Bullet to Beijing (1995)

User Rating:

5.6/10   

Director:

George Mihalka

Writer:

Harry Alan Towers (writer)

Release Date:

1995 (France)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

A stolen biological weapon begins a high-stakes game of kill or be killed !

Plot:

A retired British spy is called back into service by his government to help prevent North Korea from getting its hands on a deadly virus called "The Red Death."

Plot Keywords:

Russia | Train | British Spy | Sequel | 1990s

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Anatoly Kulbitsky	...	Prof. Kulbitsky
Shaughan Seymour	...	Carruthers
Michael Caine	...	Harry Palmer
Corinna Richards	...	Policewoman
Tamara Timofeyeva	...	Elderly Woman
Jason Connery	...	Nick
Anatoli Shvedersky	...	Doctor
Helena Michell	...	Henrietta
Juliette Benson	...	Juliette
Patrick Allen	...	Col. Wilson
Sue Lloyd	...	Jean
Annika Bullus	...	Girl in Savoy Bar
Chris Tulloch	...	Attendant
Mia Sara	...	Natasha Gradetsky
Michael Gambon	...	Alex

Also Known As:

Beijing express (Canada: French title)
Len Deighton's Bullet to Beijing (USA) (complete title)

MPAA:

Rated R for violence, nudity and language.

Runtime:

101 min | USA:122 min

Country:

Canada | UK | Russia

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Astralcolor)

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

UK:15 (video premiere) | USA:R

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Company:

Harry Palmer Productions, Limited

Trivia:

Nicolai says his father worked for British Intelligence. Nicolai is played by Jason Connery, whose father Sean Connery became famous as British Intelligence spy, James Bond.

Goofs:

Factual errors: In the end credits roll at the end, Special Effects is spelled "Special Effets".

Quotes:

Harry Palmer: What do they say at Airport security? Is this your bag? Did you pack it yourself? Did anyone give you a present?

Movie Connections:

References Funeral in Berlin (1966)

Europe's Answer to Wesly

Having spent two hours yetserday evening watching this film on Satellite TV, the only positive feeling that I had was that at least I hadn't spent money renting the DVD, or even worse purchasing it. Although the film is beautifully shot, it lacks a certain element - namely believability.

From the moment of the robbery, which is full of inconsistencies, to the point where the insurance investigator decides that Crown is the thief (for no other reason that I could see but it was the only way the scripters could manage to move what remained of the plot forward) right up to the ending the film is laughably inept.

As an attempt to make a 'sophisticated' film it failed simply because it treated its audience like morons. Sophistication has to fail when the audience spends half the time wondering where on earth they managed to find a judge to sign a search warrant against one of the richest men in Macau on no evidence at all, or why the police didn't arrest the insurance investigator after discovering her illegal activities.

The obligatory sex scenes were equally laughable - making love on a marble staircase with iron spikes has to be the most uncomfortable experience ever (I do not speak from personal knowledge).

Apart from some good camera work this film has nothing to recommend it and must rank as one of the worst films it has ever been my misfortune to endure.

This is a definite not-to-see.