In the bleak days of the Cold War, espionage veteran George Smiley is forced from semi-retirement to uncover a Soviet Agent within MI6.In the bleak days of the Cold War, espionage veteran George Smiley is forced from semi-retirement to uncover a Soviet Agent within MI6.In the bleak days of the Cold War, espionage veteran George Smiley is forced from semi-retirement to uncover a Soviet Agent within MI6.
- Director
- Writers
- John le Carré(novel)
- Bridget O'Connor(screenplay by)
- Peter Straughan(screenplay by)
- Stars
- Director
- Writers
- John le Carré(novel)
- Bridget O'Connor(screenplay by)
- Peter Straughan(screenplay by)
- Stars
- Nominated for 3 Oscars
- 35 wins & 100 nominations total
Amanda Fairbank-Hynes
- Belinda
- (as Amanda Fairbank Hynes)
- Director
- Writers
- John le Carré(novel)
- Bridget O'Connor(screenplay by)
- Peter Straughan(screenplay by)
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Gary Oldman Through the Years
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaJohn le Carré's novel was based on the uncovering, during the 1950s and 1960s, of the Cambridge Five traitors, who were K.G.B. moles working within the S.I.S. It is the first book in le Carré's Karla, or Quest for Karla trilogy, the second and third parts being The Honourable Schoolboy (1977) and Smiley's People (1979).
- GoofsIn one of the flashbacks to the Christmas party, presumably before Control resigns in 1973, a "Lenin Santa" has everyone sing along to a recording of the Soviet National Anthem. The version that is played is the 1977 version - the original 1944 words fell out of favor after Stalin's death in 1953 and the anthem was played without words until the new version in 1977.
- Quotes
George Smiley: I want to talk about loyalty, Toby. Control recruited you, didn't he? He found you starving in a museum in Vienna, a wanted man. He saved your life, I heard. And yet, when the time came... when it came to picking sides between him and Alleline, you didn't hesitate. It's understandable, perhaps, with your war experience. You survived this long, I suppose, because of your ability to change sides, to serve any master.
Easterhase: What's... what's this about, George?
George Smiley: It's about which master you've been serving, Toby.
- Crazy creditsThe closing credits slowly shift from the right side of the screen to the left and then back to the right, no doubt to symbolize the heart of the story: a double agent who 'changes sides'.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Breakfast: Episode dated 1 September 2011 (2011)
- SoundtracksLand du Välsignade
Written by Ragnar Althén (as Ragnar Althen), Elisabet Björklund
Performed by Jussi Björling (as Jussi Bjorling)
Courtesy of Sony Music Entertainment Inc
Featured review
Brain not brawn
It really is interesting to read the above reviews. I've just come back from seeing it and thoroughly enjoyed it, but I wondered if for people who hadn't read the book or seen the TV series it would make sense, and obviously it doesn't. It also doesn't fit the change in perception that the current generation have needing an edit at least every 5 seconds and a linear storyline, that's not ageist, just what we in a much older generation have left as our inheritance, sadly. I really enjoyed the film references whether they are intentional or not, they range from Rear Window to La Nuit Americaine to Mr Bean's Holiday to Godard. Gary Oldman as Smiley is very good, much colder that AG and as in the book a bit younger. It is also less of the feel of a group of Oxbridge Dons in charge rather ex servicemen as MI5 was in those days. I was in my 20's in the early 1970's and the general dullness of everything during that time comes through very well. I would think that after they edited it they wished they hadn't had some rather crass graffiti so prominent, but I remember it was all over London at that time. Good film with a plot that makes you concentrate and you have to use your brain, well worth seeing, but don't go if you want thrills and spills.
helpful•18674
- timdiggles
- Sep 21, 2011
Details
- Release date
- Countries of origin
- Official sites
- Languages
- Also known as
- Trò Chơi Nội Gián
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- £20,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $24,149,393
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $310,562
- Dec 11, 2011
- Gross worldwide
- $81,515,369
- Runtime2 hours 7 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 2.35 : 1
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content
