ABSENCE OF MALICE (DVD/P&S/WS 1.85/MONO/SP&FR-BOTH) DVD

Absence of Malice
In this legal drama from director Sydney Pollack, Sally Field stars as Megan, an ambitious newpaper reporter who, based on information from FBI investigator Rosen, played by Bob Balaban, writes a scathing article that implicates Gallagher, a reclusive business-owner played by Paul Newman, in the recent disappearance of a labor leader. When Gallagher confronts Megan and sets her straight, the two team together to prove his innocence and have a few romantic interludes along the way. Wilford Brimley and Melinda Dillon also star. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide

Cast Paul Newman as Gallagher Sally Field as Megan Bob Balaban as Rosen Melinda Dillon as Teresa Luther Adler as Malderone Barry Primus as Waddell Josef Sommer as McAdam John Harkins as Davidek Don Hood as Quinn Wilford Brimley as Wells

Crew Bernie Pollack - Costume Designer David McGiffert - First Assistant Director Sydney Pollack - Director Sheldon Kahn - Editor Ronald L. Schwary - Executive Producer Dave Grusin - Composer (Music Score) Don L. Cash - Makeup James Glennon - Camera Operator Terence Marsh - Production Designer Owen Roizman - Cinematographer Ronald L. Schwary - Production Manager Sydney Pollack - Producer Terence Marsh - Producer John Franco, Jr. - Set Designer Bert Hallberg - Sound/Sound Designer Kurt Luedtke - Screenwriter

Absence of Malice
Kurt Luedtke translated his own experiences as a big-city newspaper editor at the Detroit Free Press to write his first feature film. He earned an Academy Award nomination for original screenplay for his journalistically credible story about a naïve, eager-beaver young reporter (Sally Field) misled by a federal investigator into fingering the wrong man (Paul Newman) in the murder of a longshoreman's union official. Directed by Sydney Pollack, the film was a box-office hit and also earned Oscar nominations for Newman and supporting actress Melinda Dillon. Most memorable is the scene in which Newman barges into the newspaper's city room to confront Field. Like most Pollack films, Absence of Malice is a showcase for its actors, who give depth and color to a polished though fairly conventional entry in the fading genre of newspaper movies. Luedtke later wrote an Oscar-winning screenplay for Pollack's Out of Africa and had a co-writer credit on the acclaimed Schindler's List. ~ Michael Betzold, All Movie Guide
 

Kurt Luedtke: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Original Screenplay (nominated) Kurt Luedtke: Golden Globe, Best Screenplay (nominated) Melinda Dillon: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Supporting Actress (nominated) Paul Newman: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Actor (nominated) Sally Field: Golden Globe, Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama (nominated)

Berlin International Film Festival, Special Mention (winner)

General Specifications: Language Options: English, French, Spanish Subtitle Options: English, French, Spanish Sound Processing: 1: PCM mono Additional Features: Languages: English, Spanish, French Subtitles: English, Spanish, French Theatrical trailer Scene selections Widescreen and full screen formats DVD Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1: Theatre Wide-Screen MPAA Rating: PG DVD Discs Included: 1 DVD Sides: 2 DVD DVD Region Code: 1 Content Length: 116 min   DVD Chapters: Side #1 -- Side 1: Absence of Malice: FULLSCREEN 0. Scene Selections 1. Start [6:48] 2. History Lesson [1:10] 3. Something Out Of School [2:17] 4. Elliot Rosen [5:59] 5. "our Story Is True" [1:58] 6. Chapter 6 [3:38] 7. Q & A With Teresa [9:05] 8. Questioning Mike [3:23] 9. Questioning Megan [4:09] 10. Union Problems [2:18] 11. Going Hunting [8:41] 12. Megan Meets Teresa [6:39] 13. The Story Breaks [1:38] 14. "there's Been An Accident." [2:50] 15. Details [5:04] 16. The Funeral [1:42] 17. A Job To Do [1:09] 18. Desk Time? [2:44] 19. His Meeting, His Agenda [2:08] 20. In Megan's Apartment [3:31] 21. Terminating The Investigation [1:14] 22. Elliot's Idea [1:27] 23. Reconciled [2:29] 24. Setting Them Up [2:09] 25. 11 Am Meeting [:58] 26. "gallagher Paid Off Quinn." [1:37] 27. Truth [5:55] 28. The Inquiry [23:13] Side #2 -- Side 2: Absence of Malice: WIDESCREEN 0. Scene Selections 1. Start [6:48] 2. History Lesson [1:10] 3. Something Out Of School [2:17] 4. Elliot Rosen [5:59] 5. "our Story Is True." [1:58] 6. James Quinn [3:38] 7. Q & A With Teresa [9:05] 8. Questioning Mike [3:23] 9. Questioning Megan [4:09] 10. Union Problems [2:18] 11. Going Hunting [8:41] 12. Megan Meets Teresa [6:39] 13. The Story Breaks [1:38] 14. "there's Been An Accident." [2:50] 15. Details [5:04] 16. The Funeral [1:42] 17. A Job To Do [1:09] 18. Desk Time? [2:44] 19. His Meeting, His Agenda [2:08] 20. In Megan's Apartment [3:31] 21. Terminating The Investigation [1:14] 22. Elliots Idea [1:27] 23. Reconciled [2:29] 24. Setting Them Up [2:09] 25. 11 Am Meeting [:58] 26. "gallagher Paid Off Quinn." [1:37] 27. Truth [5:55] 28. The Inquiry [23:13]