The Offence (1972)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

Sidney Lumet

Writers:

John Hopkins (play)
John Hopkins (screenplay)

Release Date:

11 May 1973 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Thriller | Drama

Tagline:

After 20 years what Detective-Sergeant Johnson has seen and done is destroying him.

Plot:

A burned-out British police detective finally snaps while interrogating a suspected child molester.

Plot Keywords:

Police | Child Molester | Murder | Mental Breakdown | Interrogation

Awards:

Nominated for BAFTA Film Award.

Cast

Sean Connery	...	Detective Sergeant Johnson
Trevor Howard	...	Lieutenant Cartwright, Detective Superintendant
Vivien Merchant	...	Maureen Johnson
Ian Bannen	...	Kenneth Baxter
Peter Bowles	...	Detective Inspector Cameron
Derek Newark	...	Frank Jessard
Ronald Radd	...	Lawson
John Hallam	...	Panton
Richard Moore	...	Garrett
Anthony Sagar	...	Hill
Maxine Gordon	...	Janie Edmonds, the Raped Girl
Hilda Fenemore	...	Woman on Common
Rhoda Lewis	...	Woman at School
Cynthia Lund	...	Child at School
Howard Goorney	...	Lambert

Also Known As:

Something Like the Truth

Runtime:

112 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-16 (uncut) (1989) | Finland:K-16 (cut) (1973) | UK:15 (DVD rating) | UK:18 (video rating) | UK:X (original rating) | Iceland:16 | France:U | Australia:M | Norway:18 (1973) | Sweden:15 | USA:R | West Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Arncliffe, Wildridings, Bracknell, Berkshire, England, UK

Company:

Tantallon

Trivia:

When Sean Connery agreed to return as James Bond in Diamonds Are Forever, as part of his deal, United Artists had to back two films of Connery's choice that would cost $2m or less. This was to be the first, and a Connery-directed version of MacBeth was to be the second. When The Offence failed at the box-office and Polanski beat Connery to the screen with his version, MacBeth was canceled.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Inside 'Diamonds Are Forever' (2000) (V)

Connery and Lumet at their peak

To me "The offence" is a must. I think this film deserves to be rediscovered and reaprecciated, because it shows two giants of the cinema at their peak.

Actually the film stars Sean Connery -here in his first role after quitting the official James Bond series-, he's directed by his long time friend Sidney Lumet, one of the most talented American directors. The movie is like a theatrical piece, there's not much action. Everything stands on the actors and their expressions, the atmosphere is dark and depressing. But this is is the goal of the story. Sean is a 40 years old policeman, who faces again with a case of child abuse. He's used to deal with the most miserable stories of humanity... But this time his rage and frustrations explode: he beats a suspected person (Ian Bannen) and loses the control, he kills him. He's suspended from the service.

The movie is a psychological study of a hard man, who loses his dignity and understands too late he's a disturbed man as well. "The offence" is a small British film, a big contrast to the lavish 007 productions. We have not a hero here, we have an actor who proves once more to be a wonderful performer -here the desperation of his character is really deep.

In 1972 the movie didn't enjoy a big success, it has been revalued with the time. (maybe the story was too sad and disturbing for being a hit). Today it's considered a milestone in Connery's career. Of course it is.