Defence of the Realm (1985): Cast, Box Office & Plot
Defence of the Realm is a 1985 action thriller directed by David Drury, starring Gabriel Byrne as Nicholas 'Nick' Mullen, Denholm Elliott and Steven Woodcock. It runs 1 hour 36 minutes and earned $750,000 worldwide.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 36m (96 min)
- Director
- David Drury
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Enigma Productions
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Defence of the Realm About?
The premise of Defence of the Realm without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Reporter Mullen uncovers a scandal linking a senior MP to a KGB operative and a near‑nuclear incident involving a teenage runaway and a U.S. Air Force base. Suspecting a cover‑up, he joins veteran journalist Vernon Bayliss and the MP’s aide Nina Beckam, putting them in the crosshairs of powerful forces desperate to keep the truth hidden.
Defence of the Realm Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- political thriller
- cover up
- member of parliament
- newspaper reporter
- government conspiracy
- journalism
- death of protagonist
- spy
- secret service agent
- political corruption
- london england
- cold war
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- reference to the kgb
- u.s. air force base in england
- british cinema
- cold war era
- military attache
- reference to east germany
- england secret military base
- suffolk england
- official secrets act
- yellow journalism
- reference to leonid brezhnev
- airport runway
- reference to le monde the newspaper
- reference to the guardian the british newspaper
- fleet street
- record player
- post office
- phone tap
- mole
- kangaroo court
- british parliament
- police car chase
- murdered in an explosion
- nuclear disaster prevented
- loyalty
- investigative journalist
- posing as a policeman
- embarrassing story
- newspaper owner
- murder of reporter
- personal secretary
- government surveillance
- framed as traitor
- fatal heart attack
- suspicious death
- apartment explosion
- henchmen
- newspaper editor
Defence of the Realm Cast & Characters
Gabriel Byrne leads the cast as Nicholas 'Nick' Mullen, with Denholm Elliott as Vernon Bayliss and Steven Woodcock as Steven Dyce. Directed by David Drury; 40 actors are credited in all.
- Director David Drury
-
Gabriel Byrne as Nicholas 'Nick' Mullen -
Denholm Elliott as Vernon Bayliss - Steven Woodcock as Steven Dyce
-
Ian Bannen as Dennis Markham
Also Starring in Defence of the Realm
· 36 more- Annabel Leventon Trudy Markham
- Noel Johnson Club Member
- Bill Paterson Jack Macleod
- Greta Scacchi Nina Beckman
- Fulton Mackay Victor Kingsbrook
- Oliver Ford Davies Anthony Clegg
- Robbie Coltrane Leo McAskey
- Danny Webb Danny Royce
- James Fleet Ministry Man
- David Calder Harry Champion
- Frederick Treves Arnold Reece
- Lyndon Brook Pugh
- Michael Johnson Humphrey Channing
- Vass Anderson Strick
- Philip Whitchurch Cuttings Librarian
- John Rees Minister at Funeral
Show all 40 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Mark Tandy Philip Henderson
- Pip Miller Police Sergeant Ross
- Prentis Hancock Frank Longman
- Graham Fletcher-Cook Mickey Parker
- John Cannon Greenmont Detention Centre Officer
- Al Matthews First US Controller
- David Hatton Picture Editor
- Alexei Jawdokimov Dietrich Kleist
- Hubert Rees Club Waiter
- David Lyon Political Pundit
- William Job Hilton
- Daniel Foley Second US Controller
- Veronica Duffy 2nd Newsroom Deputy
- Nicholas Coppin 1st Newsroom Deputy
- Barbara Coles Third US Controller
- Beverly Anderson Newscaster
- Ravinder Singh Reyett Club Doorman
- Laurance Rudic Charlie
- David Halliwell Remand Centre Screw
- George Ellis Jones DCS Catterick
More from David Drury
More films directed by David Drury: Our Girl, Hostile Waters and Split Decisions.
Defence of the Realm Plot Summary
What happens in Defence of the Realm from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
On a foggy night, a car carrying two men is chased by the police; the radio crackles with reports that the country is on high alert after a terrorist attack in Ankara. When the car is forced down a dead-end road, one of the men, Steven Dyce escapes over a high barbed-wire fence, but the other is captured, leaving a tense thread running through the night.
Full summary
The whole story of Defence of the Realm, scene by scene
Defence of the Realm Box Office
Defence of the Realm grossed $750,000 worldwide.
Worldwide gross
$750K
- US & Canada
- $750K
How Well Do You Know Defence of the Realm?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Which newspaper do Vernon Bayliss, Nick Mullen and Jack Macleod work for?
Cars in Defence of the Realm
21 cars on screen, including the 1979 BMW 320 E21 and the 1984 Ford Sierra MkI.
-
1979 BMW 320 E21 Main role -
1984 Ford Sierra MkI Important role -
1974 Austin FX4 Minor role -
1978 Ford Fairmont Minor role
Defence of the Realm Also Known As
13 alternative titles, including “Defense of the Realm” and “Κατάσταση Εκτάκτου Ανάγκης”.
- Also known as
-
- Defense of the Realm
- Κατάσταση Εκτάκτου Ανάγκης
- A Defesa do Reino
- Dilema de um Jornalista
- Em Defesa da Verdade
- Dossier confidenziale
- Button - Im Sumpf der Atommafia
- A birodalom védelme
- As Defesas do Império
- En defensa del reino
- 왕국의 비밀
- 丑闻风暴
+1 more Show fewer
- Защита империи
Seen Defence of the Realm?
Movies Like Defence of the Realm
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Close to the Enemy, Deep State and Traitors.
Defence of the Realm FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office and post-credit scenes of Defence of the Realm, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Defence of the Realm?
Defence of the Realm runs 1 hour 36 minutes (96 minutes).
When was Defence of the Realm released?
Defence of the Realm was released on November 25, 1985.
Who directed Defence of the Realm?
Defence of the Realm was directed by David Drury.
More films by David Drury Who is in the cast of Defence of the Realm?
Defence of the Realm stars Gabriel Byrne as Nicholas 'Nick' Mullen, Denholm Elliott as Vernon Bayliss and Steven Woodcock as Steven Dyce, among 40 credited actors.
How much did Defence of the Realm make at the box office?
Defence of the Realm grossed $750,000 worldwide.
Does Defence of the Realm have a post-credit scene?
No. Defence of the Realm has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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