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Defense of the Realm

Original title: Defence of the Realm
  • 1985
  • PG
  • 1h 35m
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
2.8K
YOUR RATING
Gabriel Byrne in 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
32 Photos
Political ThrillerThriller

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.

  • Director
    • David Drury
  • Writer
    • Martin Stellman
  • Stars
    • Gabriel Byrne
    • Greta Scacchi
    • Denholm Elliott
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • IMDb RATING
    6.5/10
    2.8K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • David Drury
    • Writer
      • Martin Stellman
    • Stars
      • Gabriel Byrne
      • Greta Scacchi
      • Denholm Elliott
    • 40User reviews
    • 15Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 BAFTA Award
      • 7 wins & 2 nominations total

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 1:27
    Trailer

    Photos32

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    + 25
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    Top Cast44

    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

    User reviews40

    6.52.8K
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    10

    Summary

    Reviewers say 'Defense of the Realm' Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Curabitur pretium tincidunt lacus.

    Nulla facilisi etiam dignissim diam quis enim lobortis scelerisque
    Lorem ipsum dolorSit amet consecteturAdipiscing elitSed do eiusmodTempor incididuntUt labore et doloreMagna aliquaUt enim ad minimVeniam quisNostrud exercitation
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    Related interests

    Dustin Hoffman and Robert Redford in All the President's Men (1976)
    Political Thriller
    Cho Yeo-jeong in Parasite (2019)
    Thriller

    Storyline

    Did you know

    • Trivia
      Gabriel Byrne once said of his scene-stealing co-star in this film "never act with children, dogs, or Denholm Elliott!"
    • Goofs
      While Nick is sitting at Vernon's desk the typewriter on the desk is flat (in normal typing position). The shot changes to a close-up of news articles Nick is holding in his hand and the next shot shows the typewriter flipped up on its back.
    • 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 with Ebert & Roeper: Heartbreak Ridge/Solarbabies/Little Shop of Horrors/Defense of the Realm (1986)
    • Soundtracks
      Passion Chorale
      (uncredited)
      Music by Johann Sebastian Bach

    Top picks

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    Details

    • 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

    • 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

    Tech specs

    • Runtime
      • 1h 35m(95 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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