The Onion Field (film)

The Onion Field

Company type	Film
Industry	Motion picture
Founded	1979
Founder	Harold Becker (director), Joseph Wambaugh (screenwriter)
Products	Crime drama film

The Onion Field is a 1979 American neo-noir crime drama film directed by Harold Becker and adapted by Joseph Wambaugh from his 1973 nonfiction book of the same title. The cast features John Savage, James Woods, and Franklyn Seales, with Ted Danson making his cinematic debut.

The film is particularly noted for Woods' portrayal of Greg Powell, which earned him his inaugural Golden Globe nomination.

Plot

Set in 1963, the story follows LAPD detectives Karl Hettinger and Ian Campbell, who are abducted by criminals Greg Powell and Jimmy "Youngblood" Smith after being stopped for making an illegal U-turn. The kidnappers take them to an onion field near Bakersfield, California, where Campbell is fatally shot while Hettinger manages to escape during a moment of darkness.

Following Hettinger's eyewitness account, Powell and Smith are apprehended and convicted of first-degree murder. While imprisoned on death row, the duo manipulates the judicial system, leading to their sentences being commuted to life imprisonment after California abolishes capital punishment.

Meanwhile, Hettinger endures a decline in both physical and mental well-being amid widespread criticism regarding his conduct that night. Plagued by remorse, he experiences nightmares, impotence, weight loss, kleptomania, and suicidal ideation. After being caught stealing, Hettinger resigns from the police department and launches a gardening enterprise.

Production

Filming took place across various Californian locations including Valencia, Los Angeles, Maricopa, and Taft. Scenes depicting the trial were shot inside a courtroom at the Superior Court of Los Angeles County. To authentically recreate the crime scene, the jury panel visited an onion field in Valencia.

Joseph Wambaugh was actively involved in producing the movie and was responsible for choosing the cast and crew, including casting Ted Danson for his first film role. Wambaugh’s intention was to produce a film that surpassed the 1977 adaptation of his novel The Choirboys, which had been scripted by another writer; he subsequently sued that production team and had his name removed from its credits.

Release

The Onion Field debuted at the 1979 Toronto International Film Festival on September 7 and later opened in New York City on September 19. It earned $196,716 during its initial five days across 10 theaters in New York before expanding its release to Los Angeles and Chicago.

Reception

Critics responded positively to the film’s depiction of flawed justice. Janet Maslin of The New York Times described it as a powerful and moving narrative but pointed out its intricate plotlines and absence of a straightforward storyline.

Variety commended it as a meticulously detailed dramatization, with particular praise for James Woods's unsettling performance.

Time Out London labeled the film "expertly performed," highlighting its realistic portrayal of police procedures while criticizing its narrative for becoming somewhat disjointed midway through, though it remained compelling overall.

On Rotten Tomatoes, The Onion Field holds an approval rating of 87% based on 15 critic reviews.

Accolades

Recipient(s)	Award	Category	Result	Reference(s)
James Woods	Kansas City Film Critics Circle	Best Supporting Actor	Template:Won
	New York Film Critics Circle	Best Supporting Actor (3rd place)	rowspan=3 Template:Nom
	National Society of Film Critics	Best Supporting Actor (4th place) (tied with James Mason for Murder by Decree)
	Golden Globe Awards	Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama

Home media

The movie was issued on Region 1 DVD by MGM Home Entertainment on September 17, 2002. This release includes an anamorphic widescreen presentation along with subtitles available in English, Spanish, and French. Additional features comprise a commentary track by director Harold Becker and a behind-the-scenes documentary.