Defence of the Realm [Defense of the Realm] **** (1985, Gabriel Byrne, Greta Scacchi, Denholm Elliott, Ian Bannen, Fulton Mackay, Bill Paterson, David Calder, Robbie Coltrane) – Classic Movie Review 9677

Director David Drury’s outstanding political conspiracy thriller Defence of the Realm [Defense of the Realm] furrowed a few brows in London’s Whitehall government district on its release in 1985.

Gabriel Byrne stars in his career-making role as Nick Mullen, a newspaper investigative reporter who is led by a political scandal linking a prominent Member of Parliament to a KGB agent to uncover an even more damaging nuclear conspiracy involving a teenage runaway and a US Air Force base.

Writer Martin Stellman mixes traditional British thriller components – such as fenland chases and last-minute deadlines – with an Eighties up-to-the-minute cautionary tale that spares few blushes. There is stylish acting throughout and a superb turn by Denholm Elliott as Vernon Bayliss, a helpful alcoholic old newshound. Greta Scacchi also enjoys a good role as Nina Beckam the MP’s assistant who helps Mullen try find the truth.

Elliott won the 1986 BAFTA Film Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role. After Elliott won the BAFTA, Byrne, the film’s star but not nominated at the awards, joked: ‘Never act with children, dogs, or Denholm Elliott.’

Drury handles strongly and Roger Deakins films strikingly.

Also in the cast are Ian Bannen, Fulton Mackay, Bill Paterson, David Calder, Robbie Coltrane, Frederick Treves, Annabel Leventon, Graham Fletcher-Cook, Steven Woodcock, Oliver Ford Davies, James Fleet, Lyndon Brook, Mark Tandy, and Danny Webb.

Defence of the Realm is directed by David Drury, runs 96 minutes, is made by Enigma Productions and National Film Finance Corporation (NFFC), is released by J Arthur Rank Film Distributors (1985) (UK) and Hemdale (1986) (US), is written by Martin Stellman, is shot by Roger Deakins, is produced by David Puttnam (executive producer), Robin Douet and Lynda Myles, is scored by Richard Hartley, and is designed by Roger Murray-Leach.

The film credits: ‘The Producers wish to thank the STAFF and MANAGEMENT of THE TIMES NEWSPAPERS FOR THEIR HELP.’

Whitehall, in the City of Westminster, London, contains all the important government buildings that control many areas of the UK Government. The street runs between Charing Cross/ Traflagar Square and the Houses of Parliament.

Stellman also co-wrote Quadrophenia and wrote and directed For Queen & Country.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 9677

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com