The Looking Glass War (1969)

From the John le Carre novel about a British spy who sends a Polish defector to East Germany to verify missile sites.

Director:

Frank Pierson

Writers:

John le Carré (novel), Frank Pierson (written for the screen by)

Stars:

Christopher Jones, Pia Degermark, Ralph Richardson

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Christopher Jones	...	Leiser
Pia Degermark	...	The Girl
Ralph Richardson	...	LeClerc
Paul Rogers	...	Haldane
Anthony Hopkins	...	John Avery
Susan George	...	Susan
Ray McAnally	...	Undersecretary of State
Robert Urquhart	...	Johnson
Anna Massey	...	Avery's Wife
Vivian Pickles	...	Mrs. King
Maxine Audley	...	Mrs. LeClerc
Cyril Shaps	...	East German Detective
Michael Robbins	...	Truck Driver
Timothy West	...	Taylor
Frederick Jaeger	...	The Pilot

Storyline

At the height of the Cold War, British Intellegence discovers evidence that suggests Soviet missiles are being positioned close to the German border. With no active agents available to investigate, Fred Leiser must be called back to the colors and sent East. Once behind the Iron Curtain, Leiser meets a sympathetic German girl who tries to help him to evade the East German secret police and to complete his assignment.

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Plot Keywords:

missile | east germany | defector | cold war | spy | 

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Taglines:

"Why do we listen to them? Why do we fight their wars for them?"

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Genres:

Action | Thriller | Drama

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Certificate:

M

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English German

Release Date:

September 1969 (UK)

Also Known As:

A Guerra no Espelho

Filming Locations:

Spain

Company Credits

Production Co:

Frankovich Productions, Columbia Pictures Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

108 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Ian Cullen was also favored to play Johnson, the part going to Robert Urquhart.

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Connections

Referenced in The Ring (2002)

User Reviews

Not a bad film!

Most of the reviews I have given are of films that I saw at the cinema upon its release and have then recently watched again. However, THE LOOKING GLASS WAR is a movie that I never got around to watching at the pictures, therefore, I decided to shell out 3 pounds and buy the DVD. I must say that I am glad I did as I quite enjoyed it. A young Christopher Jones plays a Polish seaman who is recruited by British Intelligence to go into East Germany to check out some missiles in return for being given leave to stay in the UK. The acting was better than I thought it would be and the storyline was OK. I liked the jazzy soundtrack as well. Not a bad film at all and worth the 3 quid I paid.