The Onion Field backdrop
The Onion Field
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The Onion Field 1979 Directed by Harold Becker

What happened in the onion field is true. But the real crime is what happened after.

An LA police officer is murdered in the onion fields outside of Bakersfield. However, legal loopholes could keep his kidnappers from receiving justice, and his partner is haunted by overwhelming survivor's guilt.

Country USA
Production Country USA
Language English
Spoken Language English
Gneres Crime , Drama
Release Date 9 September 1979
122 mins
Cast
John Savage
John Savage Karl Hettinger
James Woods
James Woods Gregory Powell
Franklyn Seales
Franklyn Seales Jimmy Smith
Ted Danson
Ted Danson Ian Campbell
Ronny Cox
Ronny Cox Pierce Brooks
David Huffman
David Huffman District Attorney Phil Halpin
Christopher Lloyd
Christopher Lloyd Jailhouse Lawyer
Dianne Hull
Dianne Hull Helen Hettinger
Priscilla Pointer
Priscilla Pointer Chrissie Campbell
Beege Barkette
Beege Barkette Greg's Woman
Richard Herd
Richard Herd Beat Cop
Le Tari
Le Tari Emmanuel McFadden
Richard Venture
Richard Venture Glenn Bates
Lee Weaver
Lee Weaver Billy
Pat Corley
Pat Corley Jimmy's Lawyer #2
K Callan
K Callan Mrs. Powell
Sandy McPeak
Sandy McPeak Mr. Powell
Lillian Randolph
Lillian Randolph Nana
Ned Wilson
Ned Wilson LAPD Captain
Jack Rader
Jack Rader IAD Captain
Bradford English
Bradford English Red Haired Cop
Wendell Wright
Wendell Wright LAPD Sergeant
Stanley Grover
Stanley Grover Greg's Lawyer #2
Michael Pataki
Michael Pataki District Attorney Dino Fulgoni
Steve Conte
Steve Conte Prison Guard #1
Burke Byrnes
Burke Byrnes CHP Officer Odom
Vincent Caristi
Vincent Caristi Young Man
Don Starr
Don Starr Judge #1
William Dial
William Dial Liquor Store Owner
Raymond Guth
Raymond Guth Prison Guard #2
Raleigh Bond
Raleigh Bond Judge #2
Sandy Ward
Sandy Ward Pawnbroker
William Sanderson
William Sanderson Young Con
Charles Cyphers
Charles Cyphers Chaplain
Peter Miller
Peter Miller Oscar
Richard Seff
Richard Seff Jimmy's Lawyer
Robert Lee Jarvis
Robert Lee Jarvis Bakerfield Detective
Allen Williams
Allen Williams Poker Playing Cop
Jon K. Greene
Jon K. Greene CHP Officer Chris
Dolores Sandoz
Dolores Sandoz Court Reporter
Bill Morey
Bill Morey Lawyer
John de Lancie
John de Lancie LAPD Lieutenant
Richard E. Kalk
Richard E. Kalk Bailiff
Ray Camacho
Ray Camacho Gunrail Guard
Maggie Sullivan
Maggie Sullivan Adah Campbell
René Le Vant
René Le Vant Drag Queen
Tony Becker
Tony Becker Boy Piper
Tony Di Milo
Tony Di Milo Clerk
Jessie Lawrence Ferguson
Jessie Lawrence Ferguson Gamblin' Man
Nick Romero
Nick Romero Death Row Convict
Cindy Collins
Cindy Collins Dawn Hettinger
Crew
Director
Harold Becker
Harold Becker
Writer
Joseph Wambaugh
Joseph Wambaugh
Producers
Walter Coblenz
Walter Coblenz
Herman David
Herman David
Cinematography
Charles Rosher Jr.
Charles Rosher Jr.
Composer
Eumir Deodato
Eumir Deodato
Editor
John W. Wheeler
John W. Wheeler
Production Design
Brian Eatwell
Brian Eatwell
Sound
Keith Stafford
Keith Stafford
James E. Webb
James E. Webb
Nicholas C. Washington
Nicholas C. Washington
Original Writer
Joseph Wambaugh
Joseph Wambaugh
Set Decoration
Richard C. Goddard
Richard C. Goddard
Set Designer
Joseph E. Hubbard
Joseph E. Hubbard
Costume Design
Ken Harvey
Ken Harvey
Ed Fincher
Ed Fincher
Makeup Artist
Bob Mills
Bob Mills
Hairstylist
Edie Panda
Edie Panda
Camera Operator
Elliot Davis
Elliot Davis
Casting
Lynn Stalmaster
Lynn Stalmaster
Script Supervisor
Hannah Scheel
Hannah Scheel
Lighting
Tim Evans
Tim Evans
Joe Garcia
Joe Garcia
Assistant Directors
Thomas J. Mack
Thomas J. Mack
D. Scott Easton
D. Scott Easton
Additional Photography
Ronald Batzdorff
Ronald Batzdorff