Defence of the Realm

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For other uses, see Defence of the Realm (disambiguation).

Defence of the Realm
DefenceOfTheRealm.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed byDavid Drury
Written byMartin Stellman
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyRoger Deakins
Edited byMichael Bradsell
Music byRichard Harvey
Production
company
Enigma Productions
Distributed byRank Film Distributors (UK)
Hemdale Film Corporation (US)
Release dates
21 November 1985 (London Film Festival)
24 January 1986
(General release)
Running time
96 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
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.

Plot[]

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. He 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.

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[]

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[]

  1. ^ "Defence of the Realm (1986)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
  2. ^ Halliwell's Film Guide, 13th edition - ISBN 0-00-638868-X.
  3. ^ Ebert, Roger (6 February 1987). "Defense of the Realm". RogerEbert.com. Ebert Digital LLC. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
  4. ^ "Defence of the Realm". Radio Times. Retrieved 19 May 2013.

External links[]

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