The Onion Field (1979): cast, story & where to watch
1979 · Film · ★ 6.1
Released in 1979, The Onion Field is a drama and crime film directed by Harold Becker, running about 122 minutes. “What happened in the onion field is true. But the real crime is what happened after.” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. 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.
Who’s in it. The Onion Field stars John Savage as Karl Hettinger, James Woods as Gregory Powell, Franklyn Seales as Jimmy Smith and Ted Danson as Ian Campbell, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.1/10, The Onion Field has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on BFI Player Amazon Channel. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Onion Field page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Onion Field tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Onion Field (1979)?
- In US, The Onion Field is available to stream on BFI Player Amazon Channel. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Onion Field worth watching?
- The Onion Field holds an audience score of 6.1 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama and crime. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in The Onion Field?
- The Onion Field stars John Savage, James Woods, Franklyn Seales, Ted Danson and Ronny Cox.
- When was The Onion Field released?
- The Onion Field was released in 1979, with a runtime of about 122 minutes.