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Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy : Complete BBC Series [1979] [DVD]
![Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy : Complete BBC Series [1979] [DVD]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41Z5GDWM45L._SL160_.jpg)
Le Carré's style is the antithesis of his contemporary Ian Fleming's--far from the glamorous lifestyle of Bond, with his fast cars and faster women, these agents ride around in Skodas, and Beryl Reid is the closest thing to a femme fatale, save for Smiley's elusive wife, Anne. An extraordinary cast (including Ian Bannen, Hywel Bennett and Ian Richardson), gritty realism and close attention to detail make Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy an outstanding piece of television drama. --Nicola Perry
RRP: £15.99
Our Price: £5.00 (subject to change)
Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy stars Alec Guinness as George Smiley, John Le Carré's familiar, ageing British Intelligence agent, called out of retirement to discover the identity of the high-ranking Russian mole who has burrowed deep into "The Circus"--codename for the British secret service. This slow-burning, complicated and ultimately rewarding BBC adaptation, dramatised by Arthur Hopcroft and directed by John Irvin, perfectly captures Le Carré's own insight into the shady underworld of spies and the political climate during the Cold War.
Exceptional
Review date: 2010-06-15 Rating: 10 out of 10
Title says itall . But watch it in one viewing , if you are off sick from work , as you have to concentrate to pick up all the twists and turns.
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Reviews
TV Masterpiece Based on Masterful Novel
Review date: 2010-06-05 Rating: 10 out of 10
"Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy,"the 1979 British Broadcasting Company's 6-part television serial is, of course, based on the masterful novel, of the same name, by British spymeister John LeCarre 1974 Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy. The novel, itself, was the first of LeCarre's Smiley-Karla trilogy, that ends with "Smiley's People," also marvelously filmed by the BBC as "Smiley's People."And, as the beneficiary of a first-class production by the BBC, "Tinker" achieves masterpiece status itself. The series, adapted by the talented Arthur Hopcraft for the screen, follows LeCarre's complex novel rather closely, giving us the intriguing plot developments,the well-rounded characters, and the witty dialogue. Furthermore, the BBC hired some of the best available actors for the many principal roles, and surrounded them with all the extras, the cars, and the location shooting any viewer could wish.
The plot concerns George Smiley, forcibly retired, along with a number of his good-guy friends, from Britain's spy service, called "the circus" by LeCarre. It is realized that there may be, within the spy service, a mole: a term created by LeCarre himself to describe a person recruited in the past, and worked into a sensitive position, before being awakened to start reporting on his surroundings. To, in this case, Smiley's opposite number, the feared Karla, chief of the ruthless Russian spy machine. As it is realized that there is such a person working, and he is responsible for an unthinkably large amount of damage, including the deaths of several spy networks, and the dismissals of Smiley and friends, Smiley is drafted to locate him. But Smiley must work in secret, with only limited help from the official circus. The book on which this TV treatment is based, is, of course, based on the real-life hunt for the actual counterspy, or "mole," to quote LeCarre's coinage, in the agency: that would be the actual Kim Philby, who, before he defected to Russia in 1963, had blown the behind-the Iron Curtain LeCarre, working there under his real name, David Cornwell.
At any rate, a dying control (head of organization) believes there's a mole-- that is, a long-term counterspy placed within a spying organization-- it's a term LeCarre actually invented, and the world now uses-- in MI6. In control's effort to smoke out the mole, so-called Gerald, the chief sets in motion an ill-advised Czechoslovak operation, with disastrous results. So at control's death, Percy Alleline, one of the boys, benefiting from an all-around wizard source, takes over the organization and gets his knighthood. But the mole's still flashes his presence. So who is it: in control's immortal words, taken from a British children's rhyme-- tinker, tailor, soldier, spy, or Smiley, whom we learn is beggarman? (Oddly enough, this famous formulation, the book's title, is not introduced until late in the book.) The minister in charge sets Smiley to find out.
Alec Guiness plays Smiley with an instinctive understanding of the character that has seldom been bettered. He is, as mentioned previously, surrounded by some of the best actors available: Bernard Hepton as Tobe Esterhase, chief of the go-to boys; Ian Richardson as the mysterious Bill Haydon, Ian Bannen as the victimized Jim Prideaux, Alexander Knox as Control. Also Michael Jayston as Peter Guillam, Smiley's protege; Anthony Bate as Oliver Lacon, seasoned bureaucratic infighter; George Sewell as Inspector Mendel; Terence Rigby, and Michael Aldredge. There's only one casting mis-step; Hywell Bennett as Ricky Tarr, the spy whose unthinking love affair, with a pretty Soviet agent, begins the unraveling of the circus's dark secret. Bennett, who was the pretty-boy flavor of the month back then, simply cannot hold the screen with all these heavyweights.
It requires some patience, and full attention, to follow this intelligent series, that sometimes moves too slowly for American tastes, but those efforts are surely rewarded. This series is John LeCarre, and the BBC, at their best. However, you might want to be sure you can watch it on successive nights, rather than as it was originally shown, on a weekly basis: considering the complexity of the plot and the multiplicity of the characters, it's a lot easier on the memory that way.
Just Superb
Review date: 2010-02-25 Rating: 10 out of 10
There's not much to add to the other 70-ish 5-star reviews already here. Bought for a present for someone with a VHS player. The acting is some of the best I've seen, all the more important as the tension is created through conversation, rather than action, and its more like seeing a very well acted stage play than a film in that respect. Familiar London locations are cast in a new light, partly through the plot, partly because I didn't know London in the 70s, and the mundane, every-day feel to some of the action makes it very realistic and genuine. I've seen several Alec Guinness films now and so far, I feel this was his best work. The role allowed him to show his most acute character insights while also being more true to himself, without the need for accents or overt affectations.
very slow moving
Review date: 2010-02-23 Rating: 4 out of 10
I am not enjoying "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy". It is very slow paced, with frequent long, long shots of cars driving down roads. Admittedly the performances are good, especially from Alec Guiness, whom I previously thought a bit of a ham actor (a la Richard Attenborough). There are a few annoyances - one was the unrealistic way people didn't look out the front window when driving cars. One actor even turns round to look out the rear window for several long seconds! Another annoyance is the music - it is terrible. Finally, the plot is so complicated that it is IMPOSSIBLE to follow. I am not sure if I can be bothered to watch disc 2.
DVD Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy Complete BBC Series 1979
Review date: 2010-02-16 Rating: 10 out of 10
Not only an accurate and powerful staging of the captivating novel by John Le Carré but also in itself a work of art resulting from the management of first rank actors, of suggestive and beautiful music (particularly the Nunc dimittis which concludes each episode), and even of the enigmatical generic (the ominous "matriochki" which open each part).
Product Details/Specifications
Actor(s):
Alec Guinness
Milos Kirek
Nigel Stock
Brian Hawksley
Thorley Walters
Creators:
Nigel Stock (Primary Contributor)
Milos Kirek (Primary Contributor)
Recording label: 2 Entertain Video
Manufacturer: 2 Entertain Video
EAN: 5014503118020
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 2
Format: PAL,
Release date: 2003-05-26
Universal product code (UPC): 501450311802
Number of discs: 2
Aspect ratio: 4:3 - 1.33:1
Audience rating: Parental Guidance
Region code: 2
Running time: 350 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1980-09-29
Language: English (Original Language)