Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (1979)

[Lord Emsworth]

I've just started watching the BBC adaptation of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (1979)

I have not seen it since it was on TV back in the day

I'm onto episode two and it still stands up

The cast includes: Alec Guinness (George Smiley), Bernard Hepton (Toby Esterhase), Terence Rigby (Roy Bland), Michael Aldridge (Percy Alleline), Ian Richardson (Bill Haydon), Ian Bannen (Jim Prideaux); Alexander Knox(Control); Hywel Bennett (Ricky Tarr)

In Arthur Hopcraft's seven part BBC adaptation, George Smiley returns from his enforced 'retirement' to spearhead a mole hunt that is loosely based on the circumstances surrounding Kim Philby's identification as a KGB spy at the heart of the British Secret Service. By coincidence, the miniseries' first showing in 1979 coincided with the announcement that Anthony Blunt, Keeper of the Queen's pictures, had also spied with Burgess et al for Moscow.

What are your memories of this series?

And follow up, Smiley's People (1982)

[Three Litre]

Watched it again recently, excellent series I though that really captured what the intelligence service really got up to back in the 60s and 70s.

Very good casting, Hywel Bennett was good as well as Alec Guinness.

The film they made a few years ago wasn't bad but the TV series is a alot better.

[Lord Emsworth]

Sept 16, 2021 10:55:41 GMT Three Litre said:

Watched it again recently, excellent series I though that really captured what the intelligence service really got up to back in the 60s and 70s.

Very good casting, Hywel Bennett was good as well as Alec Guinness.

The film they made a few years ago wasn't bad but the TV series is a alot better.

Yes agree with that

I did really enjoy the film from a few years back - I thought it was excellent, so will be interested to see how this stacks up against it

I also read the book quite recently too - indeed the whole Karla Trilogy. Such wonderful source material. Easy to see why it lends itself so well to adaptation

[Lord Emsworth]

I've finished Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and I am now into the second episode of Smiley's People (1982)

Tinker Tailor really is a timeless classic - a masterclass in TV drama

A combination of a formidable cast, and some superb direction: visually interesting combined with a compelling narrative

And of course the story, a peerless tale of personal and political betrayal

10/10

[Lord Emsworth]

And now I've finished Smiley's People too

Clearly a bigger budget than Tinker Tailor, and another classic adaptation with the peerless Alec Guinness but not quite up there with TTSS

[Arthur Pringle]

Have you seen 'A Perfect Spy' Lord E? www.imdb.com/title/tt0092425/

[Lord Emsworth]

Oct 7, 2021 18:27:38 GMT Arthur Pringle said:

Have you seen 'A Perfect Spy' Lord E? www.imdb.com/title/tt0092425/

I have not Arthur

Although I really enjoyed the book

I didn't realise it had been adapted - is it as good as it looks?

[Arthur Pringle]

I haven't seen it either but its got very good reviews.

[Lord Emsworth]

Oct 9, 2021 18:54:11 GMT Arthur Pringle said:

I haven't seen it either but its got very good reviews.

Thanks Arthur

I won't try and by a DVD then but will hope it comes up on Talking Pictures at some point