Movie Type: Political Thriller, Unglamorized Spy Film
Themes: Conspiracies, Fathers and Sons, Amateur Sleuths
Main Cast: Michael Caine, James Fox, Nigel Havers, Felicity Dean, John Gielgud
Release Year: 1986
Country: UK
Run Time: 98 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG
Plot
Superpatriotic Briton Michael Caine learns from his son Nigel Havers, a Russian translator with Government Communications Headquarters, that the CIA might have ordered the deaths of some GCH employees to avoid any security leaks. When Havers mentions that he's thinking about blowing the whistle on the sordid goings-on, Caine, convinced that whatever the CIA is doing is for the greatest good, implores his son to keep quiet. Soon afterward, Havers is found murdered. Even after this, Caine refuses to think ill of his government and its allies. It takes the death of investigative reporter James Fox to shake Caine out of his self-denial and to confront the persons responsible for the killings within the GCH. The venerable John Gielgud offers a surprising characterization in this complex conspiracy thriller. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Gordon Jackson - Bruce; Barry Foster - Charles Greig; Kenneth Colley - Bill Pickett; Dinah Stabb - Rose; Andrew Hawkins - Allen Goodburn; Trevor Cooper - Inspector Bourne; James Simmons - Mark; Bill Wallis - Dodgson; David Langton - Secretary to the Cabinet; Arturo Venegas - Alex; Andrew Bradford - Prison Officer; Pamela Collins - Sloane Ranger; Sevilia Delofski - Russian Woman; John Gill - Clergyman; Patrick Holt - Irate Driver; Renny Krupinski - Contact Prisoner; Gerald Perreau-Saissine - Stephen Kedge; Ralph Nossek - Makeup Man; Katherine Reeve - Tiffany; Peter Hutchinson - Bank Manager; Julian Battersby - Doctor; Jan Carey - Miss Donald; Carmel Cryan - Anne, Frank's Secretary; Gregory Floy - Coroner's Officer; Peter Mackriel - Flecker; Susan Porrett - Security Officer; Doyle Richmond - American Interrogator; David Shaughnessey - Medical Officer; David Telfer - Ticket Collector; Joe Dunlap - Policeman
Credit
Chris Burke - Art Director, Raymond Hughes - Costume Designer, Simon Langton - Director, Bob Morgan - Editor, John Scott - Composer (Music Score), John Scott - Musical Direction/Supervision, Sallie Evans - Makeup, Magdelen Gaffney - Makeup, Morley Smith - Production Designer, Fred Tammes - Cinematographer, Geoffrey Reeve - Producer, Julian Bond - Screenwriter, John Hale - Book Author
