A Perfect Spy 

This is the story of Magnus Pym, from his childhood to the end of his career in middle age. As a young man, there is little doubt that his father Rick was the most influential character in ... See full summary »

Stars:

Ray McAnally, Rüdiger Weigang, Alan Howard

Nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys. Another 1 win & 4 nominations.

Cast

Series cast summary:
Ray McAnally	...	Rick Pym 6 episodes, 1987
Rüdiger Weigang	...	Axel 6 episodes, 1987
Alan Howard	...	Jack Brotherhood 6 episodes, 1987
Peter Egan	...	Magnus Pym 5 episodes, 1987
Jane Booker	...	Mary Pym / ... 5 episodes, 1987
Tim Healy	...	Syd Lemon 5 episodes, 1987
Peggy Ashcroft	...	Miss Dubber 3 episodes, 1987
Andy de la Tour	...	Muspole 3 episodes, 1987
Jack Ellis	...	Perce Loft 3 episodes, 1987
Benedict Taylor	...	Magnus Pym 2 episodes, 1987
Leonard Preston	...	Fergus 2 episodes, 1987
Sarah Bullen	...	Kate 2 episodes, 1987
Madeline Church	...	Georgie 2 episodes, 1987
Paul Daneman	...	Bo Brammell 2 episodes, 1987
Peter Sands	...	Nigel 2 episodes, 1987
Lesley Nightingale	...	Sabina 2 episodes, 1987
Ian Thompson	...	Police Superintendent 2 episodes, 1987
Alan Cohen	...	Dance Band Leader 2 episodes, 1987

Storyline

This is the story of Magnus Pym, from his childhood to the end of his career in middle age. As a young man, there is little doubt that his father Rick was the most influential character in his life. Rick was a raconteur, con man, thief, black marketer and all in all, simply larger than life. From a young age, Rick included Magnus in his schemes and the young man learned that you would do anything for the ones you love. When a university student in Switzerland, Pym meets the other person who will have the greatest influence in his life, Axel, a Czech refugee. As Pym enters his career in the British Secret Service, his relationship with Axel and the values he developed in childhood lead him down his own path of betrayal and loyalty.

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Plot Keywords:

espionage | spy | british spy | diplomat | british secret intelligence service | 

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Taglines:

The acclaimed BBC adaptation of the best selling thriller starring Peter Egan as Magnus Pym

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Genres:

Thriller

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 November 1987 (UK)

Also Known As:

A Perfect Spy

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

374 min (7 parts)

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

One of five filmed adaptations from three of author John le Carré novels which feature the word "spy" in the title. The productions are two BBC mini-series, "A Perfect Spy (1987)" and "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (1979)," the classic 1960s feature film "The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (1965)," the later cinema movie "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011)," and the mini-series remake "The Spy Who Came in from the Cold."

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Connections

Referenced in Mars Probe 7: Making the Ambassadors of Death (2012)

User Reviews

A Masterpiece of storytelling and acting

Without doubt the best of the novels of John Le Carre, exquisitely transformed into a classic film. Performances by Peter Egan (Magnus Pym, The Perfect Spy), Rudiger Weigang (Axel, real name Alexander Hampel, Magnus' Czech Intelligence controller), Ray McAnally (Magnus' con-man father) and Alan Howard (Jack Brotherhood, Magnus' mentor, believer and British controller), together with the rest of the characters, are so perfect and natural, the person responsible for casting them should have been given an award. Even the small parts, such as Major Membury, are performed to perfection. It says a lot for the power of the performances, and the strength of the characters in the novel that, despite the duplicity of Magnus, one cannot help but feel closer to Magnus and Axel than to Jack Brotherhood and the slimy Grant Lederer of U.S. Intelligence. I have read the book at least a dozen times, and watched the movie almost as many times, and continue to be mesmerized by both. If I had one book to take on a desert island, A Perfect Spy would be the choice above all others.