"Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy" (1979) TV series

Director:

John Irvin

Writers:

John le Carré (novel) and
Arthur Hopcraft (dramatisation)

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

29 September 1980 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Thriller

Plot:

George Smiley has been retired for about a year when he finds a friend from the circus, his old outfit...

Plot Keywords:

Spy | British Intelligence | KGB | Mole | Espionage

Awards:

Nominated for Primetime Emmy. Another 4 wins & 7 nominations

Cast

Alec Guinness	...	George Smiley (7 episodes, 1979)
Michael Jayston	...	Peter Guillam (7 episodes, 1979)
Anthony Bate	...	Sir Oliver Lacon / ... (7 episodes, 1979)
George Sewell	...	Mendel (6 episodes, 1979)
Bernard Hepton	...	Toby Esterhase (5 episodes, 1979)
Ian Richardson	...	Bill Haydon (5 episodes, 1979)
Hywel Bennett	...	Ricki Tarr (5 episodes, 1979)
Terence Rigby	...	Roy Bland (4 episodes, 1979)
Ian Bannen	...	Jim Prideaux (4 episodes, 1979)
Michael Aldridge	...	Percy Alleline (4 episodes, 1979)
Alec Sabin	...	Fawn (4 episodes, 1979)
Alexander Knox	...	Control (3 episodes, 1979)
Duncan Jones	...	Roach (3 episodes, 1979)
Daniel Beecher	...	Spikely (3 episodes, 1979)

Also Known As:

Calderero, sastre, soldado, espía (Spain) [es]
König, Dame, As, Spion (West Germany) [de]
Mullvaden (Sweden) [sv]

Runtime:

290 min | UK:350 min (7 parts)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Bywater Street, Chelsea, London, England, UK

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Trivia:

John le Carré claims that Alec Guinness "stole my hairstyle" for George Smiley.

Goofs:

Continuity: Jim Prideaux goes off on his abortive mission to Czechoslovakia at the end of March. Following this scene is a strap-line that says "six months later". That should put the continuing action at the end of September. However we see snow on the roads, and Roddy Martindale saying to George Smiley in the restaurant "... I do hope you're not going to tip him. It's a guinea at Christmas".

Quotes:

George Smiley: "There are three of them, and Alleline." Control's words. He meant Operation Witchcraft. Merlin's minders or inventors, or programmers, or marionettes... or, what?

Movie Connections:

Remade as Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (2012)

Go Buy NOW

Quite simply the best thing I have ever seen the BBC produce in my lifetime, or before it for that matter. Guinness is impeccable, living down the shame of Obi, but the piece is an ensemble one. Hopcraft's script is taut, bitter and acerbic with some amazingly funny barbs thrown in the conversations as the group finally realise that they have been penetrated to the highest levels of the Service. Anthony Jayston was never so good in Quiller, Bernard Hepton is amazing, Ian Bannen, Beryl Reid, Ian Richardson. The cast have no weak links. Hywel Bennett is very good as an edgy operative, so bleached by the netherworld that he no longer knows who to trust. Direction is clinically crisp yet every scene is enjoyed at its natural pace and the outdoor scenes are every bit as good as the studio set scenes. Fabulous!!!