"Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy" (1979) TV mini-series 1979-

Director:

John Irvin

Writers:

John le Carré (novel) and
Arthur Hopcraft (dramatisation)

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

29 September 1980 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Thriller

Plot:

In the bleak days of the Cold War, espionage veteran George Smiley is forced from semi-retirement to uncover a Soviet agent within MI6's echelons.

Plot Keywords:

Spy | British Intelligence | Cold War | Espionage | Mole

Awards:

Nominated for Primetime Emmy. Another 4 wins & 7 nominations

Cast

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 (7 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)
Joss Ackland	...	Jerry Westerby (2 episodes, 1979)
John Wells	...	Headmaster (2 episodes, 1979)
Frank Compton	...	Bryant (2 episodes, 1979)
Frank Moorey	...	Lauda Strickland (2 episodes, 1979)

Series Directed by
John Irvin		(unknown episodes)

Series Writing credits
Arthur Hopcraft		(unknown episodes)
John le Carré		(unknown episodes)

Series Produced by
Jonathan Powell	....	producer (7 episodes, 1979)

Series Original Music by
Geoffrey Burgon		(7 episodes, 1979)

Series Cinematography by
Tony Pierce-Roberts		(unknown episodes)

Series Film Editing by
Chris Wimble		(4 episodes, 1979)
Clare Douglas		(3 episodes, 1979)

Series Production Design by
Austen Spriggs		(7 episodes, 1979)

Series Costume Design by
Joyce Mortlock		(7 episodes, 1979)

Series Makeup Department
Elizabeth Rowell	....	makeup artist (7 episodes, 1979)

Series Art Department
Douglas Burd	....	graphic designer (7 episodes, 1979)

Series Sound Department
Michael Crozier	....	dubbing editor (7 episodes, 1979)
Stan Morcom	....	dubbing mixer (7 episodes, 1979)
Malcolm Webberley	....	sound recordist (7 episodes, 1979)

Series Editorial Department
Simon Holland	....	trainee assistant film editor (unknown episodes)

Series Other crew
Peter Grimwade	....	production assistant (7 episodes, 1979)
Tony Virgo	....	production assistant (7 episodes, 1979)
Marcia Wheeler	....	production unit manager (7 episodes, 1979)
Betty Willingale	....	script editor (7 episodes, 1979)
Christabel Albery	....	assistant floor manager (unknown episodes)
Frances Alcock	....	assistant to director / script supervisor (unknown episodes)
Jeremy Silberston	....	assistant floor manager (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
• Paramount Pictures

Distributors

• BBC Worldwide (2003) (UK) (DVD)
• Great Performances
• Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) (1980) (USA) (TV) (original airing)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

290 min | UK:315 min (7 parts)

Country:

UK

Language:

English | Czech | Russian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Bywater Street, Chelsea, London, England, UK

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Trivia:

The Czechoslovakia scenes were filmed in and around Glasgow, Scotland, which producer Jonathan Powell says "was a very rough, poverty-stricken place" in 1979.

Goofs:

Continuity: In episode 6, Bill Hayden writes a cheque for his girlfriend and tears it out of the cheque-book. He then writes her name and address on a slip of paper. In the next shot he is shown ripping a (blank) cheque from the cheque-book and handing it to Smiley along with the slip of paper.

Quotes:

[Lacon has arrived late for a conference]
Oliver Lacon:I'm sorry. Traffic. I should've walked.
Bill Haydon:I think you and Percy between you are contriving to keep me off the streets.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Star Trek: Voyager: Tinker Tenor Doctor Spy (#6.4)" (1999)

Soundtrack:

Nunc Dimittis

By-the-Book

There are few movies that follow the book. There is no end to the comment, "The book was so much better." There is good reason for that with some films. "The Lord of the Rings" would have been five movies if you went "by the book". Interesting and enjoyable as that might be for Tolkien fans, it was impossible for film makers. Yet, "Tailor, Tinker, Soldier, Spy" as a movie defies that axiom.

Having read the book and seen the movie more than "several times", they still remain interconnected and indistinguishable. Yes, the book contains more detail, but may details are covered by innuendo, scene or background detail in the movie. Alec Guinness becomes Smiley so completely that his acting gives real meaning to the idea of a "character actor", even down to wiping his glasses with his tie. (you have to read the book for that one.)That is not to say, that Guinness is a robot and the movie is stiff in the name of faithfulness to the book, just the opposite.

The movie dawns the viewer in, just as the book draws in the reader, as part of the process of discovery; unraveling the mystery. As in a true "who done it" (or as one commentator put "who is it"), the viewer has no more foreknowledge than Smiley. You are introduced to all the characters, all have reasons to be the defector, all have reasons to distrust an investigation to the past, yet only one is ferreted-out.

The ending is consistent with the logic of the book and film, but, you still don't expect it. It's anti-climactic yet believable. The film, like to book, leaves one wondering how this could happen. It's thought provoking given many of the suspects comments thought-out the book/film. Both inspire thought more than resolution. The story challenges the reader/viewer to think and think well about the reasons for and purpose of spying as a whole. (The film is more English in cultural orientation, but the concept is universal, as many Americans have learned as well.)

A wonderful book transformed into visual. Great acting through-out, and you really hate all the right people....