The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (1965)

February 6, 2018 12:27 PM

British agent Alec Leamas refuses to come in from the Cold War during the 1960s, choosing to face another mission, which may prove to be his final one.
posted by the man of twists and turns (5 comments total)

Richard Burton is the best
posted by the man of twists and turns at 12:44 PM on February 6, 2018

I loved the book but didn't quite love this movie. Maybe I should give it rewatch though.
posted by octothorpe at 10:28 AM on February 7, 2018

This movie is just ...
The smallness of life in post-war Britain. Lemas doesn't have to stretch much to look down on his luck. And it's easy to think he and Smiley and C are so sloppy as to fail in the set up. The Germans are so eager to think the Brits incompetent.

We met Mundt in the book Call For The Dead in which he is a brutal killer.

Liz gets wrapped up and sacrificed for her ideals. And Alec... One last performance from a burned out old spy.

It's a dirty business.
posted by the man of twists and turns at 9:35 PM on February 8, 2018

Looking at a movie like this only confirms how hard it is for me to understand how Richard Burton could ever been considered a matinee idol. I mean it's a deliberately unglamorous role, but sheesh.
posted by praemunire at 9:38 PM on February 8, 2018

Rupert Davies was the first film Smiley, and after Alec Guinness, James Mason, Denholm Elliott and Gary Oldman, the worst, but he's still pretty good. Anyone know who's cast as him in the upcoming (TV mini-series) remake of this film?
posted by ubiquity at 12:16 PM on February 9, 2018