The work of cop turned writer Joseph Wambaugh was most popular in the 70s as Wambaugh for a while blended both careers. No doubt the man had good insight into the workings of the police and the criminal mind. And it's not better exhibited than in The Onion Field which is based on an execution style killing of an LAPD detective and the escape of his partner in an Onion Field.

A cruel twist of fate had detectives John Savage and Ted Danson meet up with criminals James Woods and Franklin Seales one night after the two of them had committed a robbery. Woods got the drop on Danson after he and Seales were stopped in a routine check and they panicked probably with good reason. Danson is executed and Savage manages to elude the criminals in the night when it's pitch black outside.

The rest of the film is the after effects on both criminal and cop. The criminals are facing the death penalty for the murder of the LAPD officer as they fight for their lives, turning the legal system into a travesty. As for Savage the psychological trauma is acted out in some strange ways. It takes him a long time to adjust into some semblance of normalcy.

Woods really dominates the film. This is a man who belongs permanently in an asylum. One incredibly amoral personality the standards of society have no meaning for him. The rather weak Seales falls under his spell so easily.

Wambaugh himself wrote the screenplay so we're seeing what the author meant for us to see. The Onion Field is a fine police drama, highly recommended for fans of the genre and of James Woods.

Greg Powell (James Woods) recruits recently released ex-con Jimmy Youngblood (Franklyn Seales). They're going to rob a liquor store for the money to get to San Francisco. Det. Karl Hettinger (John Savage) is the new partner for Det. Ian Campbell (Ted Danson). They pull Powell over with broken tail lights. Powell pulls a gun on Campbell and take them both hostage. Powell promises to release them in Bakersfield. They drive to an onion field. Powell shoots Campbell and Youngblood screams in disbelieve. Hettinger escapes. Youngblood takes off with the car. Powell end up stealing a car and gets caught. Powell gives up Youngblood right away. The following investigation and trial take a toll on Hettinger's mental state.

This is based on a 1973 book about a 1963 incident. It definitely has the dated feel especially with the dialog. The first half is quite tense and compelling. James Woods give an interesting performance as the weirdly controlling crook. The second half isn't quite as compelling. It's very detailed and it suffers for it. It rambles on with complicated fragmented details. Wambaugh's script may be trying to follow the true story too closely and fails to follow the emotional story more truly.

One can't watch this film without getting angry. The incident is a real one where to police officers, thinking they are doing a routines stop, are abducted by a couple of petty criminals when they get careless. One of them, played by Cheers' Ted Danson, is killed and the other runs off. The killers are brought in and tried. They are convicted and await execution. This is when things go haywire. The cop who survived is subjected to the worst possible treatment by the courts, public opinion, and his peers. The killers begin the process of using the legal system to get their sentences reduced to life in prison. They do this through legal maneuvering, resulting in new trials. As time goes by, stories become foggy and imprecise. Lawyers look for slip-ups and inconsistencies to invalidate testimony. Some of the witnesses have died. What the were able to do would make on sick. Still, the portrayal is excellent. James Woods does the performance of a lifetime as the prisoner/lawyer.