The Onion Field

"The Onion Field" is a film like no other. I usually am hesitant about films that state "This is based on a true story" because most biopics made in Hollywood are riddled with inaccuracies. But I have good reason to believe that "The Onion Field" IS accurate. For starters, the film is based on a novel by Joseph Wambaugh, a former policeman turned novelist. Also, Wambaugh personally controlled the production of this film. That came about after Wambaugh hated what Hollywood was doing to his novels (especially Robert Aldrich's godawful film "The Choirboys")and he said that no novels could be made into films unless he controlled the production. Hollywood doubted he could do it, especially when he chose Harold Becker, an unknown commercial director, to direct "The Onion Field" and cast mostly unknown actors in the lead roles (The best known of them was John Savage, who had recently appeared in "The Deer Hunter") But Wambaugh had the last laugh. Not only did he prove that he could make a good film of it, but he also made "The Onion Field" into one of the very best films of the 1970s. That is saying a lot, considering that the 1970s may have been the best decade of American filmmaking. The turn of events that make up "The Onion Field" begin with the kidnapping of officers Ian Campbell (Ted Danson)and Karl Hettinger (Savage) and the murder of Campbell in an onion field in Bakersfield by two crooks, Greg Powell (James Woods) and Jimmy "Youngblood" Smith (Franklyn Seales). This makes up the first 45 minutes of the film and what's to come is even more harrowing. The beauty of Wambaugh's production is that he is not onesided as most biopics tend to be. While we feel sympathy for Karl Hettinger, the cop who survives the ordeal only to be thrust into an even worse one, we also feel deeply for Jimmy Smith, a naive thief who is wrongly fingered by Powell as the real gunman. **No, I am not spoiling this for you. I am leaving a great deal unsaid and the case is well known from Wambaugh's best seller and news reports*** This is not only due to Wambaugh's great writing, but the great performances as well. Savage gives his best performance ever as the damaged cop and Seales gives an exceptional one as the thief. But James Woods is dynamic as Powell and his over the top theatrics fit perfectly here. We understand why Smith would be drawn to this character. Also, Ronny Cox as the prosecutor gives a good, strong portrayal of a man who is frustrated at our misguided legal system. The film is not only a procedural, but also an indictment of how twisted our criminal justice system is. Hollywood would have shown everything in simplistic terms, but Wambaugh and Becker tell the story in the appropriate shades of gray and on that level, "The Onion Field" is one of a kind. **** out of 4 stars

Greg Powell (James Woods) recruits recently released ex-con Jimmy Youngblood (Franklyn Seales). They're going to rob a liquor store for the money to get to San Francisco. Det. Karl Hettinger (John Savage) is the new partner for Det. Ian Campbell (Ted Danson). They pull Powell over with broken tail lights. Powell pulls a gun on Campbell and take them both hostage. Powell promises to release them in Bakersfield. They drive to an onion field. Powell shoots Campbell and Youngblood screams in disbelieve. Hettinger escapes. Youngblood takes off with the car. Powell end up stealing a car and gets caught. Powell gives up Youngblood right away. The following investigation and trial take a toll on Hettinger's mental state. This is based on a 1973 book about a 1963 incident. It definitely has the dated feel especially with the dialog. The first half is quite tense and compelling. James Woods give an interesting performance as the weirdly controlling crook. The second half isn't quite as compelling. It's very detailed and it suffers for it. It rambles on with complicated fragmented details. Wambaugh's script may be trying to follow the true story too closely and fails to follow the emotional story more truly.

Most people have commented here about the film being let down by a rather slow, poor and melodramatic second half. I agree but won't dwell on it since it's already discussed by better reviewers. So let's discuss the acting. James Woods is very good as Powell, the main villain so to speak. Danson is very good as one of the detectives. Unfortunately, Savage (who plays the other detective) is a mediocre actor, and Seales (the other criminal) is awful and seems to have walked out of a 1930s theater with his hamming (there's no other word for it). The direction is tight in the first half but pretty much loses it in the second. I give it points for honesty and not going for gimmicks etc, but it doesn't do the truthful storytelling very well. The director should have known his limitations and tried to go for a more entertaining angle. It'd have been nice to see more of the early Powell and his attempts at crime, and a longer set up of the post crime events and how the two come to be caught. This could have been a much better movie.

