True Confessions (1981): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
True Confessions is a 1981 crime drama directed by Ulu Grosbard, starring Robert Duvall, Robert De Niro and Charles Durning. It runs 1 hour 48 minutes and earned $12.9 million worldwide. Critics gave it 68 on Metacritic.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 48m (108 min)
- Director
- Ulu Grosbard
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- United Artists
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is True Confessions About?
The premise of True Confessions without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
After fading from the public eye, a former teenage star struggles to adjust to a more private existence. She finds herself living with her pragmatic aunt, who offers guidance and support as the young woman confronts the challenges of navigating life away from the glare of fame and the pressures of the entertainment industry.
True Confessions Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- irish american
- neo noir
- 1950s
- los angeles police department
- wraparound prologue and epilogue
- catholic wedding
- brothel
- dead body
- female nudity
- priest confessing to priest
- outdoor wedding reception
- pregnant bride
+38 more Show fewer
- nude corpse
- reference to candle
- confession to priest
- female topless nudity
- bare chested male
- playing golf
- mother son relationship
- reference to abortion
- testimonial dinner
- reference to hitchhiker
- el segundo california
- blood stains
- crime scene
- nude photograph
- framed for murder
- prologue
- scene during opening credits
- man slaps a woman
- gangster crime
- tragedy drama
- detective
- homicide
- prostitute
- monsignor
- catholic
- murder
- catholic priest
- priest
- whodunit
- terminal cancer
- suspect
- suicide by gas
- stag film
- sex crime
- rose tattoo
- pornography
- police
- police precinct
True Confessions Cast
Robert Duvall leads the cast, with Robert De Niro and Charles Durning. Directed by Ulu Grosbard; 10 actors are credited in all.
- Director Ulu Grosbard
Also Starring in True Confessions
· 6 moreTrue Confessions Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave True Confessions 68 on Metacritic.
-
Metacritic 68 Metascore
User score 5.7
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 60% User score
See on TMDB
True Confessions Plot Summary
What happens in True Confessions from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
In the late 1940s, Rev. Desmond Spellacy, a young Roman Catholic monsignor, was flourishing in his role within the Los Angeles archdiocese. His older brother, Tom Spellacy (played by Robert Duvall), was a seasoned homicide detective deeply immersed in the city’s criminal underbelly. Tom, renowned for his exceptional investigative prowess, cultivated a reputation as one of the LAPD’s elite officers, while Des demonstrated a remarkable knack for efficiently managing church projects, always keeping an eye on the financial implications.
Yet, behind the facade of success, Des often turned a blind eye to the dubious dealings of construction magnate Jack Amsterdam, a long-standing friend and lay Catholic associated with Des. Amsterdam exploited his ties within the church to further his self-serving ambitions, accumulating wealth through unscrupulous methods.
Full summary
The whole story of True Confessions, scene by scene
True Confessions Box Office
True Confessions grossed $12.9 million worldwide.
Worldwide gross
$12.9M
- US & Canada
- $12.9M
True Confessions Trailers & Videos
The trailer of True Confessions.
How Well Do You Know True Confessions?
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
Who is Rev. Desmond Spellacy's older brother?
Cars in True Confessions
18 cars on screen, including the 1946 Ford Super De Luxe and the 1941 Cadillac Fleetwood 75.
-
1946 Ford Super De Luxe Important role -
1941 Cadillac Fleetwood 75 Minor role -
1947 Chevrolet Advance-Design Panel Minor role -
Clark Clarkat Minor role
True Confessions Also Known As
25 alternative titles, including “Тайны исповеди” and “Η Εξομολόγηση”.
- Also known as
-
- Тайны исповеди
- Η Εξομολόγηση
- 真正的忏悔
- 一世人两兄弟
- 真诚忏悔
- 叛我心鎖
- 로버트 드 니로의 고백
- 로버트 드니로의 고백
- 고백
- Sanglantes confessions
- L'assoluzione
- Confesiones verdaderas
+13 more Show fewer
- Fesseln der Macht
- 打不开的锁
- Gyónás gyilkosság után
- Pravdivé zpovědi
- Confissões Verdadeiras
- Откровени изповеди
- Καυτές Μαρτυρίες
- Prawdziwe wyznania
- Confessions sinceres
- Salattu totuus
- Таємниця сповіді
- Syndens velsignelse
- A Absolvição
Seen True Confessions?
Movies Like True Confessions
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including True Confessions of a Hollywood Starlet, True Confessions of a Go-Go Girl and Confessions.
-
True Confessions of a Hollywood Starlet 2008 -
True Confessions of a Go-Go Girl 2008 -
Confessions 2006 -
Confessions Among Actresses 1971 -
Confessions of a Young American Housewife 1974 -
Confession 2005 -
True Things 2022 -
One Girl’s Confession 1953 -
Confessions of a Lap Dancer 1997 -
True True Lie 2006 -
Double Confession 1950 -
Confessional 2007
True Confessions FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of True Confessions, each answered in a sentence.
How long is True Confessions?
True Confessions runs 1 hour 48 minutes (108 minutes).
When was True Confessions released?
True Confessions was released on September 25, 1981.
Who directed True Confessions?
True Confessions was directed by Ulu Grosbard.
More films by Ulu Grosbard Who is in the cast of True Confessions?
True Confessions stars Robert Duvall, Robert De Niro and Charles Durning, among 10 credited actors.
How much did True Confessions make at the box office?
True Confessions grossed $12.9 million worldwide.
How is True Confessions rated?
True Confessions has 68 on Metacritic and 60% on TMDB.
Does True Confessions have a post-credit scene?
No. True Confessions has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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