The Offence (1973): Cast, Ratings & Plot
The Offence is a 1973 drama thriller directed by Sidney Lumet, starring Sean Connery, Trevor Howard and Ian Bannen. It runs 1 hour 52 minutes. It earned 1 award nomination, including Best Actor in a Supporting Role at the BAFTA 1974. Critics gave it 70 on Metacritic.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 52m (112 min)
- Director
- Sidney Lumet
- Original language
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English - Studio
- C.B. Films S.A.
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Offence About?
The premise of The Offence without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
A veteran British detective, burdened by past trauma, finds himself consumed by a disturbing case involving a young victim. The investigation pushes him to his limits, triggering intense anger and frustration as he pursues justice. A violent confrontation with a suspect occurs, but the unraveling truth forces the detective to confront his own inner demons and the ethical boundaries he's crossed in his pursuit of resolution.
The Offence Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- 1970s
- united kingdom
- great britain
- search party
- police detective
- detective sergeant
- schoolgirl
- police interrogation
- suspension
- beating up a suspect
- police investigation
- husband wife relationship
+38 more Show fewer
- suspended from job
- dysfunctional marriage
- police profiling
- death of a suspect
- interview
- brutal interrogation
- psychological projection
- misogynist
- screenplay adapted by author
- evil lead character
- detective
- police
- police station
- questioning
- driving in the rain
- flashback
- police custody
- rogue cop
- psycho thriller
- police inspector
- mental breakdown
- fighting the system
- england
- confrontation
- sexual repression
- rage
- manhunt
- interrogation
- deep focus
- dead body
- based on play
- independent film
- child abuse victim
- beating
- child rapist
- female nudity
- rape of a child
- police brutality
The Offence Cast
Sean Connery leads the cast, with Trevor Howard and Ian Bannen. Directed by Sidney Lumet; 10 actors are credited in all.
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Director Sidney Lumet
Also Starring in The Offence
· 6 moreMore from Sidney Lumet
More films directed by Sidney Lumet, best-rated first: 12 Angry Men, Dog Day Afternoon, Network and Serpico.
The Offence Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave The Offence 70 on Metacritic.
-
Metacritic 70 Metascore
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 68% User score
See on TMDB
The Offence Plot Summary
What happens in The Offence from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Detective Sergeant Johnson’s long and troubled career has taken a severe toll on his mental health. After two decades of grappling with heinous crimes, including murders and rapes, the incessant exposure to humanity’s darkest facets has left deep scars on his psyche. It’s as if the relentless burden of his experiences is methodically unraveling his sanity.
As a culmination of mounting frustrations, Johnson finds himself in a harrowing confrontation with the suspect Kenneth Baxter, involved in a ghastly rape case. Overwhelmed by emotion during the interrogation, Johnson violently assaults Baxter, resulting in life-threatening injuries. This incident leads to his suspension, forcing him to face the music for his reckless actions.
Full summary
The whole story of The Offence, scene by scene
The Offence Awards & Nominations
The Offence earned 1 award nomination, including Best Actor in a Supporting Role at the BAFTA 1974.
1 nomination1 ceremony
-
BAFTA 1974 1 nomination- Nominated Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Ian Bannen
The Offence Trailers & Videos
The trailer of The Offence.
How Well Do You Know The Offence?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What career does Detective Sergeant Johnson have?
Cars in The Offence
30 cars on screen, including the 1964 Austin 1100 MkI and the 1965 Austin 1800 MkI.
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1964 Austin 1100 MkI Important role -
1965 Austin 1800 MkI Important role -
1970 Ford Cortina 1600E MkII Minor role -
1971 Ford Transit MkI Minor role
The Offence Also Known As
20 alternative titles, including “La ofensa” and “A támadás”.
- Also known as
-
- La ofensa
- A támadás
- Het Vergrijp
- Something Like the Truth
- Riflessi in uno specchio scuro
- Sein Leben in meiner Gewalt
- Az igazság ereje
- Оскорбление
- החקירה
- Престъпление
- Até os Deuses Erram
- O Delito
+8 more Show fewer
- Övergreppet
- 突击者
- 怒りの刑事
- 신문
- Agresja
- Painostus
- Forhøret
- Urážka
Seen The Offence?
Movies Like The Offence
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The Suspect, A Confession and The Accused.
The Offence FAQ: Cast, Awards & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of The Offence, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Offence?
The Offence runs 1 hour 52 minutes (112 minutes).
When was The Offence released?
The Offence was released on May 11, 1973.
Who directed The Offence?
The Offence was directed by Sidney Lumet.
More films by Sidney Lumet Who is in the cast of The Offence?
The Offence stars Sean Connery, Trevor Howard and Ian Bannen, among 10 credited actors.
How is The Offence rated?
The Offence has 70 on Metacritic and 68% on TMDB.
Was The Offence nominated for any awards?
The Offence received 1 nomination across 1 ceremony.
Does The Offence have a post-credit scene?
No. The Offence has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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