Bullet to Beijing (1995)

User Rating:

5.6/10   

Director:

George Mihalka

Writer:

Harry Alan Towers (writer)

Release Date:

1995 (France)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

A stolen biological weapon begins a high-stakes game of kill or be killed !

Plot:

A retired British spy is called back into service by his government to help prevent North Korea from getting its hands on a deadly virus called "The Red Death."

Plot Keywords:

Russia | Train | British Spy | Sequel | 1990s

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Anatoly Kulbitsky	...	Prof. Kulbitsky
Shaughan Seymour	...	Carruthers
Michael Caine	...	Harry Palmer
Corinna Richards	...	Policewoman
Tamara Timofeyeva	...	Elderly Woman
Jason Connery	...	Nick
Anatoli Shvedersky	...	Doctor
Helena Michell	...	Henrietta
Juliette Benson	...	Juliette
Patrick Allen	...	Col. Wilson
Sue Lloyd	...	Jean
Annika Bullus	...	Girl in Savoy Bar
Chris Tulloch	...	Attendant
Mia Sara	...	Natasha Gradetsky
Michael Gambon	...	Alex

Also Known As:

Beijing express (Canada: French title)
Len Deighton's Bullet to Beijing (USA) (complete title)

MPAA:

Rated R for violence, nudity and language.

Runtime:

101 min | USA:122 min

Country:

Canada | UK | Russia

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Astralcolor)

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

UK:15 (video premiere) | USA:R

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Company:

Harry Palmer Productions, Limited

Trivia:

Len Deighton did not even coin the name "Harry Palmer" (the agent in Deighton's books remained unnamed).

Goofs:

Factual errors: In the end credits roll at the end, Special Effects is spelled "Special Effets".

Quotes:

Harry Palmer: Are you in charge of this operation?
Nick: Yes
Harry Palmer: You're a bit young, aren't you?
Nick: You don't worry about my youth, and I won't worry about your age.

Movie Connections:

References Funeral in Berlin (1966)

You can't go home again...

After over 25 years, the return of Len Deighton's spy Harry Palmer (Michael Caine) is a terrific disappointment. A lame plot, cheapo thrills (car chase, boat chase), wooden performances (Jason Connery return your Equity Card now!)- none of the magic of the sixties survives. The inconsistencies and banalities are too numerous to go into. Suffice to say that the name of total hack Harry Alan Towers as producer and (pseudonymously) writer should serve as fair warning. Sue Lloyd, by the way, despite prominent billing, appears only as a voice-over in a scene at the beginning. For total die-hard fans only. Sorry, I've changed my mind - there is one plot factor I just have to describe in detail: Imagine you are Harry Palmer. You have just been the victim of an attempted assassination in a strange city. A rich and powerful local has just told you that the Chechen Mafia are out to kill you. Would you a) go into hiding, b) change your name, get a false passport and hightail it out of town or c) check into a top class hotel using your real name, surrender your passport at the desk, and then go to a nightclub full of low-life to meet the owner? If you answered 'c', you'll enjoy this film.