DEFENCE OF THE REALM

UK, 1985, 91 minutes, Colour.
Gabriel Byrne, Greta Scacchi, Denholm Elliot, Ian Bannen, Bill Paterson, David Calder, Robbie Coltrane.
Directed by David Drury.

Defence of the Realm is an arresting and interesting political and media drama. It focuses on a potential nuclear accident, a cover-up by politicians, the framing of a Labor politician as a spy and the use of the media by the Public Service. It focuses on a newspaper, the ambition of its reporters and investigators, the influence of money and political power.

Gabriel Byrne (Christopher Columbus, Gothic) is the earnest and ambitious journalist. Greta Scacchi is the secretary of the humiliated politician, played by Ian Bannen. Denholm Elliott has a small but effective role as a disillusioned newspaperman - and won the British Film Academy's Best Supporting Actor prize for this role.

The film has good pacing, involves its audience emotionally in the complexities of the public interest, the defence of the realm as well as the person lives of those involved. It is finally pessimistic in its outlook.

1. An interesting and effective thriller? Conspiracy thriller? Media drama? How plausible? The nuclear background? Political cover-up? Espionage?

2. The title and the phrase 'for the good of Britain'? The English background of the film, London, Fleet Street? The American installations? Editing and pace? Musical score?

3. The prologue, the boys being chased, the fence, the lights - and the mystery to be explained later? The boys in Markham's file? Nick and his interviewing the boy in prison, the reconstruction of the situation, the news about the evacuation, the incident in Turkey, the phone call to the American Defence Department, the nuclear alert, the near accident on the tarmac? The cover-up and the implication of the politician exposing the situation?

4. The title and tradition, the Official Secrets Act, cover-up, the consequences for secrecy, plots, conspiracies, murder? Nick and his coming before the Public Service Board? His execution?

5. The Markham situation: the photos, the East German spy, the brothel, the decision to run the story, headlines, press responsibilities, Vernon and his friendship, telling Markham and Markham's reaction, the repercussions, the televisions news crews at his home, pursuing Mrs. Markham, Nina and the journalists, Trudy and Nick in the car, his pretence, the interview, her ousting him, the writer, the celebration in the pub of Markham's resignation? The phone calls and the information about the Prague photo, the photo research, the consequences for Markham and his press conference? The congratulations of the proprietor? Nick and his discovery of the leads, the false connections? The documentation to prove the conspiracy?

6. Nick and his eagerness, work, friendship with Vernon and admiration for him, the possibility of a scoop, his trick with Mrs. Markham, her ousting him, printing the information? The research of the photo and its use? The talk with Vernon about the use of the photo, Vernon's caution, the ransacking of his apartment, Vernon's death, his funeral and Nick's presence? The congratulations of the staff? Nick having second thoughts? The approach to Nina and engaging her help? Vernon's: file? His making connections, the interview with the boy in prison? The reconstruction, the phone call and its interruption, the official Secrets, the getting of the documents from the lift - and the men in Vernon's room? Nina and Nick posting the documents? The arrest and the interrogation by the Board? His being careful at home, the surveillance? Nick at the club and the editor's contact at the club? Nina tricking the woman pursuing her? The suddenness of the explosion and their deaths? Journalists, career, investigations, consequences? Expendable?

7. Vernon as the veteran journalist, drinking, his Communist background, friendship with Markham and telling him what was happening? The pub and his drinking? George and the cassette, Nick helping him set it up? Discussions with Nick? Nick taking him home, his hiding the file? Death? The philosophy of journalism?

8. Nina and her work, the dinner with Vernon and her disdain of Nick? The funeral? Helping Trudy? The decision to help Nick? The lead and the documents, retrieving them from the lift-well, the policewoman following her, the relationship with Nick - and the suddenness of her death?

9. The paper and its staff, the various personnel and their responsibilities, news, checking information, scooping other papers? The editor? The police investigations about Vernon? The proprietor and his financial connections? Political influence? Policy? Nick confronting the editor and proving his story? Getting the information about the contact?

10. The theme of the press and its responsibilities? The finale and the German and French papers printing the information about the nuclear accident?

11. The British government and Kingsbrook with his connections, the ownership of the paper, planting the stories, his personal smugness, going to Vernon's funeral, media conspiracies and leads? The irony of Kleist and his being an English agent?

12. The nuclear situation: American installations, alerts in Turkey, red alerts, the American bases, their inaccessibility, the plan for evacuations, the boy on the tarmac, the plane landing, the potential for accidents? The plausibility of nuclear installations and nuclear accidents like this? The cover-up? The public's right to know?

13. An effective blend of thriller, conspiracy film, personal stories, wider social and political issues?