The Onion Field

"What happened in the onion field is true. But the real crime is what happened after."

1979 2h 2m EN

😐

6.0

MID

★6.0TMDB · 124

CrimeDrama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

An LA police officer is murdered in the onion fields outside of Bakersfield. However, legal loopholes could keep his kidnappers from receiving justice, and his partner is haunted by overwhelming survivor's guilt.

“What happened in the onion field is true. But the real crime is what happened after.”

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Where to watch · US

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Cast

John Savage
Karl Hettinger
James Woods
Gregory Powell
Franklyn Seales
Jimmy Smith
Ted Danson
Ian Campbell
Ronny Cox
Pierce Brooks
David Huffman
District Attorney Phil Halpin
Christopher Lloyd
Jailhouse Lawyer
Dianne Hull
Helen Hettinger (as Diane Hull)

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Harold Becker
Writers: Joseph Wambaugh
Languages: English
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 / 7

ERA

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 7

ERA

Did you know

Directed by Harold Becker, shot by Charles Rosher Jr.. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 7

CAST

Did you know

John Savage and James Woods and Franklyn Seales carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 7

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "What happened in the onion field is true. But the real crime is what happened after.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 7

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0079668 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Harold Becker directs. Charles Rosher Jr. behind the camera. Eumir Deodato scores. John W. Wheeler cuts. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

147 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
2Directed by Harold Becker, shot by Charles Rosher Jr.. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
3Original score by Eumir Deodato. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
4Editor John W. Wheeler shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
5John Savage and James Woods and Franklyn Seales carry the top of the cast.
6Marketing tagline: "What happened in the onion field is true. But the real crime is what happened after.".
7IMDB entry: tt0079668 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.