James Woods(Gregory Powell),"This Girl's Life'03", played a very hateful person, who was cold blooded and heartless, and claimed to be a family man. John Savage(Karl Hettinger),"The Drop",'93 played the role as a detective who seemed to lose his gun to Gregory and was subject to all kinds of problems at home and on the job. Franklyn Seales(Jimmy Smith),"Southern Comfort",'81 was a convict who just got out of the slammer and got involved with Gregory and also makes love to Gregory's pregnant wife and starts out on the wrong foot. Jimmy Smith tells the police: " I don't know what a conscience is nor the feeling of Wrong or Right". Franklyn Seales was a great supporting actor to James Woods, it is sad that Franklyn had to die at a very young age. If you love James Woods, don't miss this film!

THE ONION FIELD is one of the better crime dramas ever made. If it weren't for wonderful performances from John Savage and James Woods, this would have been your typical TV-movie-of-the-week rubbish. Even though it looks completely dated by today, the film wonderfully tells the true-life story of a pair of motiveless criminals who decide to abduct two policemen and eventually kill one of them. The other (John Savage) escapes and the two thugs are captured. During the trial, Savage starts to fall apart due to guilt for not having done his duty. Seales seems to be overacting in his role, but at least he tries. Nonetheless, I give it a solid 8 out of 10.

From the Joseph Wambaugh book of the same name comes a frighteningly true story of two police officers and two robbers whose career paths in life fatally cross one night in 1963 in a bizarre execution murder in Bakersfield Ca and the justice systems handling of it all. The film can't match the book but does hold up well. The casting of the various characters is amazing as they resemble in great detail the actual people they are portraying. The film airs on Television from time to time but be sure if you see it it's on a channel that will not edit it in the slightest. To be on the safe side rent it. James Woods and Franklyn Seales stand out in their performances.

Based on his 1973 true crime novel of the same title, 'The Onion Field' is an okay watch, that works primarily due to the Strong Performances it offers. 'The Onion Field' Synopsis: Two criminals kill a cop & later suffer the consequences. 'The Onion Field' is extremely slow-paced & even dull in parts. Of course, some scenes are chilling & the second-hour is interesting. But, the first-hour moves very slowly. A faster pace & A stronger Screenplay were certainly needed. Harold Becker's Direction, however, is excellent. He captures each scene with a sense of paranoia. 'The Onion Field' is packed with Strong Performances. James Woods is simply astonishing as the bad-guy. Woods has delivered many remarkable performances all through his career, but his performance in here is amongst his finest. John Savage is masterfully restrained. Franklyn Seales excels. Ted Danson is fantastic. On the whole, 'The Onion Field' is flawed, but fine acting saves it.

Great true life movie of two L.A. police officers whose lives were changed forever in on onion field on the outskirts of Bakersfield, CA. As always, I will not set here and go over the entire movie. I will say that James Woods did an excellent job portraying Powell, and of course, Ted Danson was his usual best as officer Ian Campbell. This story grips you right from the minute that the two officers are taken hostage. I can only imagine the terror that Campbell and Hettinger went through on the ride from L.A. to Bakersfield. The scene in the onion field and what transpired after the murder of officer Campbell, with Hettinger fleeing the maniac Powell through the fields at night, is breath taking. It is just so sad that in reality, all this really happened, and a good man lost his life at the hands of a crazed-ass lunatic.

The best thing about "The Onion Field" is the cast. James Woods gives a terrific performance, while Ted Danson (though he's not around much) is also a highlight. And there are a number of familiar faces along the way: Ronny Cox, John De Lancie, Charles Cyphers, William Sanderson, and even Christopher Lloyd as a prison convict(!). The actual story material is some compelling stuff. Two police officers taken at gunpoint, one of them shot to death, and the other makes a miraculous escape only to be racked with guilt - while the bad guys escape the gas chamber and mock the legal system for years. But the TV- movie production values and molasses plotting made this thing a slog to get through. The gripping scenes seem few and far between, while the rest of the movie plays like ... the thing really does play like a TV movie. "Boring" is not a word I like to use to describe a movie, so I won't. But tedious works. 5/10

Fact-based movie are always interesting to me. I'm surprised this happened way before the Kennedy assassination. WOW! The true story about "The Onion Field" murder in California mysteriously got my interest for some strange reason. I quickly read the book when I was in college, and I imagined myself in 1963 when the horrible crime took place. When I got the chance to see the movie after 15 years, I was stoked, I was filled with wonder and awe, in what Campbell's partner(Officer John Hettinger) was going through. He has a wife, he has a family, DON'T THROW IT AWAY!, I said to myself. Only the baby's cry saved him from total destruction. John Savage played the role very well in this movie, and James Woods and the late Franklyn Seales(Dexter Stuffins on the 80's cult "Silver Spoons") did their parts well as Powell and Smith. I would like to give thanks for former LAPD Joseph Wambaugh for the book and his courage for doing such a thing. I wished this movie would get a Oscar for it. It was outstanding! 5 STARS!