History Literature / GorkyPark

* AndStarring: The film onesheet (above) clearly invokes [[Literature/EbertsGlossaryOfMovieTerms Roger Ebert's Box Rule]] although - contrary to said Rule - it avoided the stereotypes of the 1970s genre of such movies, and was well-received by critics.

* ScaramangaSpecial: See IkeaWeaponry above. It's more this trope than IkeaWeaponry.

* TheCoroner: The reliable, affable Dr. Levin, the Moscow Milita's pathologist.

* TheQueensLatin: In the film version, all Russians speak in British accents (ranging from RP to Cockney) - that includes (the American native) William Hurt's character.[[note]]Rather to his annoyance, as he had spent a great deal of time before filming working on a Russian accent[[/note]] The odd one out is Irina, who has her actress' native Polish accent. American characters, on the other hand, use their natural accents.

* InterserviceRivalry: Chief Investigator Renko of the Militsaya and Major Pribluda of the KGB are trying to outflank each other at every turn in the investigation of the triple-homicide, Renko trying furiously to keep the KGB from taking the case. {{Subverted}} because when he first saw what he was dealing with, he was doing everything he could to get the KGB to take the case ''away'' from him because it looked like [[GenreSavvy way more trouble than it could possibly be worth]]. He only changes his mind when he begins to suspect that Pribluda might not have been directly involved.

* ForeignCussWord: Averted due to the TranslationConvention, but the Militsya detectives are fond of a phrase that translates back to English as "Fuck your mother". After the third or fifth utterance of this phrase between two friends, the narrator stops to clarify that they aren't actually referring to [[YourMom each other's mothers]], but rather are using a phrase not unlike the English "Son of a bitch!" to express exasperation.

* AndStarring: The film onesheet (above) clearly invokes [[Literature/EbertsGlossaryOfMovieTerms Roger Ebert's Box Rule]].

* EvilOldFolks: Osborne is a cold-blooded figure, who is old enough to have fought in WWII.

[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/gorkypark1.jpg]]

* RecycledSoundtrack: Music/JamesHorner's music recycles elements from his ''Film/FortyEightHours'' score.

* FellDownTheStairs: Renko and Pasha evokes this when they threaten to throw a KGB informer they need information form out the window, and mockingly ask him why he's trying to escape.

* InternalReformist: Iamskoy tells Renko that they must be patient and build up their political capitol while letting the KGB weaken, in order make the Soviet Union what it once was. [[spoiler:That he's a corrupt liar is unsurprising, but a bit disappointing]].

* WellDoneSonGuy: Renko's father is bitter that Arkady did not follow his father's example by joining the Red Army, or at least pursuing a career in the Communist Party, instead settling for an unglamorous career as a cop.

* UsefulNotes/ColdWar: Takes place in Moscow during the early 1980's, with the Cold War with [[EagleLand the United States]] in the distant background.

* TheMentallyDisturbed: [[spoiler: Arkady]] is diagnosed in the book's final act as a sufferer of ''Pathoheterodoxy Syndrome'', explaining his behavior earlier in the book. Mind you, he's diagnosed by a ''KGB agent''; Renko is perfectly sane, but the mental treatment laws in the USSR treated every dissident as mentally disturbed, as they certainly had to be crazy to oppose the glorious worker's paradise.

* [[TheQueensLatin The Queen's Russian]]: In the film version, all Russians speak in British accents (ranging from RP to Cockney) - that includes (the American native) William Hurt's character.[[note]]Rather to his annoyance, as he had spent a great deal of time before filming working on a Russian accent[[/note]] The odd one out is Irina, who has her actress' native Polish accent.
** American characters, on the other hand, use their natural accents.

* CorruptCorporateExecutive: Osborne, who is willing to smuggle and kill to smuggle out labels and break a fur monopoly.

* NotSoDifferent: Renko ends up traveling to America for part of the book. He finds America to be just as corrupt as the Soviet Union, albeit in different ways.

''Gorky Park'' is a mystery novel published in 1981 and written by Creator/MartinCruzSmith. A FilmOfTheBook, directed by Michael Apted and starring Creator/WilliamHurt, Creator/LeeMarvin, Creator/BrianDennehy, Creator/JoannaPacula, Creator/RichardGriffiths, and Creator/IanMcDiarmid, was released in 1983.

''Gorky Park'' is a mystery novel published in 1981 and written by Creator/MartinCruzSmith. A FilmOfTheBook, directed by Michael Apted and starring Creator/LeeMarvin, Creator/WilliamHurt, Creator/BrianDennehy, and Creator/JoannaPacula, was released in 1983.

* RecycledSoundtrack: Music/JamesHorner's music recycles elements from his ''Creator/48Hrs'' score.

* [[TheQueensLatin The Queen's Russian]]: In the film version, all Russians speak in British accents (ranging from RP to Cockney) - that includes (the American native) William Hurt's character.[[note]]Rather to his annoyance, as he had spent a great deal of time before filming working on a Russian accent[[/note]] American characters, on the other hand, use their natural accents. The odd one out is Irina, who has her actress' native Polish accent.

* ScarsAreForever: Irina has a blemish on her face and is blind in one eye, caused by a tumor that developed as a result of a deliberate bad drug injection the KGB doctor gave her.

* [[TheQueensLatin The Queen's Russian]]: In the film version, all Russians speak in British accents (ranging from RP to Cockney) - that includes (the American native) William Hurt's character.[[note]]Rather to his annoyance, as he had spent a great deal of time before filming working on a Russian accent[[/note]] American characters, on the other hand, use their natural accents.

''Gorky Park'' is a mystery novel published in 1981 and written by Creator/MartinCruzSmith. A FilmOfTheBook, directed by Michael Apted and starring Creator/LeeMarvin, Creator/WilliamHurt, and Creator/BrianDennehy, was released in 1983.

* FaceDeathWithDignity: In the move [[spoiler: Iamskoy]] looks calm as he backs up with a bullet wound to his chest and then drops dead.

* ForeignCussWord: Averted due to the TranslationConvention, but the Militsaya detectives are fond of a phrase that translates back to English as "Fuck your mother". After the third or fifth utterance of this phrase between two friends, the narrator stops to clarify that they aren't actually referring to [[YourMom each other's mothers]], but rather are using a phrase not unlike the English "Son of a bitch!" to express exasperation.

* [[TheQueensLatin The Queen's Russian]]: In the film version, all Russians speak in British accents (ranging from RP to Cockney) - that includes (the American native) William Hurt's character. American characters, on the other hand, use their natural accents.

* EvilOldFOlks: Osborne is a cold-blooded figure, who is old enough to have fought in WWII.

* DroppedABridgeOnHim: Despite his major role, [[spoiler:Kirwill]] is KilledOffscreen, immediately after a scene where he'd appeared alvie and well.