Sydney Pollack's first as a director stars Sidney Poitier as an intern at a Seattle suicide hotline and Anne Bancroft as the barbituate swallower. Cast includes Telly Savalas, Ed Asner and (HOORAY!) Steven Hill (best known as the gravel-voiced head lawyer in Law and Order.) Enough gruff-but-lovables for ya?
It is completely dialogue-driven drama, so it must have something special to overcome my biases against that form, such as:
1. Details. Learn how caller-ID/*69 was done in the analog world. See each level of interaction between the fire dept/phone co/police/hospital/etc. A tribute to the beginnings of the modern rescue squad safety net.
2. The first Poitier role I know of that doesn't dwell on his race. Content of character over color of skin indeed.
3. The tension is not "I'm going to talk you out of taking the pills." The pills are already being digested; instead, the goal is to keep Bancroft on the line so she can be found before she dies. This slight tweak forces the screenplay away from some easy cliches.
Rates as a 6 out of 10. (I'm a tough grader)
It is completely dialogue-driven drama, so it must have something special to overcome my biases against that form, such as:
1. Details. Learn how caller-ID/*69 was done in the analog world. See each level of interaction between the fire dept/phone co/police/hospital/etc. A tribute to the beginnings of the modern rescue squad safety net.
2. The first Poitier role I know of that doesn't dwell on his race. Content of character over color of skin indeed.
3. The tension is not "I'm going to talk you out of taking the pills." The pills are already being digested; instead, the goal is to keep Bancroft on the line so she can be found before she dies. This slight tweak forces the screenplay away from some easy cliches.
Rates as a 6 out of 10. (I'm a tough grader)