Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy : Complete BBC Series [DVD]

Alec Guinness gives a masterful performance as George Smiley in this BBC adaptation of John Le Carré's Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy. British acting has such strength in depth that Guinness is ably supported throughout by a strong cast. A drawback of this 2 DVD set was that the English subtitles on the second DVD couldn't be turned off. It didn't really spoil our enjoyment, but I would hope that other viewers don't encounter the same problem. The Gary Oldman film on the same subject compares favourably with this series. Any Le Carré fan, or fan of good spy movies, will want both.

Fantastic

I first saw this about two years ago after I had just discovered the novels of John Le Carre. I remember when it was first broadcast and didn't watch it because there were comments about it being impenetrable. In fact it was that that made me think I wouldn't want to read his novels but I picked up the first one and realised I could read them after all.It IS true that you have to concentrate if you want to understand the plot. Or you can just let it wash over you, watch and enjoy the impeccable acting, the tight plotting, the use of music and background sounds, the re-creation of time and place.The cold war is now long gone, but not forgotten by those of us who were around at the time. This is a wonderful recreation of that time and is very powerful. I still find myself moved to tears by some of the scenes, even after repeated viewings, particularly any scenes involving Jim Prideaux, played by Ian Bannen.It gives time to the detail, which is itself part of the story, that the protagonists are old or ageing men rooting around among old files and relying on their memories to find out the truth. It doesn't sound compelling but it really is.It's not a dvd to watch for big performances, more for the little details that good actors put in that are easy not to notice on first viewing.Alec Guiness - what can I say, wonderful playing a character who I would suggest is not likeable but sympathetic. The supporting cast is superb. Perhaps some of the younger cast are almost out of their depth in company with such experienced actors but they hold their own.It's not perfect and two of the main flaws to my mind are in relation to the female characters. Beryl Reid gave a good performance as Connie but as written she is just not right in my view. Sian Phillips as Ann was really good, if I had to imagine an actor playing that part I can't imagine anyone better than her. But she shouldn't have been there at all. When I watch it I turn it off before the final scene. Shame as she is very good.There is also in my view too much time devoted to the Ricky Tarr/Irina episode. It must be a difficult balance to strike and it may only be marginal but I thought it was just too long. It is a crucial part of the story but as dramatised didn't add very much extra for the amount of time devoted to it. That's a minor quibble but I do find myself wanting to get back to the men in the back room trying to work out the story.It's a dvd I re-watch often and never tire of it. Television at its best. And just think, this is a complex story but dates back to a time when not many people could record so all they could go on was their first viewing. That's why I say, watch it for the atmosphere first and then watch it again once you know the end to watch for the details, which are very rewarding, there is such attention to detail and a screenplay which is largely faithful to the book. If you love the book, you won't be disappointed. If you don't know the book, this is a well crafted, well acted, atmospheric spy story which will draw you in.

Great acting, characters, and story line. Along with Smileys people my favourite series ever. Watched it over and over 👍

There is a Soviet mole in the Circus. At least, according to Irina, a female Russian KGB agent in Hong Kong who wants to defect to the West. Before she can deliver this precious bit of information herself to the headquarters of the british Secret Service in London (the Circus, as it's called), she is found out by her KGB colleagues and hastily flown home to Moscow. Her british Secret Service contact in Hong Kong, an agent named Ricky Tarr, barely makes it back alive to Britain, but he refuses to go go back to the Circus.Irina's sudden disappearance in Hong Kong is, in Tarr's mind, sufficient proof of her revelations. His message to London was relayed to the Soviets, and Irina was grabbed before she could defect. Therefore, more than likely, in London the Russians will be waiting for him.Tarr contacts the only Circus operative he can still trust, Peter Guillam, and tells him his story. Guillam informs Lacon, the governments liaison officer to the Circus and they in turn take Tarr to see Smiley.Someone has to be brought in to investigate Irina's claim. Someone who knows the Circus, but who can operate outside of official channels.Enter George Smiley, the one time right-hand man of the former Chief of the Circus, Control. Smiley was slated to be his successor and was acknowledged by everyone to be the best man for the job, but then a series of scandals and spectacular failures rocked the Circus, entailing the loss of several networks in the Eastern bloc. Soon after that the terminally ill Control died and Smiley was out on his ear.But of late british Intelligence has, as the story begins, recovered its reputation and has gained access to a valuable source of Soviet intelligence, codenamed Merlin. Source Merlin is run by the new head team of the Circus. But is this information genuine or is it fed to the british to allay suspicions?Smiley is asked to look into it. During his last months at the Circus both Smiley and Control suspected something was wrong in the service, and now Smiley is told to finish the job where Control left off and ferret out he mole in the Circus...A classic spy story brilliantly adapted for television. Real care has been taken in casting the parts and as a consequence the acting is superb all round. The late Alec Guinnes gives one of the best and most moving performances of his long career, as do the late Ian Richardson and Bernard Hepton.Oh sure, for modern taste this might look far too dated with lots of Vaauxhall Vivas, Ford Granadas, Morris Marinas, huge sideburns, brown suits with enormous lapels, wide ties, paisley printed shirts with enormous pointy collars.And for today's taste it's surely agonizingly slowly paced. Since most people today have the attention span of a common housefly, modern telly has to cater to that. When this series was made, in the late seventies, they didn't do that but instead they concentrated on good scripting and well-crafted dialogue. Also, and again alas, for the modern taste: there is precious little violence or foul language in this series, a disappointingly small number of gunshots, and no car chases.If you manage to overcome these "objections", and give it a try you will be amazed and utterly captivated by this marvellous, drama series, one of the all-time greats, right up there with Elizabeth R, House of Cards, and Brideshead.