6.4/10
5,808
61 user 15 critic

True Confessions (1981)

A worldly ambitious monsignor clashes with his older brother, a cynical Los Angeles homicide detective who is investigating the brutal murder of a young prostitute.

Director:

Writers:

(novel), (screenplay) | 1 more credit »
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2 wins & 2 nominations. See more awards »
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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
...
Father Des Spellacy (as Robert DeNiro)
...
...
Jack Amsterdam
...
Frank Crotty
...
Dan T. Campion
...
Cardinal Danaher
...
Msgr. Seamus Fargo
Rose Gregorio ...
Brenda Samuels
...
...
Mrs. Fazenda
Thomas Hill ...
Mr. Fazenda (as Tom Hill)
...
Mrs. Spellacy
Jorge Cervera Jr. ...
Eduardo Duarte
Susan Myers ...
Bride
...
Whore

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Storyline

De Niro (a Catholic Priest) and Duvall (a Homicide Detective) play brothers drawn together after many years apart, in the aftermath of the brutal murder of a young prostitute. Written by Grant Hamilton <[email protected]>

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Genres:

Crime | Drama

Certificate:

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Parents Guide:

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Details

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Language:

Release Date:

25 September 1981 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Confesiones verdaderas  »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Color:

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
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Did You Know?

Trivia

The names in the directory in Leland Standard's office building are also seen above and below Jack Amsterdam's name in the reverse phone book. See more »

Goofs

The Catholic Rosary ends with the prayer Hail! Holy Queen then the Sign of The Cross. Desmomd did neither of these over the radio. See more »

Quotes

Frank Crotty: Nothing like a stiff to make me crave Chinese food!
See more »

Connections

Version of The Black Dahlia (2006) See more »

Soundtracks

Memories of You
Music by Eubie Blake (uncredited)
Lyrics by Andy Razaf (uncredited)
Performed by Benny Goodman
Courtesy of Capitol Records
See more »

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User Reviews

 
Best ensemble acting ever in brothers' tale of redemption
1 May 2006 | by (Canada) – See all my reviews

TRUE CONFESSIONS is one of the best movies ever made. Its virtues include the remarkable array of character actors, each giving of his best under the amazingly subtle direction of Ulu Grosbard. The novel provided an excellent springboard for the script the author wrote with his wife. Re-reading it, I found the scenes that had to be excluded from the movie for reasons of length, etc., were visualized and heard in my mind with the actors' personalities, idiosyncrasies, and inflections. This was particularly true of Cyril Cusack, Burgess Meredith, Ed Flanders, Charles Durning and the two principals. I can watch this film over and over, each time discovering new felicities as well as new depths of emotion. I am not a Catholic, a detective, or an American, but I must confess I had an older brother and our relationship undoubtedly added to my appreciation of this masterpiece.


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