Patriot Games (1992)

When CIA analyst Jack Ryan interferes with an IRA assassination, a renegade faction targets him and his family for revenge.

Director:

Phillip Noyce

Writers:

Tom Clancy (novel), W. Peter Iliff (screenplay)

Stars:

Harrison Ford, Sean Bean, Anne Archer

1 win & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Harrison Ford	...	Jack Ryan
Anne Archer	...	Cathy Ryan
Patrick Bergin	...	Kevin O'Donnell
Sean Bean	...	Sean Miller
Thora Birch	...	Sally Ryan
James Fox	...	Lord Holmes
Samuel L. Jackson	...	Robby
Polly Walker	...	Annette
J.E. Freeman	...	Marty Cantor
James Earl Jones	...	Admiral Greer
Richard Harris	...	Paddy O'Neil
Alex Norton	...	Dennis Cooley
Hugh Fraser	...	Watkins
David Threlfall	...	Inspector Highland
Alun Armstrong	...	Owens

Storyline

Former CIA analyst, Jack Ryan is in England with his family on vacation when he suddenly witnesses an explosion outside Buckingham Palace. It is revealed that some people are trying to abduct a member of the Royal Family but Jack intervenes, killing one of them and capturing the other, and stops the plan in its tracks. Afterwards, he learns that they're Irish revolutionaries and the two men are brothers. During his court hearing the one that's still alive vows to get back at Jack but is sentenced and that seems to be the end of it. However, whilst the man is being transported, he is broken out. Jack learns of this but doesn't think there's anything to worry about. But, when he is at the Naval Academy someone tries to kill him. He learns that they are also going after his family and so he rushes to find them, safe but having also been the victims of a failed assassination. That's when Jack decides to rejoin the CIA, and they try to find the man before he makes another attempt.

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Plot Keywords:

jack ryan character | lingerie | villain | terrorist | ira | 

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Taglines:

Let the Games Begin.

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Genres:

Action | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong sexuality, and for language and violence

Did You Know?

Trivia

Although this film is a sequel to The Hunt for Red October (1990), the action of the original novels was in the opposite order: the novel was a prequel. Presumably the change was made because Harrison Ford is older than Alec Baldwin.

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Goofs

Lord Holmes says that The Queen has decided to invest Jack Ryan K.C.V.O. (Knight Commander of the [Royal] Victorian Order). The insignia is a neck badge and a breast star. When Lord Holmes shows the insignia to Ryan at his home, it is just a small round silver medal, the insignia of the Royal Victorian Medal (R.V.M.), a very minor award by comparison.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Jack Ryan: [answering machine answers] Sorry, we can't come to the phone right now. If you leave a message, we'll get back to you as soon as we can. Thanks.

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Alternate Versions

The German TV-version has got a few cuts.

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Connections

Spoofed in Patriot Dames (1992)

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Soundtracks

The Washington Post
Written by John Philip Sousa
Performed by John Philip Sousa

User Reviews

Terrific!, the best of the Tom Clancy adaptations!

I have wanted to see this film for quite a while now. Ive seen The Hunt For Red October(1990), and Clear and Present Danger(1994), and Patriot Games is much better than them. Patriot Games is a great thinking man's thriller, although its much less difficult to follow than "Clear and Present Danger". It has plenty of suspense and action, and Ford's acting is terrific. I am so surprised that Patriot Games is often considered the worst Clancy film, and "The Hunt For Red October" considered the best, but I think it should be the other way around. Overall a great suspenseful movie. 9 out of 10

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 June 1992 (USA)

Also Known As:

Patriot Games

Filming Locations:

Washington, District of Columbia, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$45,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$18,511,191, 7 June 1992

Gross USA:

$83,351,587

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$178,051,587

Company Credits

Production Co:

Mace Neufeld Productions, Paramount Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

117 min

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) Dolby SR (35 mm prints)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1