Home
search
more | tips
IMDb > Defence of the Realm (1985)

Defence of the Realm (1985) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 11 | slideshow)

Overview

User Rating:
6.7/10   860 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 6% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Director:
David Drury
Writer:
Martin Stellman (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for Defense of the Realm on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
21 November 1986 (USA) more
Genre:
Thriller more
Tagline:
Just how far will a government go to hide the truth?
Plot:
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. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
Won BAFTA Film Award. Another 6 wins & 2 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(2 articles)
Babylon - Trailer
 (From LateFilmFull. 5 October 2008, 1:19 AM, PDT)

1980's Cult Classic Babylon Comes To UK DVD
 (From LateFilmFull. 4 October 2008, 4:13 PM, PDT)

User Comments:
So-so, bit hard to follow more

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Gabriel Byrne ... Nicholas 'Nick' Mullen
Greta Scacchi ... Nina Beckman
Denholm Elliott ... Vernon Bayliss
Ian Bannen ... Dennis Markham
Fulton Mackay ... Victor Kingsbrook
Bill Paterson ... Jack Macleod
David Calder ... Harry Champion
Frederick Treves ... Arnold Reece

Robbie Coltrane ... Leo McAskey
Annabel Leventon ... Trudy Markham
Graham Fletcher-Cook ... Micky Parker
Steven Woodcock ... Steven Dyce
Alexei Jawdokimov ... Dietrich Kleist

Danny Webb ... Danny Royce (as Daniel Webb)
Prentis Hancock ... Frank Longman
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Also Known As:
Defense of the Realm (USA)
more
Runtime:
96 min
Country:
UK
Language:
English
Color:
Color
Sound Mix:
Stereo

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The name of the airbase is never mentioned. However at one ponint Nick views a press clipping that states 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.) more
Quotes:
[last lines]
Nicholas 'Nick' Mullen: [smiling at Nina Beckman] Well?
[Shortly followed by news commentators reporting on what Nick and Nina have found]
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Howling III (1987) more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
5 out of 6 people found the following comment useful:-
So-so, bit hard to follow, 11 January 2006
6/10
Author: Marlburian from United Kingdom

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.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Defence of the Realm (1985)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
characters in the opening scene fkelleghan
What *is* that music? mrsalex
The naked pictures in the background... hannahp1
Nick and Nina xlilpunkxsktrx
Nick and Nina xlilpunkxsktrx
may be based on true story from 1958 ernestnwonton
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
No Way Out Topaz Superman Octopussy Spin
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb Thriller section IMDb UK section
Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.