We have started a Patreon page with the hopes that some of our followers would be willing to donate a small amount to keep DVDBeaver alive. We are a tiny niche, so your generosity is vital to our existence.

We are talking about a minimum of $0.10 - $0.15 a day, perhaps a quarter (or more) to those who won't miss it from their budget. It equates to buying DVDBeaver a coffee once, twice or a few times a month. You can then participate in our monthly Silent auctions, and have exclusive access to many 'bonus' High Resolution screen captures - both 4K UHD and Blu-ray (see HERE).

To those that are unfamiliar, Patreon is a secure/verified third-party service where users can agree to a monthly donation via credit card or PayPal by clicking the button below.


 

Search DVDBeaver

 S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

Directed by Daryl Duke
USA 1978

 

A masterpiece of cunning and suspense… Miles Cullen (Elliott Gould, The Long Goodbye) discovers how interesting life can be when he is transformed from mild-mannered bank teller into daring, ingenious bank robber in a matter of seconds. Held up at the bank by the criminal Reikle (Christopher Plummer, Ordeal by Innocence), Miles manages to stash most of the money in a deposit box first. When Reikle realizes he’s been shortchanged, he plans to take revenge—and a great battle of wits ensues. To keep the money, Miles reaches new heights of courage, seducing the robber’s girlfriend (Céline Lomez, Plague) and his boss’s mistress (Susannah York, The Killing of Sister George). Filled with equal parts intrigue, romance and unexpected twists, this chilling psychological thriller also features comedy legend John Candy (Delirious) in an early film role. The screenplay by future filmmaker extraordinaire Curtis Hanson (L.A. Confidential) was based on the book Think of a Number by Anders Bodelsen. Wonderfully directed by Daryl Duke (Payday).

***

The Canadian "sleeper" The Silent Partner stars Elliott Gould as a teller, Miles Cullen, who figures out psycho Harry Reikle's (Christopher Plummer) scheme to rob his bank, several days ahead of time. Cullen providently squirrels away 50,000 dollars in a safety-deposit box before Reikle strikes. After the robbery, the papers report the amount of the bank's loss. Reikle realizes that there's 50,000 extra bucks floating around that he hasn't gotten his hands on. The soft-spoken but sadistic Reikle puts the screws on Cullen to fork over the dough -- but Cullen has lost the deposit-box key. Be forewarned: this one gets extremely brutal and bloody at times, with sudden bursts of graphic violence. Also featured is Susannah York as the fluctuating-loyalty heroine, and a very young and hairy John Candy. Future L.A. Confidential scribe Curtis Hanson loosely adapted the Danish novel Think of a Number, by Anders Bodelsen.

Excerpt from B+N located HERE

Posters

Theatrical Release: September 7th, 1978

Reviews                                                                                                       More Reviews                                                                                       DVD Reviews

 

Review: Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

Box Cover

CLICK to order from:

    

Bonus Captures:
Distribution Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray
Runtime 1:45:32.242        
Video

1.85:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 37,717,249,497 bytes

Feature: 30,657,890,304 bytes

Video Bitrate: 34.93 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate Blu-ray:

Audio

DTS-HD Master Audio English 1555 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1555 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit)
Commentary:

Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps
Subtitles English, None
Features Release Information:
Studio: Kino

 

1.85:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 37,717,249,497 bytes

Feature: 30,657,890,304 bytes

Video Bitrate: 34.93 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

Edition Details:

• NEW Interview with star Elliott Gould (23:40)
• NEW Audio Commentary by Film Historians Howard S. Berger, Steve Mitchell and Nathaniel Thompson
• Radio Spot (0:28)
• Trailer (1:55)


 Blu-ray Release Date: June 18th, 2019
 Standard Blu-ray Case

Chapters 8

 

 

Comments:

NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Kino Blu-ray (June 2019): Kino have transferred Daryl Duke's The Silent Partner to 1080P Blu-ray. It is on a dual-layered disc with a max'ed out bitrate. The first 10-minutes or so (including the title sequence) appear to be compromised (light scratches - excessive, clunky, texture) and don't even look like they are from the same source or stock. After that the image is quite pleasing, showing tightness, richer colors and frequent depth. I imagine that Kino were at the mercy of the source and the overall image for the vast majority of the presentation is strong.

NOTE: We have added 30 more large resolution Kino Blu-ray captures for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE.

On their Blu-ray, Kino use a DTS-HD Master 2.0 channel track (16-bit) in the original English language. There is minimal aggression (minor gunplay) and clear dialogue with a score credited to Oscar Peterson (his only theatrical feature accreditation.) It supports the film reasonably well. Kino offer optional English subtitles on their Region 'A' Blu-ray.

I thoroughly enjoyed the new audio commentary by film historians Howard S. Berger, Steve Mitchell and Nathaniel Thompson who find multiple themes in The Silent Partner with a focus on the homo-eroticism, and obvious feminization, of Christopher Plummer's Reikle character and they find ample support for it (shift in make-up) as well as the development of Miles Cullen (Gould) and the input of writer Curtis Hanson. It is excellent and they give the film it's deserved props and relate points such as York and Gould also having worked with Robert Altman. I appreciated their insights. There is a new 24-minute interview with Elliott Gould recalling the production, Toronto, as well as what was happening in his career. There is a Radio Spot, a trailer for the film as well as other trailers.

The Silent Partner has fabulous development and I can appreciate the film multiple layers after the commentary. This is a Neo-Noir and is a complex crime-heist thriller. It was shot in my city of Toronto and it was also a pleasure to see many of the sights from 40-years ago. Gould is fantastic and Plummer has a challenging role that is fascinating to see his character's metamorphosis.  This is now a favorite film and the Kino Blu-ray gets our highest recommendation! 

Gary Tooze

 

Menus / Extras

 

CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More full resolution (1920 X 1080) Blu-ray Captures for DVDBeaver Patreon Supporters HERE

 

 

 
Box Cover

CLICK to order from:

    

Bonus Captures:
Distribution Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray


 


 

Search DVDBeaver

 S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

 

Hit Counter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DONATIONS Keep DVDBeaver alive:

 CLICK PayPal logo to donate!

Gary Tooze

Thank You!