The Falcon and the Snowman (1985)

The true story of a disillusioned military contractor employee and his drug pusher childhood friend who became walk-in spies for the Soviet Union.

Director:

John Schlesinger

Writers:

Robert Lindsey (book), Steven Zaillian

Stars:

Timothy Hutton, Sean Penn, Pat Hingle

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Timothy Hutton	...	Christopher Boyce
Sean Penn	...	Daulton Lee
Pat Hingle	...	Mr. Charlie Boyce
Joyce Van Patten	...	Mrs. Boyce
Rob Reed	...	Boyce Child
Rob Newell	...	Boyce Child
Karen West	...	Boyce Child
Art Camacho	...	Boyce Child (as Arturo Comacho)
Annie Kozuch	...	Boyce Child
Richard Dysart	...	Dr. Lee
Priscilla Pointer	...	Mrs. Lee
Chris Makepeace	...	David Lee
Dorian Harewood	...	Gene
Mady Kaplan	...	Laurie
Macon McCalman	...	Larry Rogers

Storyline

The true story of Christopher Boyce, a young All-American man whose job as a guard for sensitive documents shatters his faith in his country and leads him to a sometimes comic, sometimes chilling sideline as a spy for the Soviets, aided by his scruffy buddy, Daulton; it can't last, though, and the consequences are tremendous for Boyce and his family.

---

Plot Keywords:

political superpower | drugs | soviet union | spy | cia | 

---

Taglines:

They were best friends from the best of families. Then they committed a crime against their country and became the two most wanted men in America. [USA theatrical]

---

Genres:

Biography | Crime | Drama | Thriller

---

Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

UK USA Mexico

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 February 1985 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Falcon & the Snowman

Filming Locations:

Via Segovia, Palos Verdes Estates, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$12,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$2,358,846, 27 January 1985

Gross USA:

$17,130,087

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$17,130,087

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hemdale, Estudios Churubusco Azteca S.A.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

131 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The name of the pet falcon bird was "Fawkes".

---

Goofs

A Russian addresses Daulton as "Comrade Lee." The title "comrade" was reserved for fellow Soviets, especially Communist Party members. No ordinary non-communist foreigner would ever have been called "comrade," but rather "Mr."

---

Quotes

[explaining how he met fellow traitor Daulton Lee]
Christopher Boyce: We were altar boys together.

---

Connections

Referenced in The Simpsons: The Falcon and the D'Ohman (2011)

---

Soundtracks

Whiter Shade of Pale
Written by Gary Brooker, Keith Reid and Matthew Fisher
Performed by Procol Harum
Courtesy of A & M Records, Inc./Westminster Music Ltd and Straight Ahead Productions

User Reviews

Dark, disturbing, and outstanding

For the 1980s, this is a very dark movie. At this point, filmmakers were beginning to operate under the assumption that all films require smarmy comic relief (which, of course, is taken to the extreme today), flashy action scenes (even more overdone today), or steamy sex scenes.

Hutton and Penn are stupendous in their roles as childhood friends turned Soviet spies. Penn in particular is brilliant as hapless drug dealer Daulton Lee.

What you have here is a true thriller/drama. There is no eye candy to speak of, but the story is so compelling and the acting so superb that (hopefully) most people wouldn't miss it. There are a couple amusing scenes, in particular the one where Penn tries to get his Soviet benefactors involved in a major drugrunning deal.

Well worth watching.