Defense of the Realm (1985)
Defence of the Realm (original title)Reference View | Change View
- PG
- 1h 36min
- Thriller
- 21 Nov 1986 (USA)
- Movie
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:
Writer:
Awards:
- Won 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 6 wins & 2 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Gabriel Byrne | ... |
Nicholas 'Nick' Mullen
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| Greta Scacchi | ... |
Nina Beckman
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| Denholm Elliott | ... |
Vernon Bayliss
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| Ian Bannen | ... |
Dennis Markham
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| Fulton Mackay | ... |
Victor Kingsbrook
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| Bill Paterson | ... |
Jack Macleod
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| David Calder | ... |
Harry Champion
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| Frederick Treves | ... |
Arnold Reece
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| Robbie Coltrane | ... |
Leo McAskey
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| Annabel Leventon | ... |
Trudy Markham
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| Graham Fletcher-Cook | ... |
Micky Parker
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Steven Woodcock | ... |
Steven Dyce
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Alexei Jawdokimov | ... |
Dietrich Kleist
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| Danny Webb | ... |
Danny Royce
(as Daniel Webb)
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| Prentis Hancock | ... |
Frank Longman
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Michael Johnson | ... |
Humphrey Channing
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| Mark Tandy | ... |
Philip Henderson
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Nicholas Coppin | ... |
First Newsroom Deputy
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Veronica Duffy | ... |
Second Newsroom Deputy
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| David Hatton | ... |
Picture Editor
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Laurance Rudic | ... |
Charlie
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| Philip Whitchurch | ... |
Cuttings Librarian
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Beverly Anderson | ... |
Newscaster
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David Lyon | ... |
Political Pundit
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Pip Miller | ... |
Police Sergeant Ross
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David Halliwell | ... |
Remand Centre Screw
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John Rees | ... |
Minister at Funeral
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Ravinder Singh Reyett | ... |
Club Doorman
(as Ravinder Singh)
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| Noel Johnson | ... |
Club Member
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Hubert Rees | ... |
Club Waiter
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| Oliver Ford Davies | ... |
Anthony Clegg
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George Ellis Jones | ... |
D.C.S. Catterick
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| James Fleet | ... |
Ministry Man
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Vass Anderson | ... |
Strick
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| Lyndon Brook | ... |
Pugh
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William Job | ... |
Hilton
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| Al Matthews | ... |
First U.S. Controller
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Daniel Foley | ... |
Second U.S. Controller
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| Barbara Coles | ... |
Third U.S. Controller
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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John Cannon | ... |
Greenmont Detention Centre Officer (uncredited)
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John Clifford | ... |
Reporter (uncredited)
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| Kenneth Coombs | ... |
Bar Patron (uncredited)
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| Derek Lyons | ... |
Journalist (uncredited)
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Mike Reynell | ... |
Bar Patron (uncredited)
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Directed by
| David Drury | ||
Written by
| Martin Stellman | ... | (written by) |
Produced by
| Robin Douet | ... | producer |
| Lynda Myles | ... | producer |
| David Puttnam | ... | executive producer |
Music by
| Richard Harvey | ||
Cinematography by
| Roger Deakins | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| Michael Bradsell | ||
Editorial Department
| Mark Latimer | ... | second assistant editor |
| Andrew Parker | ... | first assistant editor |
Casting By
| Mary Selway | ||
Production Design by
| Roger Murray-Leach | ||
Art Direction by
| Diana Charnley | ||
Set Decoration by
| Harry Cordwell | ||
Costume Design by
| Louise Frogley | ||
Makeup Department
| Blaize Bettinson | ... | makeup assistant |
| Jan Dorman | ... | hairdresser |
| Sandra Shepherd | ... | makeup supervisor |
Production Management
| David Brown | ... | production manager |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| John Dodds | ... | second assistant director |
| Christopher Hall | ... | third assistant director (as Chris Hall) |
| Chris Rose | ... | first assistant director |
Art Department
| Alan Brown | ... | stand-by stagehand |
