IMDb RATING
6.5/10
2.5K
YOUR RATING
After a newspaper reporter helps expose a Member of Parliament as a possible spy, he finds that there's much more to the story than that.After a newspaper reporter helps expose a Member of Parliament as a possible spy, he finds that there's much more to the story than that.After a newspaper reporter helps expose a Member of Parliament as a possible spy, he finds that there's much more to the story than that.
- Won 1 BAFTA Award
- 7 wins & 2 nominations total
Danny Webb
- Danny Royce
- (as Daniel Webb)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe name of the airbase is never mentioned. However at one point Nick views a press clipping which states that the (presumed) hit-and-run driving incident occurred in the village of Brandon. That's in Suffolk, adjacent to the US airbase at RAF Lakenheath. (However, the building Nick is seen parked outside when he asks, and is denied, permission to visit the base commander, is not at Lakenheath, it looks more like RAF Uxbridge which would have been easier to get permission to film at, and is also very close to the Shepperton studio where the film was made.)
- GoofsWhile details are secret, it is generally assumed that a nuclear weapon has to be 'armed' before it would explode.
It would be absurd to have bombs in an aircraft that would wipe out the entire airbase if an aircraft crashed on landing.
- Quotes
Vernon Bayliss: Vodka and Coca-Cola. Detente in a glass!
- Crazy creditsThe research done for this film is shown by the acknowledgment at the end of the credits: "The Producers wish to thank the STAFF and MANAGEMENT of THE TIMES NEWSPAPERS FOR THEIR HELP."
Featured review
So-so, bit hard to follow
It seemed quite promising, but was hard to follow in places, not helped by one or two outdoor scenes not transforming well onto a TV screen. I'd recorded it, so on several occasions was able to rewind to have another go at understanding it. It might help if I was to watch the entire film again from start to finish, but I can't be bothered. As I understand it, a youth fleeing from the police clambers over a very nasty looking fence onto the runway of an American air base and gets killed by an aircraft that's landing with a nuclear bomb on board. This precipitates an emergency exodus from the base. Cue cover-up, investigated by local MP who gets set up, leading to investigation by reporter.
Byrne does well as the reporter, but as is often the case Denholm Elliott impresses the most. Greta Scacchi is very bland.
Byrne does well as the reporter, but as is often the case Denholm Elliott impresses the most. Greta Scacchi is very bland.
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- Marlburian
- Jan 11, 2006
- How long is Defense of the Realm?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Button - Im Sumpf der Atommafia
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $750,000
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $19,938
- Nov 23, 1986
- Gross worldwide
- $750,000
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