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

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

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the course of six weeks' shooting, John Boorman's production would put scenic Panama on the map. Permission was sought, and ultimately granted, to film in some rarely seen places in Panama.

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Goofs

When Harry the tailor visits the president for a fitting, the president is a man. But during the transfer of the Panama Canal in 1999 to 2004, the president of Panama was Mireya Moscoso - a woman.

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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

References Dr. No (1962)

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Soundtracks

The Pick Up Dance
Written by Jorge Reyes

User Reviews

Excellent satire of the intelligence business, told with a straight face

It's too bad about the low IMDB rating for this movie. It is a deft blend of James Bond, Casablanca and Dr Strangelove which directs its often vicious tongue-in-cheek barbs at both the intelligence industry and the spy films which glorify it. While it can be enjoyed "straight", that is as a story in its own right, I think those who miss its satirical structure (the film doesn't directly let the audience in on the joke - it must be inferred), miss half the fun.