Defence of the Realm
| Defence of the Realm | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | David Drury |
| Written by | Martin Stellman |
| Produced by |
|
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Roger Deakins |
| Edited by | Michael Bradsell |
| Music by | Richard Harvey |
Production company | Enigma Productions |
| Distributed by | Rank Film Distributors (UK) Hemdale Film Corporation (US) |
Release dates | 21 November 1985 (London Film Festival) 24 January 1986 (General release) |
Running time | 96 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $750,000[1] |
Defence of the Realm is a 1986 British political thriller film directed by David Drury, starring Gabriel Byrne, Greta Scacchi, and Denholm Elliott, with Robbie Coltrane in a supporting role.
The film takes its title from the Defence of the Realm Act 1914, passed in the United Kingdom at the start of the First World War, which gave the government wide-ranging powers during the war.
It was shot at Shepperton Studios and on location in London and Duxford in Cambridgeshire. The film's sets were designed by the art director Roger Murray-Leach. The film was distributed in the United Kingdom by the Rank Organisation, one of the last films to be released by the company.
The plot mirrors the real-life British spy scandal known as the Profumo affair.
Plot
On a foggy night a car containing two men is pursued by police. The radio is discussing the country being on high alert due to a terrorist attack.
Dennis Markham (Ian Bannen), a prominent Member of Parliament is reported by a London paper to have been seen leaving a woman's home on the same evening as she is visited by a military attaché from East Germany, Markham's loyalty to his country is questioned. The media men debate whether or not to print the story.
Bayliss, Mullen and MacLeod all work together for the Daily Dispatch. Bayliss is sent for a private meeting with Markham and explains the link to the German agent (which Markham is unaware of). Meanwhile Mullen goes to interview Nina, the high class call girl connecting the two men, and then speaks to Markham's wife (initially pretending to be a policeman).
The story breaks as the "Markham Affair" on television and throughout the newspapers.
Markham is hounded by the media and forced to resign.
The author of the newspaper exposé, Nick Mullen (Gabriel Byrne), continues his work alongside colleague Vernon Bayliss (Denholm Elliott) who suspects that Markham was framed. When Bayliss dies from a supposed heart attack the same night as Bayliss' flat is ransacked by someone who was not after money or valuables, Mullen suspects something deeper at work. He breaks into Bayliss's desk and finds press-cuttings and a tape which insinuate a different motive behind the attack on Markham.
With the help of Markham's secretary, Nina Beckman (Greta Scacchi), Mullen continues to investigate the affair despite a break-in at his flat, surveillance and other attempts to stop him.
Cast
- Gabriel Byrne as Nicholas "Nick" Mullen
- Greta Scacchi as Nina Beckman
- Denholm Elliott as Vernon Bayliss
- Ian Bannen as Dennis Markham
- Fulton Mackay as Victor Kingsbrook
- Bill Paterson as Jack Macleod
- David Calder as Harry Champion
- Frederick Treves as Arnold Reece
- Robbie Coltrane as Leo McAskey
- Annabel Leventon as Trudy Markham
- Graham Fletcher-Cook as Micky Parker
- Danny Webb as Danny Royce (photographer)
- Prentis Hancock as Frank Longman
- Mark Tandy as Philip Henderson
- Oliver Ford Davies as Anthony Clegg
- George Ellis Jones as D.C.S. Catterick
- James Fleet as Ministry Man
- Lyndon Brook as Pugh
- Philip Whitchurch as Cuttings Librarian
- Laurance Rudic as Charlie
Reception
Halliwell's Film Guide described it as an "efficient political melodrama, basically too old-fashioned to start a cult".[2] Denholm Elliott's performance has been singled out for particular praise. Roger Ebert wrote, "The acting is strong throughout, but Elliott is especially effective. What is it about this actor, who has been in so many different kinds of movies and seems to make each role special? Here he is needed to suggest integrity and scruples, and does it almost simply by the way he looks... Defence of the Realm ends on a bleak and cynical note – unless you count the somewhat contrived epilogue – and gets there with intelligence and a sharp, bitter edge."[3] Radio Times gives the film four stars out of five, claiming, "The role of the sozzled veteran reporter who for once finds himself involved in a meaningful story is brought wonderfully to life by Denholm Elliott... Gabriel Byrne, as Elliott's ambitious young colleague, is less effective, but the film has plenty of tension and co-star Greta Scacchi proves a worthy accomplice."[4]
Awards
- Denholm Elliott won a BAFTA for best supporting actor.
References
- ^ "Defence of the Realm (1986)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
- ^ Halliwell's Film Guide, 13th edition - ISBN 0-00-638868-X.
- ^ Ebert, Roger (6 February 1987). "Defense of the Realm". RogerEbert.com. Ebert Digital LLC. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
- ^ "Defence of the Realm". Radio Times. Retrieved 19 May 2013.