The Tailor of Panama (2001)

A tailor living in Panama reluctantly becomes a spy for a British Agent.

Director:

John Boorman

Writers:

John le Carré (novel), Andrew Davies (screenplay)

Stars:

Pierce Brosnan, Geoffrey Rush, Jamie Lee Curtis

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Pierce Brosnan	...	Osnard
Geoffrey Rush	...	Harry
Jamie Lee Curtis	...	Louisa
Leonor Varela	...	Marta
Brendan Gleeson	...	Mickie Abraxas
Harold Pinter	...	Uncle Benny
Catherine McCormack	...	Francesca
Daniel Radcliffe	...	Mark
Lola Boorman	...	Sarah
David Hayman	...	Luxmore
Mark Margolis	...	Rafi Domingo
Martin Ferrero	...	Teddy
John Fortune	...	Maltby
Martin Savage	...	Stormont
Edgardo Molino	...	Juan-David

Storyline

Women have been MI.6. agent Andy Osnard's weakness. As punishment for being caught sleeping with the wrong woman on his last posting in Spain, Andy is relegated to the global backwater of Panama as his next field assignment. Although nothing is happening there on the surface, Panama is still seen as having global importance due to the canal, with something always possible to rock the boat as seen by the recent history of the corrupt regime of Manuel Noriega. The advice of his superior is to co-opt one of the only few hundred British nationals living there to act as an informant for pay. Who Andy chooses is Harry Pendel, a men's suits tailor with Savile Row credentials through his now deceased business partner Arthur Braithwaite. This choice is because of Harry's client list, he the tailor to the elite and powerful, including the Panamanian president, who may treat him like the proverbial "bartender" or "hairdresser" confidante, and because his American wife, Louisa, works in a senior ...

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Plot Keywords:

espionage | watching tv | nipple slip | female nudity | fondling | 

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Taglines:

In a place this treacherous, what a good spy needs is a spy of his own.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong sexuality, language and some violence

Did You Know?

Trivia

Harold Pinter: The famous writer as Uncle Benny.

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Goofs

When Harry chases Andy, he distinctly presses the center of the steering wheel to honk his horn. But he's driving a Land Rover Discovery Series II, which uses 2 horn buttons on the spokes of the wheel; the center is the airbag, and pressing it has no effect.

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Quotes

[first lines]
MI.6 Handler: Panama.
Andrew 'Andy' Osnard: Panama?
MI.6 Handler: Best I could do Andrew. Under the circumstances, given your sins. They were baying for blood.

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Connections

Referenced in Long Way Up: Colombia, Panama & Costa Rica (2020)

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Soundtracks

Todavía Cantamos
Written by Víctor Heredia
Performed by Rita Connolly

User Reviews

An atmospheric, well-crafted thriller with actors having an infectiously good time.

The Tailor of Panama is an atmospheric, well-crafted thriller in which the actors have an infectiously good time with their characters, especially an excellent and hilarious Pierce Brosnan as Andy Osnard, a roguish British spy who is sent to Panama (superbly described as "Casablanca without heroes") to keep out of trouble and get back his government's trust. However, even in post-Cold War diplomacy you have to play the game and earn your wage. The diplomats still have to listen to their sources. Osnard selects British ex-pat tailor Harry Pendel (Geoffrey Rush) to be his information source, using Pendel's hidden past to get his cooperation. Pendel is well-placed as his wife works for the director of the Panama Canal Company, but he also has friends formerly in the anti-Noriega ranks. Osnard passes on what Pendel tells him to his superiors. These two characters start to spin a web of exciting misinformation that they start to revel in, but this has consequences which escalate beyond their control. The background of Panama, from its "laundromats" (banks) to its seedy nightclubs, suits the characters and the story perfectly, and gives the film an atmospheric richness of the type director Boorman excels in. It is a treat for those who love international political intrigue and who may have traveled or lived in such places. This is a thriller which relies not on hi-tech filmmaking gimmicks (and there are many opportunities to), but on characters interesting enough to follow all the way through the film. It has an old-fashioned feel, and an wry and mischievous humor. Some may see some implausibility in the final conseuences of Osnard's and Pendel's actions, but on the whole the shamless good time they have bring these (almost) anti-heroes to life is infectious. Great fun.

Details

Official Sites:

Production Notes

Country:

USA Ireland

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

30 March 2001 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Tailor of Panama

Filming Locations:

Casco Viejo, San Felipe, Panama City, Panama

Box Office

Budget:

$21,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$1,837,068, 1 April 2001

Gross USA:

$13,729,742

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$28,008,462

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures, Merlin Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

109 min

Sound Mix:

SDDS Dolby Digital EX

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1