IMDb RATING
6.5/10
2.6K
YOUR RATING
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.
- Won 1 BAFTA Award
- 7 wins & 2 nominations total
Danny Webb
- Danny Royce
- (as Daniel Webb)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe name of the airbase is never mentioned. However at one point Nick views a press clipping which states that the (presumed) hit-and-run driving incident occurred in the village of Brandon. That's in Suffolk, adjacent to the US airbase at RAF Lakenheath. (However, the building Nick is seen parked outside when he asks, and is denied, permission to visit the base commander, is not at Lakenheath, it looks more like RAF Uxbridge which would have been easier to get permission to film at, and is also very close to the Shepperton studio where the film was made.)
- GoofsWhile 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 creditsThe 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."
Featured review
A very good, well written thriller.
Defence of the Realm is a slick British thriller, it's done in the style of John Le Carre. It's no surprise that it won a host of awards, it is exciting, enthralling, and superbly acted. The writing does perhaps lack some of the intricacies of Le Carre, the most notable perhaps being the ending, which was the only element I didn't particularly like.
Gabriel Byrne is terrific, very charismatic, and well suited to the part. He's in great company, with a host of British talent, Denholm Elliot in particular is superb.
It has of course dated a little, but it stands up so well twenty plus years later. 7/10
Gabriel Byrne is terrific, very charismatic, and well suited to the part. He's in great company, with a host of British talent, Denholm Elliot in particular is superb.
It has of course dated a little, but it stands up so well twenty plus years later. 7/10
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- May 11, 2019
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Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Button - Im Sumpf der Atommafia
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- 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
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