Raison d'état

Original title: Defence of the Realm

1985
PG
1h 36m

IMDb RATING

6.5/10

2.6K

YOUR RATING

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.

Play trailer1:27

1 Video

31 Photos

Political Thriller Thriller

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.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.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.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.5/10

2.6K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Won 1 BAFTA Award
- 7 wins & 2 nominations total

Videos1

Trailer 1:27

Trailer

Photos31

+ 24

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
Gabriel Byrne once said of his scene-stealing co-star in this film "never act with children, dogs, or Denholm Elliott!"

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.

Quotes
Vernon Bayliss: Vodka and Coca-Cola. Detente in a glass!

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."

Connections
Featured in Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: Heartbreak Ridge/Solarbabies/Little Shop of Horrors/Defense of the Realm (1986)

Soundtracks
Passion Chorale
(uncredited)
Music by Johann Sebastian Bach

User reviews34

Featured review

7/10

A very good, well written thriller.

Defence of the Realm is a slick British thriller, it's done in the style of John Le Carre. It's no surprise that it won a host of awards, it is exciting, enthralling, and superbly acted. The writing does perhaps lack some of the intricacies of Le Carre, the most notable perhaps being the ending, which was the only element I didn't particularly like.

Gabriel Byrne is terrific, very charismatic, and well suited to the part. He's in great company, with a host of British talent, Denholm Elliot in particular is superb.

It has of course dated a little, but it stands up so well twenty plus years later. 7/10