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Absence of Malice (1981)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writer:
Release Date:
18 December 1981 (USA)
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Tagline:
Suppose you picked up this morning's newspaper and your life was a front page headline... And everything they said was accurate... But none of it was true. more
Plot:
Michael Colin Gallagher is the son of a long dead Mafia boss who is a simple liquor warehouse owner...
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Awards:
Nominated for 3 Oscars.
Another 3 wins
&
4 nominations
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NewsDesk:
(2 articles)
Paul Newman: 1925 - 2008
(From IMDb News. 27 September 2008, 8:49 AM, PDT)
Stars Pay Tribute To Pollack
(From WENN. 27 May 2008, 5:15 AM, PDT)
(From IMDb News. 27 September 2008, 8:49 AM, PDT)
Stars Pay Tribute To Pollack
(From WENN. 27 May 2008, 5:15 AM, PDT)
User Comments:
How to outsmart a covey of smartasses
more (52 total)
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Paul Newman | ... | Gallagher | |
| Sally Field | ... | Megan | |
| Bob Balaban | ... | Rosen | |
| Melinda Dillon | ... | Teresa | |
| Luther Adler | ... | Malderone | |
| Barry Primus | ... | Waddell | |
| Josef Sommer | ... | McAdam | |
| John Harkins | ... | Davidek | |
| Don Hood | ... | Quinn | |
| Wilford Brimley | ... | Wells | |
| Arnie Ross | ... | Eddie Frost | |
| Anna Marie Napoles | ... | Nickie | |
| Shelley Spurlock | ... | Sarah Wylie | |
| Shawn McAllister | ... | Hood 1 | |
| Joe Petrullo | ... | Hood 2 |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
116 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
South Korea:12 |
USA:PG (certificate #26332) |
Australia:PG |
Argentina:13 |
Chile:14 |
Finland:K-12 |
Norway:12 |
Sweden:11 |
UK:PG |
West Germany:12 |
Peru:14 |
Singapore:PG
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
Writer Kurt Luedtke, a veteran newspaperman, based the protagonist of this film on the real-life son of a reputed gangster in Detroit. The alleged gangster was tried and convicted of the crime. At his retrial potential jurors were asked if they had seen this movie, to determine if they would be prejudiced in their evaluation of the evidence. Ultimately the gangster and his partner were both convicted and sentenced to jail terms for labor-related extortion.
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Goofs:
Factual errors: The union workers who struck Michael told him that if their union cards were pulled they would not be able to work anywhere. Florida is a right to work state and you don't need to have a union card to work. They would be considered "scabs" but they would be able to work at any dock in Miami.
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Quotes:
Michael Colin Gallagher:
Why aren't you married?
Megan Carter: How do you know I'm not?
Michael Colin Gallagher: I don't see a ring.
Megan Carter: Haven't you heard of women's lib?
Michael Colin Gallagher: Most of them are ugly.
Megan Carter: Is that supposed to be a compliment?
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Megan Carter: How do you know I'm not?
Michael Colin Gallagher: I don't see a ring.
Megan Carter: Haven't you heard of women's lib?
Michael Colin Gallagher: Most of them are ugly.
Megan Carter: Is that supposed to be a compliment?
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Movie Connections:
Referenced in "Seinfeld: The Junk Mail (#9.5)" (1997)
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FAQ
Why is Michael Gallagher under investigation?How does the movie end?
How does Megan get wind of the supposedly "secret" investigation of Michael Gallagher?
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more (52 total)
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Mighty good drama depicting corruption in the justice department intending, on the surface, to solve a crime, but, beneath the waters, to further political careers. Sally Field played the self centered, self deluded reporter perfectly against Newman's confused, angry victim. Worth seeing.