The Offence (1972)

Calificación de los usuarios:

7.0/10   

Director:

Sidney Lumet

Escritores:

John Hopkins (play)
John Hopkins (screenplay)

Fecha de Lanzamiento:

11 mayo 1973 (USA)

Género:

Crimen | Suspenso | Drama

Frase comercial:

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

Premios:

Nominated for BAFTA Film Award.

Comentarios de los usuarios:

Stylish Direction Helps Talky Script

Reparto

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

También conocida como:

Something Like the Truth
La ofensa (Spain) [es]

Duración:

112 min

País:

UK | USA

Idioma:

Inglés

Color:

Color

Relación de Aspecto:

1.85 : 1

Sonido:

Mono

Clasificación:

Finland:K-16 (cut) (1973) | Finland:K-16 (uncut) (1989) | 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

Locaciones de Filmación:

Arncliffe, Wildridings, Bracknell, Berkshire, England, UK

Compañía:

Tantallon

Trivialidades:

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.

Conexiones de Película:

Apareció en Inside 'Diamonds Are Forever' (2000) (V)

Stylish Direction Helps Talky Script

8 out of 10

A well respected, longtime police chief goes off the deep end and kills a suspect during questioning.

As imagined this is a very stagy film based on the stage play by John Hopkins. There is lots and lots of talking. It is split into three two person talk sections. One is between Connery and the suspect, the second is between Connery and his wife, and the third is between Connery and the man brought in to investigate the incident, which is played by Howard. By the end even the most patient viewer may be getting a bit too talked out. It seems to get especially trying when you realize that they just seem to be going over the same issues again and again.

Yet that is not to say that this is a poor film or even a non-visual film. In many ways you can really appreciate this film for it's visual style alone. Director Lumet has a good handle on the material. It's technically sharp on all levels. The lighting is well composed. The center is bright, but the corners are shadowy much like the human psyche and society. The overall grayness helps bring out the depression and isolation of the main character. The pacing is slow, but deliberate. Each scene builds to a sort of intense crescendo. The music soundtrack resembles that of a one tone alarm that keeps building to a higher pitch much like the alarm ready to go off in Connery's head. The characters inner tension is made even more vivid by Lumets use of interposing the bright light of the interrogation room over the screen. It is truly hard to imagine this film being any better crafted. A terrific training tool for the film student.

Despite being talky the script in itself isn't bad. It makes you very aware of the ugly side of police work. It focuses not on the system or corruption, like a lot of other police films, but more on the actual work itself. It questions whether someone who is bombarded with the daily gore and societal sickness can really stay sane and whether 'leaving it all at the office' is even possible. Even the best officer may eventually bear scars from his job experience.

In a way this may be Connerys best role. He shows his usual tough exterior, but also moments where he unravels into a helpless, scared man. Bannen does a equally good job as the suspect. You are never really sure if he is guilty or not. The fact that he gives off a very leering grin even after being beaten gives this film an added twisted edge.

Overall this is a very oppressive and unrelenting film. It is filled with some very stark and ugly images that may stay with you long after it is over. Yet it is also expertly crafted and brings up some serious and important issues. Issues that are as timely today as they were back then.