Release calendarTop 250 moviesMost popular moviesBrowse movies by genreTop box officeShowtimes & ticketsMovie newsIndia movie spotlight
    What's on TV & streamingTop 250 TV showsMost popular TV showsBrowse TV shows by genreTV news
    What to watchLatest trailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightFamily entertainment guideIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsEmmysSan Diego Comic-ConSummer Watch GuideToronto Int'l Film FestivalIMDb Stars to WatchSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll events
    Born todayMost popular celebsCelebrity news
    Help centerContributor zonePolls
For industry professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
8 suggestions available
Watchlist
Sign in
Sign in
New customer? Create account
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

Doomsday Gun

  • TV Movie
  • 1994
  • Unrated
  • 2h
IMDb RATING
6.2/10
1.2K
YOUR RATING
Doomsday Gun (1994)
ActionDramaHistoryThriller

How the brilliant Canadian munitions engineer, Dr. Gerald Bull, agreed to build a super-gun for Saddam Hussein in 1988, when the U.S. cut his funding for the experiment, and how it attracted... Read allHow the brilliant Canadian munitions engineer, Dr. Gerald Bull, agreed to build a super-gun for Saddam Hussein in 1988, when the U.S. cut his funding for the experiment, and how it attracted the attention of several intelligence agencies.How the brilliant Canadian munitions engineer, Dr. Gerald Bull, agreed to build a super-gun for Saddam Hussein in 1988, when the U.S. cut his funding for the experiment, and how it attracted the attention of several intelligence agencies.

  • Director
    • Robert Young
  • Writers
    • Walter Bernstein
    • Lionel Chetwynd
  • Stars
    • Frank Langella
    • Alan Arkin
    • Kevin Spacey
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.2/10
    1.2K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Robert Young
    • Writers
      • Walter Bernstein
      • Lionel Chetwynd
    • Stars
      • Frank Langella
      • Alan Arkin
      • Kevin Spacey
    • 22User reviews
    • 3Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination total

    Photos34

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    + 28
    View Poster

    Top cast43

    Edit
    Frank Langella
    Frank Langella
    • Gerald Bull
    Alan Arkin
    Alan Arkin
    • Yossi
    Kevin Spacey
    Kevin Spacey
    • Price
    Michael Kitchen
    Michael Kitchen
    • Doctor Christopher Cowley
    Francesca Annis
    Francesca Annis
    • Sophie
    Aharon Ipalé
    Aharon Ipalé
    • Maurouf
    Zia Mohyeddin
    Zia Mohyeddin
    • Hashim
    Tony Goldwyn
    Tony Goldwyn
    • Duvall
    James Fox
    James Fox
    • Sir James Whittington
    Rupert Graves
    Rupert Graves
    • Jones
    Clive Owen
    Clive Owen
    • Dov
    Murray Melvin
    Murray Melvin
    • Shop Manager
    Marianne Denicourt
    Marianne Denicourt
    • Monique
    Alexandra Vandernoot
    Alexandra Vandernoot
    • Marie
    Roger Hammond
    Roger Hammond
    • Hugh Mackler
    Georgia Reece
    • Brigit
    Richard Garnett
    • Bobby
    David Healy
    David Healy
    • Judge
    • Director
      • Robert Young
    • Writers
      • Walter Bernstein
      • Lionel Chetwynd
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews22

    6.21.2K
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10

    Featured reviews

    10jwgenser

    Well said everyone

    The only thing I can add is that as a Canadian, I continue to be disappointed in our Government protection of our fellow citizens. RIP Gerald Bull and William Sampson and all of you have been left behind.
    6merklekranz

    Fact based spy vs. spy .......

