Goddamn Brownies

The Silent Partner - 1978 - Dir: Daryl Duke
Location: The Comfort of My House

A few of my Twitter friends (you know who you are) were all discussing this film a few weeks ago and I finally got around to watching it. I wasn't too sure what to expect. I knew John Candy had a small role, but it is no comedy.

Miles Cullen (Elliott Gould) is the head teller at a bank where his life has become routine and mundane. The girl he has his eye on would rather have an affair with the boss than give him the time of day. Then he realizes a mall Santa is plotting to rob the bank and decides to use this to his advantage. He hides the majority of his drawer's money, which is a lot due to it being the Christmas season, in his briefcase and when the robbery takes place he makes sure he gets away so he can get off with the money. The only problem with his plan was the news broadcast how much was stolen and the thief, played by Christopher Plummer, finds out and wants the rest of his take.

This turned out to be a crime thriller that I had never heard of but really enjoyed. Elliott Gould is wonderful and makes for a great everyman who maintains his wits in these strange circumstances. Plummer is a wicked man but I really dug the way he looked dressed in his Santa outfit. If he ever tires of acting he could always get a job in a mall around Christmas. The story takes a few twists and turns as you figure out how badly this thief wants the money and how Miles is going to get out of the jam. Curtis Hanson, director of L.A. Confidential, wrote the script and there is that same great thrill that he later included in his Golden Era Hollywood detective story.

This film could easily go unnoticed but since it is on DVD now do not let it go by. Pick up the DVD here.