Defense of the Realm (1985)
- Starring:
- Gabriel Byrne, Greta Scacchi, (more)
- Director(s):
- David Drury
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- PG
- Category:
- Foreign
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This fast-paced thriller examines the amorality of a nation's secret services and the responsibility of journalistic investigations in an era of nuclear tensions and bureaucratic deceit. The film examines an unspooling series of events occurring after a near crash of a nuclear bomber at an American Air Force base in the English countryside. When Dennis Markham (Ian Bannen), a well-respected member of Parliament, is reported by a London paper to have been seen leaving a woman's home, and the woman is found to also be familiar with a dignitary from East Germany, his loyalty to his country is questioned, and he is forced to resign. The author of the newspaper exposé, Nick Mullen (Gabriel Byrne), continues his investigation with his colleague Vernon Bayliss (Denholm Elliott). But when Vernon dies from a mysterious heart attack, Mullen suspects something deeper at work and finds evidence of a complex web of deceit concerning a secret Air Force base. With the help of Vernon's secretary, Nina Beckman (Greta Scacchi), Nick fights the dark forces in order to bring the truth to light. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Theatrical Feature Running Time:
- 96 mins
Complete Cast:
- Gabriel Byrne - Nick Mullen
- Denholm Elliott - Vernon Bayliss
- Fulton Mackay - Victor Kinsbrook
- David Calder - Harry Champion
- Robbie Coltrane - Leo McAskey
- Oliver Ford Davies - Anthony Clegg
- Michael Johnson - Humphrey Channing
- Steven Woodcock - Steve Dyce
- John Challis - Challis
- Daniel Webb - Danny Royce
- Annabel Leventon - Trudy Markham
- Graham Fletcher-Cook - Micky Parker
- Greta Scacchi - Nina Beckman
- Ian Bannen - Dennis Markham
- Bill Paterson - Jack Macleod
- Frederick Treves - Arnold Reece
- Daniel Benzali - Lt. Col. Lehane
- William Job - Hilton
- Harriet Bagnall - Peace Girl
- Prentis Hancock - Frank Longman
- Beverley Anderson - Newscaster
- Mark Tandy - Philip Henderson
- Alexei Jawdokimov - Dietrich Kleist
- Lyndon Brook - Pugh
- Director(s):
- David Drury
- Writer(s):
- Martin Stellman
- Producer(s):
- David Puttnam, Robin Douet, Lynda Myles
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- PG(Adult Language, Suitable for Children, Brief Nudity, Mild Violence)
- Categories:
- Foreign
- Closed Captioning:
- Check All Versions
- Subtitles:
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- 1985 - Defense of the Realm - British Academy of Film and Television Arts - Best Supporting Actor
