The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (1965)

User Rating:

7.7/10   

Director:

Martin Ritt

Writers:

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

Release Date:

16 December 1965 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Thriller

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:

London | Cold War | Spy | Grocer | Berlin Germany

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 8 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:
Richard Caldicot	...	Mr. Pitt
Michael Ripper	...	Lofthouse
David Bauer	...	Young Judge (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 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

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	....	hair stylist

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

Casting Department
Sally Nicholl	....	casting supervisor

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Sophie Devine	....	costumes (as Motley)
Barbara Gillett	....	wardrober

Editorial Department
Denis Whitehouse	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Sol Kaplan	....	conductor

Transportation Department
Arthur Dunne	....	transportation captain

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)
• 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)

Runtime:

112 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

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

Filming Locations:

Ardmore Studios - Herbert Road, Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland

Company:

Salem Films Limited

Trivia:

When Richard Burton became a superstar, he insisted on casting his friends from his days at the Old Vic and West End (London's equivalent of Broadway). That is why Claire Bloom, who is clearly too old to be a teenager, was cast as Nan Perry. Other friends of Burton's cast in the film included the great stage actor Sir Michael Hordern and Robert Hardy.

Quotes:

Nan Perry: Well, they returned you to me. I'm so grateful. So grateful! I cut tonight's party meeting.
Alec Leamas: Oh, well, well! Thank you for putting me above history.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Hill Street Blues: The Spy Who Came in from Delgado (#2.10)" (1982)

Grim, just as it should be

I read the book about three years ago and was prepared to be disappointed with the feature as it's a grim book and I thought they'd soften it a little, the movie is excellent though, they made a couple of changes but all for the best, anyone who thinks spying was/is a glamorous occupation should check the film out, LeCarre actually worked as a spy too which adds weight to his dark and realistic (in my opinion)view of this filthy job. My favourite feature of the film is the contempt with which each of the communist spies treats his inferiors as the chain of command is followed, it's a beautiful touch which I don't remember from the book, and by the time Leamass starts laughing at it I was right there with him. I loved this film and can't recommend it enough, Burton is brilliant, some of his cold stares as things start going bad are magnificent, and of course he plays a great drunk... it's a nice script too.