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True Confessions (1981)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers:
Release Date:
2 October 1981 (Finland)
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Plot:
De Niro (a Catholic Priest) and Duvall (a Homicide Detective) play brothers drawn together after many years apart...
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Awards:
1 win
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NewsDesk:
(4 articles)
Update - Varese Sarabande's 25th Anniversary CD Edition of Children of the Corn is a Quick Sellout
(From ChildrenoftheCornMovie.com . 29 September 2009, 7:42 AM, PDT)
Interview: Joan Didion on "The Panic in Needle Park"
(From IFC. 28 January 2009, 7:20 AM, PST)
(From ChildrenoftheCornMovie.com . 29 September 2009, 7:42 AM, PDT)
Interview: Joan Didion on "The Panic in Needle Park"
(From IFC. 28 January 2009, 7:20 AM, PST)
User Comments:
superb
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Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only) | 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 |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
108 min | Spain:110 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
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:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
During the filming of the movie, Robert De Niro was once quoted as saying, "If we get through one shot before lunch or one day of shooting were considered ourselves lucky."
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Goofs:
Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): When Tom is on the phone with the psychic, he repeats that she's from Guin, Alabama. He pronounces it "GOO-in," when the name of the town is actually pronounced "gween" or, less commonly, "gu-WEEN."
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Quotes:
[Tom gives Des the rosary he took from the priest who died while in bed with a prostitute]
Des Spellacy: He might have been there on a pastoral call.
Tom Spellacy: When was the last time you hung your pants over the side of the bed while making a house call?
Des Spellacy: I admit, that's not the way they teach you at the seminary.
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Des Spellacy: He might have been there on a pastoral call.
Tom Spellacy: When was the last time you hung your pants over the side of the bed while making a house call?
Des Spellacy: I admit, that's not the way they teach you at the seminary.
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Movie Connections:
Version of Who Is the Black Dahlia? (1975) (TV)
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Soundtrack:
Memories of You
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FAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (42 total)
Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for True Confessions (1981)| Recent Posts (updated daily) | User |
|---|---|
| Song | mdownting |
| Uneven movie | hannahp1 |
| John Belushi | Alfriend |
| true confession a good movie? | kathy2 |
| What did he say? | muvphreek |
| Dates | terry-coleman |
Recommendations
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Related Links
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| News articles | IMDb Crime section | IMDb USA section |
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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.