The Falcon and the Snowman

Director: John Schlesinger
Screenwriters: Robert Lindsay, Steven Zalliard

Institute History

  • 1985 Sundance Film Festival

Description

Two boyhood friends from Southern California made headlines in 1977 after they were captured and later sentenced to 40-year prison terms for selling classified information to the Soviet Union. Christopher Boyce (Timothy Hutton), code-named “The Falcon,” stole plans for American spy satellites. Daulton Lee (Sean Penn), code-named “The Snowman,” carried them to the Russian Embassy in Mexico City where they wee sold to the soviets. One’s motive was to protest his country’s military policy and the other’s was to finance a drug smuggling operation. Based on Robert Lindsay’s bestselling novel and from the director of Midnight Cowboy, Sunday Bloody Sunday, The Day of the Locust and Marathon Man comes this complex tale of friendship and extraordinary espionage.

Screening Details

  • Section: Premiere - Opening Night in Salt Lake City
  • Film Type: Dramatic Feature
  • Country: U.S.A.
  • Run Time: 131 min.
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