Rent The Russia House (1990)

3.1 of 5 from 78 ratings
1h 58min
Rent The Russia House Online DVD & Blu-ray Rental
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Synopsis:
When Katya (Pfeiffer), a beautiful Russian book editor, attempts to send British publisher Barley Blair (Connery) a manuscript written by a noted Soviet scientist, she unwittingly draws them both into a world of international espionage. The manuscript, which contains information that could alter the balance of world power, is intercepted by the West's spy-masters who then send Blair to Russia to gain more information on the mysterious document. But when Blair meets Katya, he finds himself torn between his mission and the woman whose passion for her country - and for Blair - knows no bounds.
Actors:
, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Ellen Hurst, Peter Knupffer
Directors:
Producers:
Fred Schepisi, Paul Maslansky
Writers:
John le Carré, Tom Stoppard
Studio:
MGM Home Entertainment
Genres:
Romance, Thrillers
Collections:
Top 10 Films By Year, Top 10 Golden Bear Winners, Top Films of 1990: Vol. 1
BBFC:
Release Date:
29/04/2002
Run Time:
118 minutes
Languages:
English Dolby Digital 2.0, French Dolby Digital 2.0, German Dolby Digital 2.0, Italian Dolby Digital 2.0, Spanish Dolby Digital 2.0
Subtitles:
Danish, Dutch, English Hard of Hearing, Finnish, French, German Hard of Hearing, Italian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish
DVD Regions:
Region 2
Formats:
Pal
Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen 2.35:1
Colour:
Colour
Bonus:
  • Original Theatrical Trailer

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Reviews (1) of The Russia House

Brilliant, simply brilliant. - The Russia House review by JM

Spoiler Alert
05/01/2023

I have read some reviews of this, in which some have described it in rather negative terms, but I quite liked this. A lot.

Based on a novel by the great John Le Carre, THE RUSSIA HOUSE tells the story of boutique publisher Barley (Sir Sean Connery) who gets involved with mysterious figure Dante (the great Klaus Maria Brandauer), who Barley meets whilst on business in the USSR, and it turns out that Dante happens to have secrets to share…and about which no more should be divulged. Don’t want to ruin it for you!

But, make no mistake, I think it’s a belter! Some have criticised the film for slowness, but I thought that was one of its strengths; the tale unfolds in an impressively novelistic fashion and I found this utterly gripping. Credit to Aussie director Fred Schepisi and screenwriter Sir Tom Stoppard for that. Great performances add extra fuel to this particular fire. Sean Connery is IMHO perfectly cast as the grizzled Barley, a Jazz-loving souse who comes to wonder what the hell he’s got himself mixed up in, but somehow the whole enterprise eventually gives him a new lease and outlook on life. Even better is Michelle Pfeiffer, who proves revelatory in her role as Katya, an ordinary government worker bee who acts as Dante’s go-between. Oscar-worthy, in fact. That could apply to this cast as a whole. It’s all killer and no filler!

Touted at the time as the first western film to be mostly shot in the USSR, the film is a delight in sight and sound. Sumptuously shot in the high-resolution Technovision film format by the very excellent Ian Baker (a longtime Schepisi collaborator), I could only marvel at how beautifully he made Moscow and Leningrad (as it then was) look, even when viewing the film on a plain old DVD playing on a 4K TV. And don’t speak to me about the music! The legendary Jerry Goldsmith (PLANET OF THE APES, ALIEN) provides an amazing Jazz-inflected score, featuring the aural firepower of master Saxman Branford Marsalis, which gives the film added emotional juice and then some. It’s almost an extra character in the film. Suffice it to say, it’s well done in every direction.

So, these are my thoughts on THE RUSSIA HOUSE, a thoughtfully wonderful film that was an unfortunate failure back in 1990, and one that had far too many sterling qualities to deserve such a fate. In fact, I consider this almost as good as the 2011 TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY and even THE SPY WHO CAME IN FROM THE COLD and that’s not praise I give out lightly. 

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