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THE OFFENCE (1973)
In an attempt to move away from Bond, Sean Connery did this film to prove his acting chops.
Among the bleakest films ever made, Connery is a Northern English cop investigating a number of sexual assaults upon little girls in a depressing New Town estate. A prime suspect (Ian Bannen) is picked up and much of the film is Connery interrogating him. Things go south as the suspect gets into the cop's head. An internal investigations officer (Trevor Howard) is brought in to investigate and question Connery as to what occurred.
One of the great, unsung films of the 70s. Connery is superb and there is a sequence where he attempts to illustrate to his long suffering wife (the great and tragic Vivian Merchant) the things he has seen as a cop - and the accompanying montage - that will remain seared in seared in your mind forever.
Sidney Lumet directs as if he has worked in Britain all his life - his use mise-en-scene (fluro lights, the police station, the clothing etc) is impeccable.
If you are a Connery fan or a fan of crime dramas in general, then do seek this one out (for many years it was hard to find).
After it was barely released in its day Connery said to hell with it and only worked for the money thereafter. This is his finest screen performance by far.
10/10
In an attempt to move away from Bond, Sean Connery did this film to prove his acting chops.
Among the bleakest films ever made, Connery is a Northern English cop investigating a number of sexual assaults upon little girls in a depressing New Town estate. A prime suspect (Ian Bannen) is picked up and much of the film is Connery interrogating him. Things go south as the suspect gets into the cop's head. An internal investigations officer (Trevor Howard) is brought in to investigate and question Connery as to what occurred.
One of the great, unsung films of the 70s. Connery is superb and there is a sequence where he attempts to illustrate to his long suffering wife (the great and tragic Vivian Merchant) the things he has seen as a cop - and the accompanying montage - that will remain seared in seared in your mind forever.
Sidney Lumet directs as if he has worked in Britain all his life - his use mise-en-scene (fluro lights, the police station, the clothing etc) is impeccable.
If you are a Connery fan or a fan of crime dramas in general, then do seek this one out (for many years it was hard to find).
After it was barely released in its day Connery said to hell with it and only worked for the money thereafter. This is his finest screen performance by far.
10/10