Absence of Malice (1981)

Cast

Sally Field

Megan Carter

Paul Newman

Michael Colin Gallagher

Bob Balaban

Elliott Rosen

Melinda Dillon

Teresa Perrone

Luther Adler

Santos Malderone

Barry Primus

Robert Waddell

Josef Sommer

McAdam

John Harkins

Davidek

Don Hood

James A. Quinn

Wilford Brimley

James J. Wells

About Absence of Malice

Megan Carter is a reporter duped into running an untrue story on Michael Gallagher, a suspected racketeer. He has an alibi for the time his crime was allegedly committed—but it involves an innocent party. When he tells Carter the truth and the newspaper runs it, tragedy follows, forcing Carter to face up to the responsibilities of her job when she is confronted by Gallagher.

Popularity

3.7

Budget

$12,000,000

Revenue

$40,716,963

Release

Nov 19, 1981

Genres

Drama, Romance, Crime

Director: Sydney Pollack

Writer: Kurt Luedtke

IMDb

Gallery

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Reviews (1)

Peter McGinn

Sep 19, 2020

9.0

Sidney Pollack has directed a lot of excellent movies but Absence of Malice, one of his lower profile efforts, is my favorite Pollack film. Paul Newman is excellent, of course, and Sally Fields holds her own portraying a reporter who is both ambitious and caring. The supporting cast is also good, especially the late Wilford Brimley as the razor sharp tobacco chewing “aw shucks“ Officer of the court late in the movie. In a way, this is a thinking man’s revenge film, without the violence. The Paul Newman character attempts to use the ambition and the zeal of those who have targeted him against them. There are traces of humor to be found also, and pockets of romance. I have watched it a few times and probably will again.

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