A British publisher is sent a manuscript detailing Soviet Union nuclear missile capabilities. British Intelligence intercept it and recruit him to investigate the author's editor, a beautifu... Read allA British publisher is sent a manuscript detailing Soviet Union nuclear missile capabilities. British Intelligence intercept it and recruit him to investigate the author's editor, a beautiful Russian woman he claims never to have met.A British publisher is sent a manuscript detailing Soviet Union nuclear missile capabilities. British Intelligence intercept it and recruit him to investigate the author's editor, a beautiful Russian woman he claims never to have met.
- Awards
- 5 nominations
- Merrydew
- (as Ian McNiece)
- U.S. Scientist
- (as Peter Mariner)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe meaning and relevance of the title "The Russia House" is that it refers to the nickname given to the section of the British Secret Service that was assigned to investigating the Soviet Union.
- GoofsDuring Blair's "start the avalanche" speech, Dante is seen at the end of the table. As the camera pans around the table during the speech, Dante disappears from the end of the table, and then reappears.
- Quotes
Bartholomew "Barley" Scott Blair: So there was a crunch: to save your precious secrets or to trade them for Katya and her family. The easiest decision I ever made.
- Crazy creditsThe credits appear over a series of clips showing location shots from the film, concluding with a repeat of the final scene.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Sean Connery: A BAFTA Tribute (1990)
The '8' is my old rating-I might revise this to 9 or 10 after a fresh viewing. Here's why: 1. I believe le Carré must have had Connery in mind for the lead character, Barley Blair. Truth is: Connery was born to play this role-no one else comes to mind. Barley is a drinker, publisher, philosopher at large. A bit of an anarchist, but firmly non-political. A jazz clarinetist who likes to gab about dreams of world peace-but he really does NOT want to get involved in the process. Connery is perfect.
2. Filmed partially in Russia, the scenery of Moscow & Leningrad is spectacular! This was an early (1990) production with Russian cooperation.
3. Tremendous supporting cast: Roy Scheider (from'Jaws') as Russel Sheridan, the chief agent for US Intelligence, has to play a character of many qualities, above all, an optimist for truly ending the Cold War. When things don't go as expected, he tells the team, 'Put the stools on the bar-TIL next time'. Honorable mention: John Mahoney as 'Brady', the super spy who has the ear of all the American higher-ups, including the President (in the book, Brady is given godlike status-note what he says about the 'deal' being offered by Danté.). And many others! Nice to see a young Martin Clunes as an orderly-long before his Doc Martin days.
4. Not an action film, no sex scenes but some harsh language-but, basically a dramatic study of the Cold War's conclusion. Carré was correct in pondering that even if the USSR missile system lagged way behind the Allied side, would the USA put thousands out of work by shutting down their production?
5. Fabulous irony. Danté tells Blair that 'the men in grey suits came to get his father, & they will come to get you, too!' Barley, like us, is reluctant to accept the notion that the 'good guys' are just as ruthless, but consider how strongly the Americans suspect Blair of complicity, when all indicators show that he is just not interested in money nor political matters.
- canuckteach
- May 28, 2019
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Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official site
- Languages
- Also known as
- John le Carré's The Russia House
- Filming locations
- Lisbon, Portugal(on location)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $21,800,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $22,997,992
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $4,435,650
- Dec 25, 1990
- Gross worldwide
- $22,997,992