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showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips"Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy" (1979) More at IMDbPro »TV series
Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers:
John le Carré (novel) and
Arthur Hopcraft (dramatisation)
Seasons:
Release Date:
29 September 1980 (USA) more
Plot:
George Smiley has been retired for about a year when he finds a friend from the circus, his old outfit... more
Awards:
Nominated for Primetime Emmy. Another 4 wins & 7 nominations more
User Comments:
Masterpiece more (55 total)
Cast
(Series Cast Summary - 14 of 15)| Alec Guinness | ... | George Smiley (7 episodes, 1979) | |
| Michael Jayston | ... | Peter Guillam (7 episodes, 1979) | |
| Anthony Bate | ... | Sir Oliver Lacon / ... (7 episodes, 1979) | |
| George Sewell | ... | Mendel (6 episodes, 1979) | |
| Bernard Hepton | ... | Toby Esterhase (5 episodes, 1979) | |
| Ian Richardson | ... | Bill Haydon (5 episodes, 1979) | |
| Hywel Bennett | ... | Ricki Tarr (5 episodes, 1979) | |
| Terence Rigby | ... | Roy Bland (4 episodes, 1979) | |
| Ian Bannen | ... | Jim Prideaux (4 episodes, 1979) | |
| Michael Aldridge | ... | Percy Alleline (4 episodes, 1979) | |
| Alec Sabin | ... | Fawn (4 episodes, 1979) | |
| Alexander Knox | ... | Control (3 episodes, 1979) | |
| Duncan Jones | ... | Roach (3 episodes, 1979) | |
| Daniel Beecher | ... | Spikely (3 episodes, 1979) |
Additional Details
Runtime:
290 min | UK:350 min (7 parts)
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.33 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Filming Locations:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
Alec Guinness loosely based some of his character's look on that of Sir Maurice Oldfield, a former head of British intelligence. more
Goofs:
Crew or equipment visible: During the outdoor daytime scene where Smiley converses with Prideaux, they are tracked by the camera as they walk across a field. At one point, when they are nearest the camera, the shadows of some crew members are just about visible on Prideaux's coat. more
Quotes:
[Prideaux has seen Mendel hanging around his school]
Jim Prideaux:
Right, gather around. Come on!
[his students gather around him]
Jim Prideaux:
Right, now. Anybody sees him again, let me know? Or any other sinister bodies, understand?
Students:
Yes, sir.
Jim Prideaux:
Don't want juju men wandering around, pretending they don't know we exist. First glimpse, tell me, right?
Students:
Yes, sir.
more
Movie Connections:
Remade as Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (2012) more
FAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (55 total)
Message Boards
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Related Links
| Episode guide | Full cast and crew | Company credits |
| External reviews | IMDb TV section | IMDb Drama section |
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The book by John Le Carre is intricate and multi layered and to attempt to film it was brave of the BBC. One wishes they had such courage these days, but that is another story. It is a television masterpiece.
The acting is superb. Alec Guinness was made for the part of George Smiley. From his opening scene in a London bookshop to the last shot of his face he is mesmerising. The supporting cast are the cream of British actors at the time. Some of them only have one scene like John Standing, Beryl Reid, Joss Ackland and Nigel Stock but they become real people before your eyes. Ian Bannen as Jim Prideaux is particularly moving and Hewyl Bennett gives the performance of his life.Even the actors who don't say anything look just right.
It is plainly filmed but that adds to the atmosphere. On the face of it life is normal and ordinary but beneath there is betrayal, anguish, danger and pain. The motif of Russian dolls in the opening credits is good. Dolls with faces, then one without and then an emptiness. In the end Smiley solves the mystery but the mystery of life is beyond him.
The music is great,sparse but edgy. I can watch this time and again and still get something out of it.