Absence of Malice
In America can a man be guilty until proven innocent?
1981 | 116m | English
Popularity: 1 (history)
| Director: | Sydney Pollack |
|---|---|
| Writer: | David Rayfiel, Kurt Luedtke |
| Staring: |
| 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. | |
| Release Date: | Nov 19, 1981 |
|---|---|
| Director: | Sydney Pollack |
| Writer: | David Rayfiel, Kurt Luedtke |
| Genres: | Drama, Romance |
| Keywords | murder, prosecutor, newspaper reporter, labor union, legal thriller |
| Production Companies | Columbia Pictures, Mirage Enterprises |
| Box Office |
Revenue: $40,716,963
Budget: $12,000,000 |
| Updates |
Updated: Feb 01, 2025 Entered: Apr 13, 2024 |
![Absence of Malice (1981) Original Trailer [HD]](/extra_thumbs/bLeWVq7tQgQ.jpg)
| Name | Character |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| Arnie Ross | Eddie Frost |
| Barbara Keegan | News Staff |
| Barry Hober | News Staff |
| Phanie Napoli | Nickie |
| Shelley Spurlock | Sarah Wylie |
| Shawn McAllister | Hood |
| Joe Petrullo | Hood |
| William Kerwin | Walker |
| Oswaldo Calvo | John |
| Sharon Anderson | Secretary |
| Ilse Earl | Nun |
| John DiSanti | Longshoreman |
| Rachel Jacobs | |
| Clardy Malugen | Donna |
| Jody Wilson | Raggedy Lady |
| Pat Sullivan | Meersma |
| Bill Hindman | Priest |
| Patricia Matzdorff | Susan |
| Ted Bartsch | Beverage Manager |
| Sugar Ray Mann | Copy Boy |
| Richard O'Barry | Driver |
| Chuck Lupo | Dock Boy |
| Laurie V. Logan | McAdam's Assistant |
| Gary Van Auken | Marshall |
| Diane Zolten | Reporter |
| Kathy Suergiu | Reporter |
| Jeff Gillen | Reporter |
| John Archie | FBI Agent |
| Timothy Hawkins | FBI Agent |
| Ricardo Márquez | FBI Agent |
| Name | Job |
|---|---|
| David Rayfiel | Writer |
| Wilma Garscadden-Gahret | Script Supervisor |
| Tom E. Dahl | Sound Re-Recording Mixer |
| Rita Salazar | Costumer |
| Dorothy J. Pearl | Makeup Artist |
| Rob Hahn | Assistant Camera |
| Willie Marceau | Construction Foreman |
| Bert Hallberg | Sound Mixer |
| Else Blangsted | Music Editor |
| William S. Maxwell III | Leadman |
| Hank Scelza | Transportation Captain |
| Sydney Pollack | Director |
| Owen Roizman | Director of Photography |
| Terence Marsh | Production Design |
| James Glennon | Camera Operator |
| Lynn Stalmaster | Casting |
| Gerald R. Molen | Transportation Coordinator |
| Dave Grusin | Original Music Composer |
| John Franco Jr. | Set Decoration |
| Chester Slomka | Sound Editor |
| Ronald L. Schwary | Production Manager |
| Kurt Luedtke | Writer |
| Don L. Cash | Makeup Artist |
| Neil Burrow | Sound Editor |
| Robert A. Reich | Sound Editor |
| Terri Cannon | Hairstylist |
| Ned McLeod | Location Manager |
| Arthur Piantadosi | Sound Re-Recording Mixer |
| Robert M. Moore | Costumer |
| Edward Aiona | Property Master |
| Bob Rose | Key Grip |
| Ralph Babcock | Boom Operator |
| Lois Freeman | Associate Editor |
| Robert Boettcher | Assistant Property Master |
| Michael McDuffee | Transportation Captain |
| Gordon Davidson | Supervising Sound Editor |
| David McGiffert | Assistant Director |
| Beverly Walker | Publicist |
| Sheldon Kahn | Editor |
| Bernie Pollack | Costume Designer |
| Les Fresholtz | Sound Re-Recording Mixer |
| Rafael Elortegui | Second Assistant Director |
| Gary Holt | Gaffer |
| Chuck Stein | Construction Coordinator |
| Joe Mosca | Assistant Editor |
| Dan Wallin | Sound Mixer |
| John A. Scott III | Leadman |
| Patricia Matzdorff | Production Coordinator |
| Marc Mercury | Stunts |
| Name | Title |
|---|---|
| Sydney Pollack | Producer |
| Ronald L. Schwary | Executive Producer |
| Organization | Category | Person | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Globes | Best Actress | N/A | Nominated |
Popularity History
| Year | Month | Avg | Max | Min |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 4 | 16 | 22 | 10 |
| 2024 | 5 | 18 | 26 | 11 |
| 2024 | 6 | 15 | 30 | 9 |
| 2024 | 7 | 17 | 34 | 11 |
| 2024 | 8 | 15 | 28 | 10 |
| 2024 | 9 | 13 | 20 | 7 |
| 2024 | 10 | 12 | 21 | 7 |
| 2024 | 11 | 10 | 19 | 6 |
| 2024 | 12 | 11 | 22 | 5 |
| 2025 | 1 | 10 | 16 | 7 |
| 2025 | 2 | 8 | 11 | 3 |
| 2025 | 3 | 5 | 12 | 1 |
| 2025 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2025 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2025 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2025 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 2025 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 2025 | 9 | 3 | 4 | 1 |
| 2025 | 10 | 3 | 5 | 1 |
Trending Position
narrator56
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, es ... pecially 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.
Jun 23, 2021