The Russia House

1990
15
2h 3m

IMDb RATING

6.1/10

19K

YOUR RATING

Sean Connery, Michelle Pfeiffer, John Mahoney, Roy Scheider, Klaus Maria Brandauer, and James Fox in The Russia House (1990)

Home Video Trailer from MGM Home Entertainment

Play trailer1:50

1 Video

67 Photos

Political Thriller Drama Romance Thriller

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.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.1/10

19K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 1 win & 5 nominations total

Videos1

Trailer 1:50

The Russia House

Photos67

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Storyline

Edit

Did you know

Edit

Trivia
The 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.

Goofs
During 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
Barley: Who are you, Dante? What do you do for a living?
Dante: I am a moral outcast.
Barley: Well it's always nice to meet a writer.

Crazy credits
The credits appear over a series of clips showing location shots from the film, concluding with a repeat of the final scene.

Connections
Featured in Sean Connery: A BAFTA Tribute (1990)

Soundtracks
What Is This Thing Called Love?
Written by Cole Porter
Published by Warner/Chappell Music

User reviews107

Featured review

A surprisingly non-cynical Le Carre story

As a great admirer of John Le Carre, I watched this film with high expectations & although the story wasn't the usual Le Carre (such as 'The Spy Who Came In From The Cold'), I enjoyed it immensely. It is a combination of a good old-fashioned romance & a look at what happens when an ordinary man is brought into the world of espionage. Connery is very good as the boozy, world-weary publisher who considers personal relationships more important than Cold War one-upmanship. Michelle Pfeiffer, apart from being very pleasing to the eye as usual, was also pretty believable as the Russian trying to do the right thing. What's more, Klaus Maria Brandauer deserves an honourable mention as well. OK, the plot is complicated & sometimes hard to follow, as are most of Le Carre's works (& also, doubtless, the real world of espionage), but it is worth the effort. If you are seeking a simple good guy beats bad guy film, then don't watch this or any other realistic spy film. If, however, you want a story that manages to combine cynicism & romance, I recommend this one.