Okay, let's get the American arrogance out of the way right at the start. Canadian movies used to suck. They don't now. Or, at least, the ratio of suckage to non-sucky is acceptable.And this coming from a citizen of a country that produces some of the great suck-fests in film and financial history.Now, let's proceed with saying that I had no idea, when I watched The Silent Partner on HBO almost 40 years ago, that it would be one of the better-crafted crime drama/suspensers I've had the pleasure to see. The cast is strong, the story intriguing, and, well, it has Susannah York, so what can I say?The story of a bank teller who gets wind that a robbery is about to take place, and spirits a lot of cash away beforehand, has a nice, unique feel. Elliot Gould is the teller, and Christopher Plummer is the robber, a very bad man who doesn't react well when he discovers that Gould has ripped him off. I saw The Silent Partner again in the late 80s, and I liked it just as well as the first time. Considering my tastes, my ability to analyze, my understanding of human nature that grew from 20 to 30 made me wary of a movie I liked so well a decade or so before. Yet, I thought the movie was stronger the second time around. So, if, by some chance, you can find the movie uncut (it earns its R-rating, folks), be sure to watch and savor The Silent Partner.

I'm not a big fan of Gould's, but he managed to allow himself to be properly directed in this thriller from the early 70s. Contrary to what some other reviewers have mentioned, I don't find this to be a particularly violent move. It's true that there are a few gratuitous scenes where someone may want to avert his or her eyes for a moment, but most of the tension is psychological. It's a good story and the viewer will have a difficult time anticipating what happens next.In my opinion, however, Plummer was miscast. He is intense, but almost a bit too conciliatory and reasonable to be believed in his role.This movie is not too dated and is enjoyable today as it was 30+ years ago...with one exception. Whenever I see it, I turn to the person with me and ask, "Why do I not remember EVERY woman under 50 going braless back then?" I mean, a lot of the characters work in a bank or in some other professional setting and I really don't believe that any of the women aged under 50 wear bras in any scene. Now, this is in addition to copious female nudity, but the bralessness IS striking.Enjoy!

If slowing down for bad car accidents is something of enjoyment (or curiosity), then this is worth watching. Unpleasant people doing unpleasant things in a beautiful surrounding (Toronto) and seeming to get away with it is the premise of this drama that stars the extremely busy Elliott Gould, the handsome Christopher Plummer, and the underrated Susannah York. Plummer, in a role that cries for his desire to escape "The Sound of Music", plays a Richard Widmark type role of the crazed bank robber who realizes after holding Gould up that somehow, he didn't get all of the bank's cash and is sure Gould got it, blaming him. He continues to harass Gould for weeks, even sending in a beautiful girl (Celine Lomez) to seduce him so she can let the imprisoned Plummer know where the stash is. But Gould is equally as clever as the evil Plummer, which impresses him even though Plummer obviously intends to kill him after he gets the cash back. York is one of the bank's managers, involved in an affair with her married boss who has feelings for Gould.The atmosphere of this film is set up instantly when Plummer is seen taking out his anger on a sexual conquest in the most vile way possible. Unlike the equally nefarious Hannibal Lector from "Silence of the Lambs", Plummers' psychopathic thief is never once charming. The film also presents several rather sadomasochistic sexual images, seemingly for no real reason other than to titillate its audience whom in 1978 required this sort of thing no matter what the plot of the movie was. (Only Disney obviously avoided this post production code trend.) If Plummer is freaky, then Gould is even freakier, ripping off the employers who seem to actually be good people to work for. York is lovely, but it is difficult to not confuse her with the equally beautiful and talented Julie Christie. John Candy is seen in a small role as one of the bank's other employees. The cameraman makes good use of the amazing Toronto scenery, most especially the huge Eaton's Center, one of the world's largest shopping malls I used to visit only a few years after this was filmed. But familiarity with the locale does not make for an enjoyable movie, and it was only as a film historian that I forced myself to watch the entire movie.SPOILER REGARDING FINALE BELOW: The sight of Plummer in drag (looking like Dustin Hoffman without glasses in "Tootsie") added a few chuckles in the films finale.

