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IMDbPro

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

  • TV Mini Series
  • 19791979
  • TV-14TV-14
  • 4h 50m
IMDb RATING
8.5/10
8.6K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,699
133
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (1979)
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy: Tinker Tailor
Play trailer1:17
10 Videos
99+ Photos
DramaMysteryThriller
In the bleak days of the Cold War, espionage veteran George Smiley is forced out of semi-retirement to uncover a Soviet Agent within MI6's echelons.In the bleak days of the Cold War, espionage veteran George Smiley is forced out of semi-retirement to uncover a Soviet Agent within MI6's echelons.In the bleak days of the Cold War, espionage veteran George Smiley is forced out of semi-retirement to uncover a Soviet Agent within MI6's echelons.
IMDb RATING
8.5/10
8.6K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,699
133
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Stars
      • Alec Guinness
      • Michael Jayston
      • Anthony Bate
    Top credits
    • Stars
      • Alec Guinness
      • Michael Jayston
      • Anthony Bate
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 101User reviews
    • 20Critic reviews
    • Nominated for 1 Primetime Emmy
      • 4 wins & 8 nominations total

    Episodes7

    Browse episodes
    TopTop-rated
    1 Season
    1979

    Videos10

    Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
    Clip 0:52
    Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
    Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy: Tinker Tailor
    Trailer 1:17
    Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy: Tinker Tailor
    Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy: How It All Fits Together
    Trailer 1:05
    Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy: How It All Fits Together
    Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy: Smiley Sets A Trap
    Trailer 1:10
    Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy: Smiley Sets A Trap
    Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy: Smiley Tracks The Mole
    Trailer 1:06
    Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy: Smiley Tracks The Mole
    Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy-Disc 2
    Trailer 0:48
    Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy-Disc 2
    Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy-Disc 1
    Trailer 0:52
    Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy-Disc 1
    Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy: Return To The Circus
    Trailer 1:03
    Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy: Return To The Circus
    Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy: Tarr Tells His Story
    Trailer 1:02
    Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy: Tarr Tells His Story
    Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy-Disc 3
    Trailer 0:49
    Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy-Disc 3

    Photos103

    Alec Guinness in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (1979)
    Alec Guinness in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (1979)
    Warren Clarke in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (1979)
    Alec Guinness in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (1979)
    Alec Guinness in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (1979)
    Alec Guinness and Ian Richardson in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (1979)
    Alec Guinness in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (1979)
    Alec Guinness in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (1979)
    Alec Guinness in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (1979)
    Siân Phillips in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (1979)
    Siân Phillips in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (1979)
    Alec Sabin in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (1979)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Alec Guinness
    Alec Guinness
    • George Smiley
    7 episodes7 eps • 1979
    Michael Jayston
    Michael Jayston
    • Peter Guillam
    7 episodes7 eps • 1979
    Anthony Bate
    Anthony Bate
    • Sir Oliver Lacon…
    7 episodes7 eps • 1979
    George Sewell
    George Sewell
    • Mendel
    7 episodes7 eps • 1979
    Bernard Hepton
    Bernard Hepton
    • Toby Esterhase
    5 episodes5 eps • 1979
    Ian Richardson
    Ian Richardson
    • Bill Haydon
    5 episodes5 eps • 1979
    Hywel Bennett
    Hywel Bennett
    • Ricki Tarr
    5 episodes5 eps • 1979
    Terence Rigby
    Terence Rigby
    • Roy Bland
    4 episodes4 eps • 1979
    Ian Bannen
    Ian Bannen
    • Jim Prideaux
    4 episodes4 eps • 1979
    Michael Aldridge
    Michael Aldridge
    • Percy Alleline
    4 episodes4 eps • 1979
    Alec Sabin
    • Fawn
    4 episodes4 eps • 1979
    Alexander Knox
    Alexander Knox
    • Control
    3 episodes3 eps • 1979
    Duncan Jones
    • Roach
    3 episodes3 eps • 1979
    Daniel Beecher
    • Spikely
    3 episodes3 eps • 1979
    Beryl Reid
    Beryl Reid
    • Connie Sachs
    2 episodes2 eps • 1979
    John Wells
    • Headmaster
    2 episodes2 eps • 1979
    Frank Compton
    • Bryant
    2 episodes2 eps • 1979
    Frank Moorey
    • Lauda Strickland
    2 episodes2 eps • 1979
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    More like this

    Smiley's People
    8.5
    Smiley's People
    Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
    7.0
    Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
    The Spy Who Came in from the Cold
    7.6
    The Spy Who Came in from the Cold
    A Perfect Spy
    7.4
    A Perfect Spy
    Smiley's People
    Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
    Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy: Deleted Scenes
    7.7
    Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy: Deleted Scenes
    House of Cards
    8.5
    House of Cards
    A Very British Coup
    8.2
    A Very British Coup
    The Ipcress File
    7.2
    The Ipcress File
    The Sandbaggers
    8.8
    The Sandbaggers
    An Evening with George Smiley
    7.4
    An Evening with George Smiley

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      John le Carré was so impressed by Alec Guinness's performance as George Smiley that, in later novels, he wrote Smiley's characterization to be in keeping with Guinness' performance.
    • Quotes

      Roy Bland: It isn't ordinary flight information, Peter. The source is very private.

      Toby Esterhase: Ultra, ultra sensitive in fact.

      Peter Guillam: In that case, Toby, I'll try and keep my mouth ultra, ultra shut.

      [Bill Haydon chuckles]

    • Crazy credits
      The opening credits show a set of Russian matryoshka dolls. One doll opens up to reveal a doll more irate than the other one, and the final doll is seen as being faceless. This was inspired by a line at the end of the "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy" novel describing the mole: "Smiley settled on a picture of one of those little Russian dolls that open up to reveal one inside the other, and another inside him. Of all men living, only Karla had seen the last little doll inside..."
    • Alternate versions
      The American DVD edition is a syndicated edit comprised of six episodes instead of seven.
    • Connections
      Featured in The 33rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (1981)
    • Soundtracks
      Nunc Dimittis
      Composed by Geoffrey Burgon

      Sung by Paul Phoenix and the Boys of the St Paul's Cathedral Choir

    User reviews101

    Review
    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    Breathtaking acting, direction and suspense
    Having just watched this film again (for about the tenth time) I am moved to say that few adaptations have brought such a well crafted book to the screen so brilliantly. Perhaps this was because the author also provided the screenplay ?

    The acting, direction, lighting are superb and the whole is only further enhanced by the haunting music of Burgon. The pace and suspense are every bit as thrilling as the book.

    One tip for lovers of this movie : try and get a copy of the follow-up, namely Smiley's People. It takes over very gently from Tinker, Tailor and leads on to the ultimate conclusion of Smiley's career.

    Bravo !
    helpful•37
    3
    • andrew_atkinson
    • Aug 25, 2004

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 29, 1980 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Languages
      • English
      • Czech
      • Russian
    • Also known as
      • Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
    • Filming locations
      • Bywater Street, Chelsea, London, England, UK
    • Production companies
      • British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
      • Paramount Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      4 hours 50 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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