    Interesting fact based spy film with supposed allies backstabbing each other, each with their own agenda for using an engineer's gigantic gun he is developing. The long range implications for Middle East Countries is factored against the region's importance as an oil producer. Profit and greed is offset by the scientific drive of one man, who's vision is well beyond the present, possibly offering him the immortal recognition he desires. This is well acted, fast paced, and intriguing. There is even an open ended conclusion that begs discussion. The miniatures and computer renderings of the big guns are superbly done, and the film is relevant even with all the time that has passed. - MERK
    6dave13-1

    The price of obsession

    This movie sets out to tell the (more or less) true story of Canadian weapons designer Gerald Bull (Frank Langella), who dreams of building the world's most powerful artillery gun: hundreds of feet long and able to deliver a shell the size of a small building. The only problem? America and Great Britain don't want to finance his masterpiece and don't want Bull constructing one for anybody else. But Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein is willing to pay for one, and able to get around the American embargo on selling weapons to Iraq by cleverly disguising the gun's parts as ordinary industrial equipment. But once Bull goes to work for Saddam, he sets himself as a target for international hit squads willing to do anything to keep such a weapon out of the wrong hands. He found himself playing cat-and-mouse, taking precautions to stay one step ahead of the world's intelligence agencies. This movie provides a pretty good reconstruction of the project, and the fact that the project was a quite chilling possibility gives the story much of its interest. Unlike the outlandish schemes of James Bond's usual adversaries, Bull's supergun was technically feasible and his customer, Saddam, was a very real threat to world peace. A decent way to pass the time for anybody looking for real life intelligence intrigue.
    8buiger

    Wow, what a positive surprise!

    Another excellent made-for-TV movie. This is as good a spy thriller as I have seen in a long time. The icing on the cake is, it also happens to be true!

    This movie is short on action, short on special effects, explosions, car chases and the likes; this is a movie with a great script (true life is the best writer I have ever known), it is intelligently made, well directed and acted. All of the protagonists are excellent, but special mention is due to Alan Arkin in my opinion, whose portrayal of a cynical spy is Oscar worthy. James Fox has a cameo as the Head of MI6, he is also perfect in his role and seems to be amusing himself greatly while playing it.

    It would be very interesting to learn the whole truth about this story one day...
    9BobTheCopywriter

    A jewel of human truth

    As an engineer's son, I have never seen a better portrayal of an engineer's enthusiasm for new problems and new challenges. In one unforgettable scene, Frank Langella brought to the screen for the first time in my opinion what can only be called, "the-joy-of-development."

    Too often films that deal with invention focus on that moment when the problem comes together and is solved. What they fail to recognize is the first step, when the men and women are looking at the challenge ahead has even more emotional potential. Thankfully the writers and actors in this film did not forget this human truth.

    The cast is excellent. The script is uneven, but the only reason this is obvious is because instead of staying mildly good throughout, like most made for cable films, this movie is mildly good with occasional scenes of brilliance.

    If you are an engineer or just have one as a friend or member of the family, see this film. It's a wonder.

    More like this

    Sweet Liberty
    5.8
    Sweet Liberty
    Dad
    6.3
    Dad
    Inseparable
    5.4
    Inseparable
    Countdown
    5.9
    Countdown
    The Turnaround
    7.1
    The Turnaround
    Vroom
    5.2
    Vroom
    Special Effects
    5.4
    Special Effects
    Fall from Grace
    5.8
    Fall from Grace
    The Big Kahuna
    6.5
    The Big Kahuna
    Spirit of a Denture
    6.4
    Spirit of a Denture
    Ordinary Decent Criminal
    6.3
    Ordinary Decent Criminal
    Swimming with Sharks
    7.0
    Swimming with Sharks

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      A TV movie for the HBO network.
    • Goofs
      Near the end of the film, when Monique hands Gerry his loaf of bread, the reflection of two crew members can be seen in the car window.
    • Quotes

      Dr. Gerald Bull: [to Marouf and Hashim] You know, you people really know how to scare the shit out of a guy just with a look. That's a real talent. I wish I had it. I can't even scare my secretary. Think you can teach it to me.

      [They stare at him silently]

    • Connections
      References The Wizard of Oz (1939)
    • Soundtracks
      They All Laughed
      (uncredited)

      Music by George Gershwin

      Lyrics by Ira Gershwin

      Performed by Frank Langella

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 23, 1994 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • El puño de Dios
    • Filming locations
      • Belgium
    • Production companies
      • Griffin Productions
      • HBO Showcase
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 2h(120 min)
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby SR
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Production art
    Photos
    Child Stars, Then and Now
    See the gallery
    Production art
    Photos
    These Stars Are on the Rise
    See the gallery

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb App
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2025 by IMDb.com, Inc.