True Confessions

"Two brothers out to save everyone else. But they couldn't save each other."

1981 1h 48m EN

😐

6.1

MID

★6.1TMDB · 193

CrimeDrama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

A cop clashes with his priest brother while investigating the brutal murder of a young prostitute.

“Two brothers out to save everyone else. But they couldn't save each other.”

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Where to watch · US

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Cast

Robert De Niro
Father Des Spellacy
Robert Duvall
Det. Tom Spellacy
Charles Durning
Jack Amsterdam
Kenneth McMillan
Frank Crotty
Ed Flanders
Dan T. Campion
Cyril Cusack
Cardinal Danaher
Burgess Meredith
Msgr. Seamus Fargo
Rose Gregorio
Brenda Samuels

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Ulu Grosbard
Writers: John Gregory Dunne, Joan Didion
Languages: English, Italian
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

ERA

Did you know

45 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 2 languages: English, Italian.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Ulu Grosbard, shot by Owen Roizman. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Georges Delerue. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Lynzee Klingman shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Robert De Niro and Robert Duvall and Charles Durning carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "Two brothers out to save everyone else. But they couldn't save each other.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0083232 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Ulu Grosbard directs. Owen Roizman behind the camera. Georges Delerue scores. Lynzee Klingman cuts. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English, Italian.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

145 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
2Dialogue crosses 2 languages: English, Italian.
3Directed by Ulu Grosbard, shot by Owen Roizman. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Georges Delerue. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Lynzee Klingman shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Robert De Niro and Robert Duvall and Charles Durning carry the top of the cast.
7Marketing tagline: "Two brothers out to save everyone else. But they couldn't save each other.".
8IMDB entry: tt0083232 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
9Classified under 13 themes, including "based on novel or book", "brothel", "cop", "priest".