On 6 Jan 1965, DV announced that Paramount Pictures had acquired Voice in the Wind, Stirling Silliphant’s screenplay based on “Decision to Die,” a 29 May 1964 Life magazine article about a real-life Seattle, WA, woman who attempted to commit suicide. Silliphant reportedly developed the story as a 100-page treatment for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), but the studio turned down the project amid creative differences. Paramount production president Howard W. Koch then purchased the treatment and signed Sidney Poitier to star.
       A few months later, the 21 Apr 1965 DV indicated that the title had since been changed to Call Me Back! The film marked the motion picture directing debut of Sydney Pollack, who previously had directed and starred in numerous television programs.
       According to the 3 Jun 1965 DV, Elizabeth Ashley was originally cast as “Inga Dyson” in Jan 1965, but was later informed by a third party that she had been replaced by Anne Bancroft without any written notice. Due to her commitment to the project, Ashley had allegedly turned down another opportunity worth $100,000, and consequently sued the studio for that amount (plus a single dollar in damages). The 3 Nov 1965 Var reported that the suit was settled out of court.
       A 25 Jun 1965 DV production chart indicated that principal photography began 14 Jun 1965 under the new title, The Slender Thread. The 16 Jun 1965 Var explained that a 1960 NBC teleplay also titled Call Me Back had recently entered negotiations as a feature project, and Paramount agreed to relinquish rights to the name.
       Filming took place at the Paramount studios in Hollywood, CA, and on locations in Seattle. According to a 24 Jul 1965 LAT article, Poitier’s scenes were filmed on a sound stage while Bancroft read her lines offstage or through a receiver in her dressing room, which was wired with a live telephone connection. The real woman who inspired Bancroft’s character reportedly visited the Seattle set with her family, and the 27 Jun 1965 LAT claimed that the production spent approximately $12,000 each day on location. Filming concluded there in late Jun or early Jul 1965, as indicated by items in the 29 Jun 1965 and 1 Jul 1965 DV reporting the cast and crew’s recent return to Los Angeles.
       According to the 9 Dec 1965 DV, The Slender Thread was scheduled to open 15 Dec 1965 for a special engagement at the Stanley Warner Theater in Beverly Hills, CA, to qualify for Academy Award consideration. The 17 Nov 1965 Var stated that a New York City opening was set to take place on 23 Dec 1965, with general release to follow in early 1966.
       The film received Academy Award nominations for Art Direction (Black-and-White) and Costume Design (Black-and-White).