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.

Defence of the Realm
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	David Drury
Written by	Martin Stellman
Produced by	Robin Douet Lynda Myles
Starring	Gabriel Byrne Greta Scacchi Denholm Elliott Ian Bannen Bill Paterson Fulton Mackay
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]

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

• 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

External links

• Defence of the Realm at IMDb
• Defence of the Realm at Rotten Tomatoes
• Defence of the Realm at AllMovie

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