Gorky Park (HBO)

About Gorky Park (HBO)

Gorky Park is a 1983 mystery thriller film based on the novel by American author Martin Cruz Smith. The film is set in the Soviet Union during the Cold War and revolves around the investigation of a triple murder in Moscow’s Gorky Park. The investigation is led by Arkady Renko, a chief investigator for the Militsiya, who unravels a conspiracy involving the KGB and a wealthy American businessman.

Making / Production

Gorky Park was directed by Michael Apted and produced by Gene Kirkwood and Hawk Koch under the Orion Pictures banner. The screenplay was written by Dennis Potter. Despite being set in Moscow, the film was mainly shot in Helsinki, Finland due to Cold War tensions.

Actors

• William Hurt as Arkady Renko: A diligent and honest police investigator who is determined to solve the triple murder case. Hurt convincingly portrays the complex character of Renko amidst a corrupt and oppressive system.
• Lee Marvin as Jack Osborne: A ruthless American businessman involved in the conspiracy. Marvin's portrayal added depth and grit to the character.
• Joanna Pacula as Irana Asanova: A key witness and love interest of Renko. Pacula's captivating performance earned her a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actress.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The film's lead, William Hurt was actually the third choice for his role. Harrison Ford and Sean Connery were considered first.
• Due to political sensitivities, the film was shot in Finland and not in the actual Gorky Park in Moscow.
• The film is noted for its authentic portrayal of Soviet-era Russia, despite none of the main cast being Russian.

Awards

Joanna Pacula was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Gorky Park.

Quotes

• "Three bodies, three bullets, three cases."
• "In my country, they would go straight to the cause – to you."
• "Why worry about something that isn’t going to happen?"

Music, Soundtrack

• The film's mesmerizingly moody soundtrack was composed by James Horner, renowned for his work in Titanic and Avatar.
• The theme song, “Gorky Park (Moscow Calling)” was performed by the band Gorky Park.