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Defense of the Realm

Original title: Defence of the Realm
  • 19851985
  • PGPG
  • 1h 36m
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
2.3K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
29,658
3,701
Defense of the Realm (1985)
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.
Play trailer1:27
1 Video
31 Photos
Thriller
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.
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
2.3K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
29,658
3,701
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • David Drury
    • Writer
      • Martin Stellman
    • Stars
      • Gabriel Byrne
      • Greta Scacchi
      • Denholm Elliott
    Top credits
    • Director
      • David Drury
    • Writer
      • Martin Stellman
    • Stars
      • Gabriel Byrne
      • Greta Scacchi
      • Denholm Elliott
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 32User reviews
    • 13Critic reviews
    • Won 1 BAFTA Award
      • 7 wins & 2 nominations total

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 1:27
    Trailer

    Photos31

    Defense of the Realm (1985)
    Defense of the Realm (1985)
    Defense of the Realm (1985)
    Gabriel Byrne and Greta Scacchi in Defense of the Realm (1985)
    Gabriel Byrne and Denholm Elliott in Defense of the Realm (1985)
    Ian Bannen and Annabel Leventon in Defense of the Realm (1985)
    Ian Bannen and Denholm Elliott in Defense of the Realm (1985)
    Denholm Elliott in Defense of the Realm (1985)
    Gabriel Byrne in Defense of the Realm (1985)
    Ian Bannen in Defense of the Realm (1985)
    Greta Scacchi in Defense of the Realm (1985)
    Gabriel Byrne and Greta Scacchi in Defense of the Realm (1985)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Gabriel Byrne
    Gabriel Byrne
    • Nicholas 'Nick' Mullen
    Greta Scacchi
    Greta Scacchi
    • Nina Beckman
    Denholm Elliott
    Denholm Elliott
    • Vernon Bayliss
    Ian Bannen
    Ian Bannen
    • Dennis Markham
    Fulton Mackay
    Fulton Mackay
    • Victor Kingsbrook
    Bill Paterson
    Bill Paterson
    • Jack Macleod
    David Calder
    David Calder
    • Harry Champion
    Frederick Treves
    Frederick Treves
    • Arnold Reece
    Robbie Coltrane
    Robbie Coltrane
    • Leo McAskey
    Annabel Leventon
    Annabel Leventon
    • Trudy Markham
    Graham Fletcher-Cook
    Graham Fletcher-Cook
    • Micky Parker
    Steven Woodcock
    • Steven Dyce
    Alexei Jawdokimov
    • Dietrich Kleist
    Danny Webb
    Danny Webb
    • Danny Royce
    • (as Daniel Webb)
    Prentis Hancock
    Prentis Hancock
    • Frank Longman
    Michael Johnson
    • Humphrey Channing
    Mark Tandy
    Mark Tandy
    • Philip Henderson
    Nicholas Coppin
    • First Newsroom Deputy
    • Director
      • David Drury
    • Writer
      • Martin Stellman
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Gabriel Byrne once said of his scene-stealing co-star in this film "never act with children, dogs, or Denholm Elliott!"
    • Goofs
      While 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 credits
      The 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."
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Heartbreak Ridge/Solarbabies/Little Shop of Horrors/Defense of the Realm (1986)
    • Soundtracks
      Passion Chorale
      (uncredited)

      Music by Johann Sebastian Bach

    User reviews32

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    " Do you believe information should be available to everyone? "
    Democratic governments are said to work in the public interest. All well and good. However, when that government decides to work in secret, then it becomes an enemy, not only to the people it purports to work for, but is contrary to the spirit of democracy. This is the premise to this film entitled " Defense of the Realm." In this story, our hero Nicholas Mullen (Gabriel Byrne) is an inquisitive newspaper reporter who stumbles across a sensitive story involving the cover-up murder of a school boy. The lad's death is hushed up by government authorities and involves a prominent cabinet official. The case is ultra secret so that when a Parliament official seeks to inquire into the death of the school boy, those who want to keep it from being re-opened, first seek to scandalize him, then discredit the first newsman who helps him, then anyone else who gets involved. After his colleague is found dead, Mullen takes up the challenge of exposing his friend's murder and soon finds himself threatened, then targeted for assassination. The movie is stark drama and with the aid of exceptional actors like Denholm Elliott, Ian Bannen and Robbie Coltrane produces an exciting and heart thumping atmosphere. A fine film and highly recommended as a late night thriller. Excellent! ****
    helpful•13
    3
    • thinker1691
    • Feb 28, 2009

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 21, 1986 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Button - Im Sumpf der Atommafia
    • Filming locations
      • Haddenham, Buckinghamshire, England, UK
    • Production companies
      • The Rank Organisation
      • National Film Finance Corporation (NFFC)
      • Enigma Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $750,000
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $19,938
      • Nov 23, 1986
    • Gross worldwide
      • $750,000
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 36 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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