The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (1965)

Director:

Martin Ritt

Writers:

John le Carré (novel)
Paul Dehn (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

16 December 1965 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

BRACE YOURSELF FOR GREATNESS

Plot:

British agent Alec Leamas refuses to come in from the cold war during the 1960s, choosing to face another mission, which may prove to be his final one.

Plot Keywords:

Cold War | Spy | Atheist | Counter Espionage | Double Cross

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 10 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Richard Burton	...	Alec Leamas
Claire Bloom	...	Nan Perry
Oskar Werner	...	Fiedler
Sam Wanamaker	...	Peters
George Voskovec	...	East German Defense Attorney
Rupert Davies	...	George Smiley
Cyril Cusack	...	Control
Peter van Eyck	...	Hans-Dieter Mundt (as Peter Van Eyck)
Michael Hordern	...	Ashe
Robert Hardy	...	Dick Carlton
Bernard Lee	...	Patmore
Beatrix Lehmann	...	Tribunal President
Esmond Knight	...	Old Judge
Tom Stern	...	CIA Agent
Niall MacGinnis	...	German Checkpoint Guard
Scott Finch	...	German Guide (as Scot Finch)
Anne Blake	...	Miss Crail
George Mikell	...	German Checkpoint Guard
Richard Marner	...	Vopo Captain
Warren Mitchell	...	Mr. Zanfrello
Steve Plytas	...	East German Judge
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Graham Armitage	...	Pawson (uncredited)
David Bauer	...	Young Judge (uncredited)
Richard Caldicot	...	Mr. Pitt (uncredited)
Marianne Deeming	...	Frau Floerdke (uncredited)
Walter Gotell	...	Holten (uncredited)
Edward Harvey	...	Man in the Shop (uncredited)
Katherine Keeton	...	Stripper at the Pussywillow Club (uncredited)
Philip Madoc	...	Young German Officer (uncredited)
Henk Molenberg	...	Dutch Customs Officer (uncredited)
Nancy Nevinson	...	Mrs. Zanfrello (uncredited)
Michael Ripper	...	Lofthouse (uncredited)
Michael Rittermann	...	Security Officer (uncredited)

Directed by
Martin Ritt

Writing credits
John le Carré		(novel "The Spy Who Came in from the Cold")
Paul Dehn		(screenplay) and
Guy Trosper		(screenplay)

Produced by
Martin Ritt	....	producer

Original Music by
Sol Kaplan

Cinematography by
Oswald Morris		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Anthony Harvey

Production Design by
Tambi Larsen
Hal Pereira		(uncredited)

Art Direction by
Ted Marshall		(as Edward Marshall)

Set Decoration by
Josie MacAvin		(uncredited)

Costume Design by
Sophie Devine		(as Motley)

Makeup Department
Eric Allwright	....	makeup artist
George Frost	....	makeup supervisor
Joan Smallwood	....	hairdresser

Production Management
James H. Ware	....	production supervisor (as James Ware)
Wim Lindner	....	production manager: Netherlands (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Colin M. Brewer	....	assistant director (as Colin Brewer)

Art Department
Stan Gale	....	construction manager
Josie MacAvin	....	set dresser
Peter Melrose	....	scenic artist

Sound Department
John Cox	....	sound recordist
Gordon Daniel	....	dubbing editor
John W. Mitchell	....	sound recordist

Camera and Electrical Department
Brian West	....	camera operator
Maurice Gillett	....	supervising electrician (uncredited)
Bob Penn	....	still photographer (uncredited)

Casting Department
Sally Nicholl	....	casting supervisor

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Barbara Gillett	....	wardrobe

Editorial Department
Denis Whitehouse	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Sol Kaplan	....	conductor
David Lindup	....	orchestrator

Transportation Department
Arthur Dunne	....	transportation captain (uncredited)

Other crew
Angela Martelli	....	continuity
Richard McWhorter	....	assistant to producer

Production Companies

• Salem Films Limited (as A Salem Production)

Distributors

• Paramount British Pictures (1965) (UK) (theatrical)
• Paramount Pictures (1965) (USA) (theatrical)
• Paramount (1966) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Paramount-Films (1966) (Finland) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1969) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Criterion Collection, The (2008) (USA) (DVD)
• Criterion Collection, The (2008) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2004) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Video (????) (Canada) (VHS)
• Paramount Home Video (1988) (USA) (VHS)
• Paramount Home Video (1998) (USA) (VHS)
• Paramount Home Video (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Winkler Film (2013) (Germany) (DVD)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

112 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | Canada:PG | UK:PG | USA:Unrated | UK:A (original rating) | Australia:M | Norway:16 | Netherlands:12 | West Germany:12 (f) (cut version) | West Germany:16 (f) (original rating) | Brazil:12

Filming Locations:

Noordwijk, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands

Company:

Salem Films Limited

Trivia:

First ever filmed adaptation of a John le Carré story.

Quotes:

Miss Crail:Is your handwriting legible?
Alec Leamas:Except on weekends.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Get Smart: Ship of Spies: Part 2 (#1.28)" (1966)

One of the best films ever made

I have unreserved enthusiasm for this film having watched it on many occasions and yet to find a fault. Indeed it only gets better. It is so atmospheric, with Director Martin Ritt, his designers and photographers, all superb. You really feel you are either in a typical 1960's corner shop in London, a prison in East Germany or a communist safe-house in Scandanavia.

It has always been my view that once it is established the leading actor in any film is on top form, which certainly applies to Burton and the script is accepted as good, then it is the support actors who determine whether a film is going to reach excellence. The Spy Who Came In from the Cold has an absolutely first-class range of actors at the very top of their profession. The casting is magnificent and each of them has a meaningful part to play in this film, enabling them to bring their own special qualities to every role.

The list of talent is endless and includes Claire Bloom playing the naive young communist, Nan, who befriends Leamas, Michael Hordern, Robert Hardy, Sam Wanamaker, Peter Van Eyck who was very good as Hans Dieter Munt, the very sinister head of the East German Secret Police, the brilliant Cyril Cussack and Bernard Lee. My own particular favourite in the film, however, is the excellent Oskar Werner who portrays Fiedler, Deputy to Munt, who despite this and his fanatical belief in communism, is suspected and despised by his own organisation because he is Jewish.

But of course it is Burton who is the central part to the film and he plays the downbeat spy, Alec Leamas, to perfection, in what must be one of the best performances of his film career. Burton is Leamas and Leamas is Burton. He is brilliant and I cannot imagine the author of the book, John Le Carre, being anything than very impressed with Burton's interpretation of his character.

The film is well worthy of being watched either by those who have not seen it before, or by others who have to appreciate it once again. It is of course from a by-gone era when communism was an ideology followed by millions and opposed by many millions more besides. It was perceived by many as a fight to the death, hence the tension which Martin Ritt and his team magnificently captures.

It may well be a film depicting another era but I have no doubt there will be many operators just like Alec Leamas in our modern-day secret service, just as cynical about making a living in the seedy world in which they inhabit. The story comfortably defies the passing of time, while the quality of acting will be appreciated indefinitely such is the very high standard.

Michael Dixon, Sunderland, England.