This is a very entertaining cat and mouse thriller starring Christopher Plummer, Elliot Gould and Susannah York.Elliot Gould is a bank clerk working in a busy mall. It is Christmas time and the mall stores are making big cash deposits. Gould notices the same Santa always seems to show up outside the bank when the large stores are making a deposit. Gould figures the man is casing the place for a possible robbery.The gears start grinding as he decides to take advantage of the situation if it happens. Gould takes several large deposits and hides them in his briefcase. Sure enough, the Santa, Christopher Plummer, shows and shoves a note at Gould. Gould hands over 3-4 grand. Plummer knows there should be more and produces a gun. Gould hits the alarm and the guard and Plummer exchange a few rounds. Plummer then beats the feet out of the mall.Gould, the guard and fellow clerk, Susannah York, are taken to the police station for a look at some mug books. Gould sees Plummer among the photos but says nothing. He returns to the bank and grabs his case with the $50,000.The next day, Gould and his fellow employees are interviewed on television. Needless to say our man Plummer is sitting in front of the tube watching. He knows Gould beat him out of his big score and he intends to get it.Gould takes the cash and puts it in a safety deposit box under a false name.That night, he gets a phone call from Plummer demanding the cash. Gould hangs up. He was not expecting this curve. Plummer calls again and says he is watching him right at the moment. Gould looks out and sees Plummer at the phone booth outside the apt. "I want my money or it won't go good for you." Plummer growls.Gould says OK and tells Plummer to come up. Gould then leaves down the back way. When he sees Plummer inside, he phones from the booth. Plummer answers, "Go **** yourself!" Gould tells Plummer.Plummer roars down the stairs to put the grab on Gould. When he can't find him, he heads home. Gould comes out of the shadows and follows. He sees where Plummer lives. He starts home when he has a flash. There is a delivery van dropping off fresh veggies etc. Gould jumps in the running van while the driver is in the store. Gould takes the van over to Plummer's place and parks it. He then makes an anonymous call to the Police about a man with a gun and a stolen van.The Police swoop in and gobble up Plummer. The next day, Gould, York and the guard, Sean Sullivan, are called in for a line-up. It seems Plummer has form as a bank hold-up man. Again Gould does not identify him. Plummer does however go away for 6 months on the van charge and some outstanding warrants. Problem solved.While all this is going on, Gould has been chasing York for a little horizontal mambo. York however is involved with the bank manager.A few months go by and Gould meets and quickly beds Celine Lomez. This is great till Lomez asks him about the cash. Lomez is Plummer's girl and was sent to get the cash or the info on its location. Gould makes a deal with Lomez for a split that leaves Plummer out. Lomez tells Gould that Plummer is a very nasty fellow and will kill him over the cash. Gould says Plummer is still in jail.Plummer now gets out on an early release. He has a talk with Lomez about Gould and the cash. He realizes that Lomez has switched teams. Plummer decapitates her, then, leaves her head in Gould's fish tank and her body on the apartment floor.Gould discovers the body parts and is needless to say rattled. The phone rings and it is Plummer. "Do I have your attention now?" Gould agrees to hand over the cash. 'You have to meet me at the bank and I'll hand it over' Plummer agrees. Now Gould wraps up Lomez's remains. He dumps them in the foundations of a new bank building that is pouring concrete the next day.Gould is at the bank the next day when Plummer comes for the cash. This time Plummer is dressed as a woman. Gould hands over a paper bag and tells Plummer everything is there. Plummer smiles. Then as he turns away, Gould throws up his hands and yells "No don't shoot me!" Everyone in the bank looks at Plummer. Plummer yanks his gun out to silence Gould. He gets off one round before the bank guard plugs him several times. Plummer staggers out of the bank, then drops dead on the escalator.A wounded Gould is taken to the hospital. Needless to say he never handed over the cash.This is a much better film than I make it sound. There is plenty of suspense and some great twists.The screenplay is by Curtis (L. A. Confidential) Hanson and is based on the novel, THINK OF A NUMBER by Anders Bodelsen.The director was Daryl Dukes. His films include TAI-PAN and PAYDAY. PAYDAY is my favourite Rip Torn film.The D of P was Billy Williams. His work included, WIND AND THE LION, GANDHI and ON GOLDEN POND