The Falcon and the Snowman

1985
R
2h 11m

IMDb RATING

6.8/10

13K

YOUR RATING

Timothy Hutton and Sean Penn in The Falcon and the Snowman (1985)

Play trailer2:05

1 Video

66 Photos

True Crime Biography Crime Drama Thriller

The true story of a disillusioned military contractor employee and his drug pusher childhood friend who became walk-in spies for the Soviet Union.The true story of a disillusioned military contractor employee and his drug pusher childhood friend who became walk-in spies for the Soviet Union.The true story of a disillusioned military contractor employee and his drug pusher childhood friend who became walk-in spies for the Soviet Union.

Director
- John Schlesinger
Writers
- Robert Lindsey
- Steven Zaillian
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.8/10

13K

YOUR RATING

Director
- John Schlesinger
Writers
- Robert Lindsey
- Steven Zaillian
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 1 nomination

Videos1

Trailer 2:05

Trailer

Photos66

+ 60

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
According to Christopher Boyce, the employees in the Black Vault actually did use the paper shredder to blend margaritas.

Goofs
In the beginning of the movie, Dalton (Sean Penn) is talking to his attorney in a conference room. During the conference, the attorney refers to him as "Sean" during a heated discussion. The attorney says "Sean" in a stern, attention-getting voice.

Quotes
[explaining why he didn't express his unhappiness with the CIA in a more acceptable manner]
Christopher Boyce: It wouldn't have made a difference. I freely chose my response to this absurd world. If given the opportunity, I would have been more vigorous.

Alternate versions
Due to music licensing issues, most modern home video and streaming releases of the film remove almost all of the pop songs. Only the David Bowie song over the end credits and "All Right Now" by Free remain in this version of the film.

Connections
Edited into Captain Midnight Broadcast Signal Intrusion (1986)

Soundtracks
This Is Not America
Written by David Bowie, Pat Metheny and Lyle Mays
Performed by David Bowie

User reviews73

Review

Featured review

7/10

Sean Penn does good sleaze

Based on a true story, Christopher Boyce (Timothy Hutton) quits the seminary, and fall into a menial job at a military contractor. He has father issues and angry at US foreign policies. He, along with his drug dealing criminal friend Daulton Lee (Sean Penn), sold secret communications to the Soviet Union.

Sean Penn is great at playing low life sleazebag. He is at his jittery best here. His is the juicier part. Timothy Hutton does a good all America guy. I wish he had more depth and something more sinister to his character. He doesn't have enough to explain his motive. There has to be a more compelling character in there. But in the movie, Sean Penn is overshadowing Timothy Hutton. I don't think Hutton got enough of the character.