The Onion Field

1979

The Onion Field

Critics Consensus

No consensus yet.

83%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 12

64%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 1,978

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Movie Info

This film is based on an actual 1963 case. L.A. plainclothesmen John Savage and Ted Danson routinely investigate a pair of suspicious types. Unexpectedly, one of the men kills Danson in cold blood. Savage manages to escape and the men are arrested. But that is not that.
  • Rating:
    R
  • Genre:
    Drama
  • Directed By:
    Harold Becker
  • Written By:
    Joseph Wambaugh
  • In Theaters:
     wide
  • On Disc/Streaming:
  • Runtime:
  • Studio:
    AVCO Embassy Pictures

Cast

John Savage
as Karl Hettinger
James Woods
as Gregory Ulas Powell
Franklyn Seales
as Jimmy Smith
Ted Danson
as Ian Campbell
Christopher Lloyd
as Jailhouse
Ronny Cox
as Sgt. Pierce Brooks
David Huffman
as District Attorney Phil
Diane Hull
as Helen Hettinger
Priscilla Pointer
as Chrissie Campbell
Beege Barkett
as Greg's Woman
Richard Herd
as Beat Cop
Le Tari
as Emmanuel McFadden
Richard Venture
as Glenn Bates
Lee Weaver
as Billy
Phillip R. Allen
as District Attorney Marshall Schulman
Pat Corley
as Jimmy's 1st Lawyer
K Callan
as Mrs. Powell
Sandy McPeak
as Mr. Powell
Lillian Randolph
as Nana
Ned Wilson
as LAPD Captain
Jack Rader
as IAD Captain
Raleigh Bond
as 2nd Judge
Bradford English
as Redhaired Cop
Stanley Grover
as Greg's 2nd Lawyer
Michael Pataki
as District Attorney Dino Fulgoni
Steve Conte
as 1st Prison Guard
Phillip Richard Allen
as District Attorney Marshall Schulman
John DeLancie
Dianne Hull
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Critic Reviews for The Onion Field

All Critics (12) | Top Critics (4)

  • The Onion Field is a serious and most uncompromising movie. It lacks, however, the sort of disciplined craft that might have made it a powerful and affecting one.

    Sep 10, 2011 | Full Review…

    Richard Schickel

    TIME Magazine
    Top Critic

  • James Woods as the near-psychotic Powell is chillingly effective, creating a flakiness in the character that exudes the danger of a live wire near a puddle.

    Mar 26, 2009 | Full Review…

    Variety Staff

    Variety
    Top Critic

  • It's the usual heavy Wambaugh brew: police procedure closely observed without a trace of romanticism, suggesting simply that life in the force is psychological hell.

    Jan 26, 2006 | Full Review…

    Geoff Andrew

    Time Out
    Top Critic

  • The film is generally crisp and at times exciting, but it's also full of incidents that are only sketchily explained, and minus the all-important narrative thread that might have provided a clear point of view.

    May 9, 2005 | Rating: 2.5/5

    Janet Maslin

    New York Times
    Top Critic

  • Brutal, even sordid, but compulsive viewing.

    Sep 10, 2011 | Full Review…

    Film4 Staff

    Film4

  • Good acting and careful direction by Becker make it worth seeing, but the violence and the language may be too graphic for some tastes.

    Sep 10, 2011 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…
    TV Guide
View All Critic Reviews (12)

Audience Reviews for The Onion Field

  • Nov 29, 2011
    "The Onion Field" features a complex narrative and well-developed characters, but ultimately, it never goes anywhere. The scenes that are meant to provoke emotion fall flat, the final twenty minutes or so are unnecessary, and the pacing is slow and unbalanced. James Woods delivers a strong performance, but that's about it. There's nothing noteworthy about this film other than that.
    Stephen E Super Reviewer
  • Jul 30, 2011
    The Onion Field has real potential to be a very compelling film. There are tons of great character pieces with a complex plot, but it all somehow just doesn't go anywhere. This film is based on true events, but I'm wondering if the actual events were portrayed as is, and if so, did they need to be so true to them? I'm not going to spoil the entirety of the film, nor am I going to get into a discussion on dramatic character development and satisfactory story, but it basically winds down to nothing. Dramatic tension tries its hardest to kick in at times with little to no pay-off. This, to me, seemed more suited to be a Broadway production rather than a film. Two hours of complex plot and emotionally unsatisfying events make for a very dull film, despite the talent behind it.
    Tim S Super Reviewer
  • Sep 06, 2010
    A fantastic crime/prison movie, the story is really incredible, and the actors are great. The only problem is that it's a little too long. Other than that I loved it.
    Aj V Super Reviewer
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