| Bill Coggon | ... | chargehand stand-by prop |
| Roy Evans | ... | construction manager |
| David Fowle | ... | stand-by painter |
| Dennis Fruin | ... | prop storeman |
| Mark Fruin | ... | stand-by prop |
| David Ned Kelly | ... | stand-by carpenter (as David Kelly) |
| Nicky Page | ... | art department junior |
| Brian Payne | ... | property master |
| Steve Payne | ... | dressing prop (as Steven Payne) |
| Brian Read | ... | production buyer |
| Dennis Simmonds | ... | chargehand dressing prop |
| Mark White | ... | Transport: white trux |
Sound Department
| Paul Conway | ... | assistant dubbing editor |
| Clive Copland | ... | boom operator |
| Anthony Jackson | ... | sound mixer (as Tony Jackson) |
| Howard Lanning | ... | dubbing editor |
| Hugh Strain | ... | dubbing mixer |
Special Effects by
| Martin Gutteridge | ... | special effects (uncredited) |
| Garth Inns | ... | special effects (uncredited) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| James Ainslie | ... | focus puller |
| Tommy Casey | ... | electrician |
| Bob Gomme | ... | generator operator |
| Micky Hand | ... | chargehand electrician (as Mickey Hand) |
| John Higgins | ... | chief electrician |
| Stephen Morley | ... | unit still photographer |
| Simon Reeves | ... | clapper loader |
| Nobby Roker | ... | grip |
| Andrew Speller | ... | camera operator |
| James Terry | ... | electrician |
| Bill Wolohan | ... | stand-by rigger |
Casting Department
| Teresa Topolski | ... | assistant to casting director |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Gloria Barnes | ... | wardrobe mistress |
| Colin Wilson | ... | wardrobe supervisor |
Location Management
| Laurie Borg | ... | location manager |
| David Kerney | ... | location liaison |
Script and Continuity Department
| Ene Watts | ... | continuity |
Transportation Department
| Fred Benjafield | ... | wardrobe driver |
| Alan Briant | ... | construction driver (as Alan Bryant) |
| Bob Freeman | ... | driver: camera truck |
| Bill Horsnell | ... | stand-by driver: props |
| Geoff King | ... | unit driver (as Jeff King) |
| Ian Rankine | ... | stand-by construction driver |
| Gary Scott | ... | unit driver |
| Tony Smith | ... | driver: props |
| Mark White | ... | transportation: white trux/d&d transport |
| Bill Wright | ... | unit driver |
Additional Crew
| Joanna Campling | ... | unit publicist |
| Diane Chittell | ... | production coordinator |
| Lil Coppin | ... | secretary to producer |
| Sheala Daniell | ... | assistant accountant |
| Alexander Leon | ... | production runner |
| Steve Norris | ... | production executive |
| Alison Odell | ... | secretary to producer |
| Maggie Phelan | ... | production accountant |
| Noel Radford | ... | floor runner |
| Luke Randolph | ... | production associate |
| Betty Sharp | ... | assistant accountant |
Production Companies
- The Rank Organisation (presents)
- National Film Finance Corporation (NFFC) (in association with)
- Enigma Productions
Distributors
- J. Arthur Rank Film Distributors (1985) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Hemdale (1986) (United States) (theatrical)
- Carlton Film Distributors (1999) (United Kingdom) (DVD)
- Network DVD (2008) (United Kingdom) (DVD) (PAL)
- Rank Video Library (1986) (United Kingdom) (VHS)
- CEL Home Video (1987) (Australia) (video)
- Concorde Home Entertainment (2008) (Germany) (DVD)
- Embassy Home Entertainment (1987) (United States) (VHS)
- Keep(I). (2008) (Japan) (DVD)
- MGM Home Entertainment (1999) (United States) (VHS)
- MGM Home Entertainment (2003) (United States) (DVD)
- Nelson Entertainment (United States) (VHS)
- Orbis Communications (1988) (United States) (tv) (Syndication)
- Pickwick Video (1990) (United Kingdom) (VHS)
- Premium Cine (2022) (Spain) (video)
- Rai 2 (1993) (Italy) (tv)
- Tohokushinsha Home Video (1988) (Japan) (VHS)
- Tubi TV (United States) (video) (streaming)
- VTI Home Vídeo (Brazil) (video)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Camera Effects (titles and opticals)
- D&D Film & TV Location Facilities Ltd. (transportation)
- Dowling Caterers Ltd. (catering)
- Freeway CAM B.V. (collection account management)
- Joe Dunton & Company (camera supplier)
- Lee International Studios (post-production)
- Location Services (transportation)
- Ralph Lauren (costumes: for Greta Scacchi)
- Roger Cherrill (post-production)
- Times Newspapers (thanks to the staff and management for their help)
- Warner Bros. De Lane Lea (sound re-recording)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
A reporter Mullen 'stumbles' on a story linking a prominent Member of Parliament to a KGB agent. In fact it is also linked to a near Nuclear disaster involving a teenage runaway and an Americal USAF base. Has there been a Government cover-up,Mullen teams up with Vernon Bayliss, an old hack, and Nina Beckam the MP's assistant to find out the truth.
Written by Matthew Stanfield |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | Just how far will a government go to hide the truth? See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
Additional Details
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Did You Know?
| Trivia | The 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.) See more » |
| Goofs | While 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. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in Heartbreak Ridge/Solarbabies/Little Shop of Horrors/Defense of the Realm (1986). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Passion Chorale See more » |
| 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." See more » |
| Quotes |
Vernon Bayliss:
Vodka and Coca-Cola. Detente in a glass! See more » |