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

This movie was made and released about four years after its source novel of the same name by John le Carré was first published in 1965.

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Connections

Referenced in The Ring (2002)

User Reviews

I Really Got Sucked In

No, the movie didn't suck me in. I got sucked into watching it by some highly favorable comments. I should have paid more attention to the ratings.

If you want to watch LeCarre, there are much better examples than this. The pacing is completely off in this movie; as soon as something interesting starts, it is truncated for irrelevant meanderings. Apparently the director wanted to make this a "mood piece" rather than an action movie, and as a result, it never develops any momentum or suspense.

On balance, this is just a somewhat disappointing period piece. Watchable, but nothing more.