True Confessions (1981)

Director:

Ulu Grosbard

Writers:

John Gregory Dunne (novel)
John Gregory Dunne (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

2 October 1981 (Finland)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Plot:

De Niro (a Catholic Priest) and Duvall (a Homicide Detective) play brothers drawn together after many years apart...

Plot Keywords:

Catholic Priest | Catholic | Detective | Brother | Priest

Awards:

1 win

US TV Schedule:

Thur. Nov. 12

1:20 PM

MAX

Cast

Robert De Niro	...	Father Des Spellacy (as Robert DeNiro)
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
Dan Hedaya	...	Howard Terkel
Gwen Van Dam	...	Mrs. Fazenda
Thomas Hill	...	Mr. Fazenda (as Tom Hill)
Jeanette Nolan	...	Mrs. Spellacy
Jorge Cervera Jr.	...	Eduardo Duarte
Susan Myers	...	Bride
Louisa Moritz	...	Whore

Runtime:

108 min | Spain:110 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Singapore:M18 | Canada:18A (Ontario) | Iceland:12 | Australia:M | Finland:K-18 | France:-12 | Norway:16 | Spain:18 | UK:15 | USA:R | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Chartoff-Winkler Productions

Trivia:

This was the first film that Robert De Niro did after Raging Bull (1980). He kept some of the weight that he gained for Raging Bull because he felt that it better fit the character.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: At the beginning, the deceased man lying in the bed can be seen in several shots breathing.

Quotes:

Tom Spellacy: I want you to get me a list of all people with the same M.O.
cop on the phone: That's gonna take awhile, sergeant.
Tom Spellacy: She was cut in two. Do you think it's an epidemic, like the flu?

Movie Connections:

Version of Who Is the Black Dahlia? (1975) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Memories of You

superb

I had seen this excellent film when it was first released over 20 years ago. I had forgotten about it completely and came across it on the mystery channel recently. When it first came out I recall that no less a personage than William F. Buckley - not normally in the film reviewing business - raved about it.

Having just seen it again, I am astonished at what a superb film this is, and that I could have forgotten it. Consider the credits - Joan Didion as writer, and Robert Duvall, Robert deNiro, Charles Durning and and Burgess Meredith.

Those expecting simply a crime story will be disappointed, for the horrific murder that is the centerpiece of the movie is nothing more than, in Hitchcock's term, a 'McGuffin' on which to hang a richly human tale of corruption, guilt, brotherly conflict and devotion, and redemption. The portrayal of the necessary compromises that even good institutions - e.g. the church - must make to exist and operate in the world is as good a portrayal of the essential sinfulness of the human condition as any. In fact I feel that it is impossible for anyone without at least some semblance of religious sensibility to appreciate the true character of this movie.

The period setting and flavor is excellent and the production values are superb. Contrary to viewers who were bored I could not tear myself away from the screen.

This one is truly an overlooked and forgotten - dare I use an overworked term? - masterpiece.