Rent Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
(1979)
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This dramatisation of John Le Carre's novel proved a landmark in British Television. It received supreme critical acclaim for the screenplay by Arthur Hopcraft, the star Alec Guiness and the camerawork of Tony Pierce-Roberts. In Alec Guiness's first major TV role he plays George Smiley, a retired agent who is secretly brought into 'the Circus' (the code name for British Secret Intelligence Service) to root out a top-level mole. Gradually piecing together the story, the weary but determined Smiley trawls through the murky waters of Cold War espionage and his own past.
Recent Reviews of Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by our members
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy review by RP
Superb stuff - far better than the 2011 film
(0) of (0) members found this review helpful.
I was disappointed by the 2011 film with Gary Oldman as George Smiley, and re-watched this BBC TV series with Alec Guinness in the lead role just to make sure that I wasn't misremembering how good it was. No, I hadn't misremembered - it really is excellent. 'Atmospheric' doesn't begin to describe it: it draws the viewer in as the story unfolds, enveloping you in a strange world of spies and codenames, a world where British agents were recruited as Oxbridge undergraduates and seem never to have left the 1940s / 1950s. It is a story most definitely 'of its time', the time of the Cold War, Russia's dominance of Eastern Europe, upper class civil servants and public school educated agents who all speak with BBC accents. The length of the TV series at over 5 hours gives time for the characters to be developed and the complex tale to be told without cutting corners. Yes, it's slow moving - but gripping. Alec Guinness made the role of George Smiley his own and (despite others playing the character over the years), whenever I think of Smiley I see Alec Guinness. Superb stuff, highly recommended - 5/5 stars.
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Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy review by Karrie
classic spy drama
(0) of (0) members found this review helpful.
In the days when a spy film meant spies not action, the BBC adapted this classic. Lots of thinking, shadowy men having meetings, talking in code, and it's not obvious what the outcome will be. Superb character acting.
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Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy review by Jake Mayhem
An excellent adaptation of a great book
(0) of (0) members found this review helpful.
Alec Guinness was made to play the part of George Smiley. And the rest of the performances are rock-solid - to mention one actor and omit others would be shameful, so just check the cast list, tell yourself 'they don't make them like that any more' and click on the 'add' button.
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Rated: 4.2 stars out of 5 from 81 ratings
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Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy - Disc 1
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Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy - Disc 2
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See Series Details
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Actors:
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BFI Classification:
Parental Guidance - general viewing but some scenes may be unsuitable for young children
| Release Date: | 26/05/2003 |
| Production Year: | 1979 |
| Run Time: | 315 minutes |
| Aspect Ratio: | Full Screen 1.33:1 / 4:3 |
| Format: | Pal |
| Colour: | Colour |
Special Features:
- Scene Selection
- The Secret Centre (edited documentary)
