"Cambridge Spies" (2003) TV mini-series

User Rating:

7.7/10   

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

9 May 2003 (UK)

Genre:

Drama | History

Plot Keywords:

Crash Through Fence In Car | Female Nudity | Picket Fence | Jew | Public Nudity

Awards:

1 win & 5 nominations

Cast

Tom Hollander	...	Guy Burgess (4 episodes, 2003)
Toby Stephens	...	Kim Philby (4 episodes, 2003)
Rupert Penry-Jones	...	Donald Maclean (4 episodes, 2003)
Samuel West	...	Anthony Blunt (4 episodes, 2003)
Stuart Laing	...	Jack Hewit (3 episodes, 2003)
Darrell D'Silva	...	Henry (2 episodes, 2003)
Anna-Louise Plowman	...	Melinda Maclean (2 episodes, 2003)
Ronald Pickup	...	Colonel Winter (2 episodes, 2003)
Marcel Iures	...	Otto (2 episodes, 2003)
Angus Wright	...	Guy Liddell (2 episodes, 2003)
Patrick Kennedy	...	Julian Bell (2 episodes, 2003)
Colin Higgins	...	Porter (2 episodes, 2003)
John Light	...	James Angleton (2 episodes, 2003)
Imelda Staunton	...	The Queen (2 episodes, 2003)

Runtime:

235 min (4 parts)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Netherlands:12

Filming Locations:

Barcelona, Cataluña, Spain

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Goofs:

Errors in geography: Guy Burgess is in a London flat eating Van Camps baked beans from a can. This brand is not available in England.

Quotes:

Anthony Blunt: You kept your socks on.
Julian Bell: My Aunt Virginia gave them to me. They're hers. "Whatever you do, don't take the socks off. Not under any circumstances."
Anthony Blunt: I'm in bed with Virginia Woolf's socks.

Movie Connections:

Version of Philby, Burgess and Maclean (1977) (TV)

Gripping

Only halfway through the 4-part series so far but Cambridge Spies has definitely lived up to my expectations. Much impressed by the excellent Toby Stephens, having seen how versatile he can be from: Tenant of Wildfell Hall, Sunset Heights, Great Gatsby and of course Die Another Day! I have to say what a superb actor Tom Holland is too. Putting aside historical inaccuracies (this has never claimed to be a documentary anyway) in favour of sheer entertainment value, this is proving to be a fast-moving, truly gripping drama. I'm hooked!