The Falcon and the Snowman (1985)
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87% of critics liked it
(15 reviews) -
61% of users liked it
(5,811 ratings)
John Schlesinger directed this fact-based drama - adapted from Robert Lindsay's bestseller of the same title -- about two Californians, friends since boyhood, who are caught selling government secrets to the Soviet Union. Christopher Boyce (Timothy Hutton) is an all-American boy, studying for… More John Schlesinger directed this fact-based drama - adapted from Robert Lindsay's bestseller of the same title -- about two Californians, friends since boyhood, who are caught selling government secrets to the Soviet Union. Christopher Boyce (Timothy Hutton) is an all-American boy, studying for the priesthood in a seminary. But Boyce decides to drop out of school, and with the help of his father (Pat Hingle), a FBI agent, he gets a job working for the CIA in a message-routing center. While reading the messages, Boyce is shocked to learn that the CIA is involved in fixing Australian elections. Watching the Watergate hearings on television, he feels an ever-mounting sense of outrage at the arrogance of the U.S. government and decides to do something about it. Deciding to supply the CIA messages to the Russians, he enlists his childhood friend Daulton Lee (Sean Penn) to help him. Lee is to deliver the CIA secrets to a Russian operative (David Suchet) at the Soviet Embassy in Mexico City. But Lee is an unreliable drug dealer, and his sloppy spy trail leads the two old friends into more trouble than they bargained for. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi
- Directed By
- John Schlesinger
- Genres
- Drama, Action & Adventure, Mystery & Suspense
- In Theaters
- Jan 25, 1985 Wide
Critic Reviews
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Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Though Penn and Hutton perform admirably, the film fails to be interesting.
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Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
An exercise in vagueness.
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Rich Cline, Shadows on the Wall
intriguing but a bit dry
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Rob Thomas, Capital Times (Madison, WI)
A smart, nuanced spy thriller that's all about the gray areas.
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Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com
Fresh and invigorating political thriller.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Timothy Hutton
as Christopher Boyce
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Sean Penn
as Daulton Lee
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David Suchet
as Alex
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Lori Singer
as Lana
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Pat Hingle
as Mr. Boyce
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Dorian Harewood
as Gene
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Richard Dysart
as Dr. Lee
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Mady Kaplan
as Laurie
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Macon McCalman
as Larry Rogers
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Boris Leskin
as Mikhael
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George C. Grant
as Karpov
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Jennifer Runyon
as Carole
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Joyce Van Patten
as Mrs. Boyce
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Priscilla Pointer
as Mrs. Lee
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Chris Makepeace
as David Lee
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Burke Byrnes
as U.S. Customs Agent
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Philip Carey
as Pan Am Clerk
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Anatoly Davydov
as Guard
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Abel Franco
as Interrogator
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Jaime Garza
as Raul
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Stanley Grover
as NSA Inspector
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Jerry Hardin
as Tony Owens
- Lara Harris
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Betty Lou Henson
as Debra
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Sam Ingraffia
as Kenny Kahn
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Michael Ironside
as F.B.I. Agent
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Raul Martinez
as Police Sergeant
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Daniel McDonald
as Clay
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Marvin J. McIntyre
as Ike
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Tom Nolan
as Undercover Cop
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Vic Polizos
as FBI Interrogator
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Nicholas Pryor
as Eddie
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Guillermo Ríos
as Drug Dealer
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Carlos Romano
as Inspector Estevez
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Drew Snyder
as F.B.I. Interrogator
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Karen West
as Boyce Child
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Valerie Wildman
as U.S. Embassy Official
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Stephen E. Miller
as Newscaster
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Bob Nelson
as F.B.I. Agent
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Bob Arbogast
as Guard
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George Belanger
as U.S. Consul
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Martha Campos
as Carmen
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Arturo Comacho
as Boyce Child
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Steve Duffy
as Barman
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Leopoldo Francés
as Nigerian Diplomat
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James Hardie
as Police Interrogator
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Annie Kozuch
as Boyce Child
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Rob Newell
as Boyce Child
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Rob Reed
as Boyce Child
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Jeff Seyfried
as Pool Man
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Arthur Taxier
as F.B.I. Agent
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Herbie Wallace
as Pet Shop Owner
- Richard A. Dysart
- John Ratzenberger