Absence of Malice - Trivia, Questions and Fun Facts

[discussimdb]

Fan of Absence of Malice or just want to share your movie knowledge? This topic is dedicated to all trivia and questions related to Absence of Malice

[ronnie]

This major motion picture was filmed entirely on location in Miami during the winter of 1980-1981.

[brent]

First of three cinema movie collaborations of director Sydney Pollack and screenwriter Kurt Luedtke. The films are [in order]: Absence of Malice (1981), Out of Africa (1985), and Random Hearts (1999). Both Luedtke and Pollack won Oscars in their respective fields for Out of Africa (1985) which won 7 Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Director (Pollack), and Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium (Luedtke).

[nina]

In the film, Davidek, the newspaper's lawyer character, portrayed by John Harkins, explains the relevance of the film's title. To paraphrase Davidek: In a matter of law, the truth of a story can be irrelevant. If there is no knowledge that a story is false, then the media are absent of malice. If the media have been reasonable and prudent in producing a story, then they are not negligent. As such, the media can say whatever they like about someone and the affected party is powerless to stop them. In conclusion, says Davidek, "Democracy is served."

[addison]

Paul Newman and Melinda Dillon also appeared in the hockey movie Slapshot in 1977.

[mathew]

The attack by Michael Gallagher on Megan Carter resulted in actress Sally Field receiving minor injuries. On the DVD documentary The Story Behind Absence of Malice (2004), Field declares that her neck pain was "beyond sore" and likened it to "whiplash". Field did not let actor Paul Newman know of her hurt and continued working on the movie.

[javier]

According to Frank DiGiaomo, Paul Newman stated that this picture was a direct attack on the "New York Post" because the publication had published a caption with a photo of Newman, a caption that Newman clearly stated was inaccurate. A row occurred, and the "New York Post" allegedly removed his name from appearing in the paper.

[ava]

The lead male role of Michael Gallagher was originally conceived as an Italian man as per the initial intention of the filmmakers approaching star Al Pacino. The 11th March 1981 edition of show-business trade paper 'Variety' reported that originally the character had a father who was part of the Mafia. When 'Paul Newman' was cast, the ethnicity of the character had to be changed, with the character's name also changed, to the name of Michael Gallagher, and it was also decided to dispense with the character's mafia connection altogether.

[victoria]

The only film Paul Newman ever made for Columbia Pictures.

[wallace]

Publicity for this picture in press advertisements asked the philosophical question: "In America can a man be guilty until proven innocent?"

[beth]

The film was nominated for three Academy Awards in 1982 in the categories of Best Actor in a Leading Role for Paul Newman, Best Actress in a Supporting Role for Melinda Dillon, and Best Writing - Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen for Kurt Luedtke but the movie failed to win an Oscar in any of these categories.