Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (1979)

War & Politics, Drama, Mystery 50m

76^%

User
Score

8.5/10

One of Britain's master spies is working for the enemy. Can George Smiley beat him at his deadly game?

Overview

George Smiley, the aging master spy of the Cold War and once heir apparent to Control, is brought back out of retirement to flush out a top level mole within the Circus. Smiley must travel back through his life and murky workings of the Circus to unravel the net spun by his nemesis Karla 'The Sandman' of the KGB and reveal the identity of the mole before he disappears.

John Irvin

Creator

John le Carré

Creator

Top Billed Cast

Alec Guinness

George Smiley

Michael Jayston

Peter Guillam

Anthony Bate

Oliver Lacon

George Sewell

Mendel

Bernard Hepton

Toby Esterhase

Ian Richardson

Bill Haydon

Hywel Bennett

Ricki Tarr

Terence Rigby

Roy Bland

Ian Bannen

Jim Prideaux

Michael Aldridge

Percy Alleline

Full Cast & Crew →

Reviews

A review by Peter McGinn

Written on January 23, 2023

I tried to watch this drama series a year or so ago and didn’t get far. It isn’t bad but it has a slow pace, which I am usually fine with, but I am not into spy stories. I gave it a second try recently and had no trouble finishing it this time.

There is some action and a small amount of drama, but mostly it is conversation and a slow-burning tension running through it. I confess I occasiona...

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A review by CinemaSerf

Written on October 26, 2024

With the Cold War at it's height, the head of the British counter-espionage agency - "Control" (Alexander Knox) is giving a clear impression that he is losing the plot. He is visibly ailing so his subordinates gather like vultures waiting to take his place. His preferred candidate is the redoubtable, semi-retired, "Smiley" (Sir Alec Guinness) and pretty swiftly we discover that is because the old ...

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