decent, overlooked flick. But Elliott Gould is a weak actor. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 07/19/23 Full Review isla s This is very much a cheesy 1970s thriller film. Less horror, more crime thriller. It's quite melodramatic but certainly, it's an entertaining watch regardless. I quite liked the fact it has a Christmas setting and is a bit darker than other, family-friendly Christmas films. The incident music was perhaps a little over the top at times but then again, it adds to the cheesiness, which was, in itself, amusing and entertaining in its own way. The plot is quirky and its a worthwhile watch, I'd say, just maybe don't expect too much and it's fair to say it's aged but then what do you expect, for a film from the late 1970s?. This has the feel somewhat of a TV soap drama thriller film which is worth a watch and so yes, I'd recommend it as such. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Read all reviews

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