The Russia House

19901990
RR
2h 3min

Sean Connery and Michelle Pfeiffer in The Russia House (1990)

Home Video Trailer from MGM Home Entertainment

Play trailer1:50

Drama Romance Thriller

An expatriate British publisher unexpectedly finds himself working for British intelligence to investigate people in Russia.An expatriate British publisher unexpectedly finds himself working for British intelligence to investigate people in Russia.An expatriate British publisher unexpectedly finds himself working for British intelligence to investigate people in Russia.

Director
- Fred Schepisi
Writers
- John le Carré(novel)
- Tom Stoppard(screenplay)
Stars

See production, box office & company info

See more at IMDbPro

Awards
- 5 nominations

Videos1

The Russia House

The Russia House

Fred Schepisi in The Russia House (1990)

The Russia House (1990)

Sean Connery and Michelle Pfeiffer in The Russia House (1990)

Sean Connery and Michelle Pfeiffer in The Russia House (1990)

Sean Connery and Michelle Pfeiffer in The Russia House (1990)

Sean Connery and Michelle Pfeiffer in The Russia House (1990)

Sean Connery and Michelle Pfeiffer in The Russia House (1990)

Sean Connery and Michelle Pfeiffer in The Russia House (1990)

Sean Connery and Michelle Pfeiffer in The Russia House (1990)

The Russia House (1990)

The Russia House (1990)

The Russia House (1990)

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Three notebooks supposedly containing Russian military secrets are handed to a British publisher during a Russian book conference. The British Secret Service are naturally keen to learn if these notebooks are the genuine article. To this end, they enlist the help of the scruffy British publisher Barley Blair, who has plenty of experience with Russia and Russians. Barley, an unconventional character who doesn't respond well to authority, finds himself in a game more complex than he first thought when he digs into the origin of the notebooks. —Murray Chapman <muzzle@cs.uq.oz.au>

east west british intelligence unsubtitled foreign language moscow russia mi6 108 more

Taglines
- A Spy Story . . . A Love Story . . . A Story to Cross all Boundaries.
Genres
Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
- Rated R for language
Parents guide

Trivia
This movie was the first major movie production from the West to be filmed substantially in the Soviet Union, with full permission from the Russian Government. This movie was filmed on location in Russia, in Moscow and St. Petersburg. The beginning and final scenes were filmed in Lisbon, Portugal.

Goofs
During Blair's "start the avalanche" speech, Dante is seen at the end of the table. As the camera pans around the table during the speech, Dante disappears from the end of the table, and then reappears.

Quotes
Bartholomew "Barley" Scott Blair: So there was a crunch: to save your precious secrets or to trade them for Katya and her family. The easiest decision I ever made.

Connections
Featured in Sean Connery: A BAFTA Tribute (1990)

Soundtracks
What Is This Thing Called Love?
Written by Cole Porter
Published by Warner/Chappell Music

Top review

6/10

Slow and cerebral

I have read a few John Le Carre books (although not The Russia House) and was not as impressed as most other people seemed to be. People say that the movie is slow and cerebral (and it is) but really that is how Le Carre's books read. Sean Connery never puts in a bad performance, and neither does Michelle Pfeiffer. And it never hurts that she is sooooo beautiful. Klaus Maria Brandauer is also always good and still is here. The problem is the script, which relates back to the source material. It is a little bit of a bore. Not badly, just a bit. It looks like the filmmakers were so proud to be filming in the USSR, that they went a little overboard. Not every place in Russia is St. Basil's and the Winter Palace. Overall the film is OK.

helpful•7

3

smatysia
Dec 13, 2013

Release date
- December 21, 1990 (United States)
Country of origin
- United States
Official site
- MGM
Languages
- English
- Russian
Also known as
- John le Carré's The Russia House
Filming locations
- Lisbon, Portugal
Production companies
See more company credits at IMDbPro

Budget
- $21,800,000 (estimated)
Gross US & Canada
- $22,997,992
Opening weekend US & Canada
- $4,435,650
- Dec 25, 1990
Gross worldwide
- $22,997,992

See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

Runtime
- 2h 3min
Color
- Color
Sound mix
- Dolby
Aspect ratio
- 2.35 : 1

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