misslizw Perhaps the greatest artwork of the 20th century!!

paulted Quite possibly the greatest television drama of them all. There are no pyrotechnics or snappy dialogue. If you are watching for either, you will be disappointed. This is a very slow burning, gripping game of chess that enthrals from the start. Subtle and nuanced, with a plot that grabs you by the brain and never lets go. ALL of the performances are top notch, with Alec Guinness giving a superb performance as Smiley (the most unlikely hero of them all) and Beryl Reid, Ian Richardson, Hywel Bennett, Michael Jayston, and Alexander Knox also magnificent. Special mention must go to Ian Bannen as the haunted, patriotic Jim Prideaux who acts his socks off while his character loses so much as the plot unfolds. Nothing short of a masterpiece.

q_leo_rahman There are generally two types of spy fiction. One type is the larger-than-life adventure of a charming hero who battles nefarious and mysterious enemies bent on world control. The other type is a more realistic, bleaker tale of a spy battling in a world where his own allies would turn on him, for something that most people hold insignificant or irrelevant. This story falls under the second type, but while not so entertaining is one of the best spy stories ever done.Based on the classic spy novel by John Le Carre, this series tells the story as follows: In the 1970s, a fiasco at the British Secret Service shakes things up, forcing the head of the Service out and all his subordinates, including protagonist George Smiley. In his place steps in Percy Allenine, a pompous and arrogant official who smugly claims access to a source of Soviet intelligence that will revive the Service's reputation. However, a maverick spy named Ricki Tarr appears with information about a Russian spy hidden within the Service; he is dismissed, but raises enough concern for George Smiley to be recruited to make an investigation. The story is intelligently written, but the true power of the story lies in its emotional impact. Smiley was thrown out of work and then dragged back to clean up a mess he had nothing to do with; he has to deal with insufferable superiors who want to stay secure with no blame attached to them; his allies go through nightmares that cost them greatly; and finally, when the mole is revealed, the weary cynicism that led him to commit treason against (this character is one of the most ironic and tragic characters despite what he's done). And yet, Smiley and his allies doggedly strive for something pure and noble in the miry sordid world they live in, and their eventual victory and reward, while it may be small, is made sweeter and grants a touch of hope. This miniseries moves at a slow but masterful pace, having Smiley trace out the mole's ruinous track and identity in the manner of a detective story; the adaptation is done wonderfully, with expert expansion and removal of the novel's passages into a solid unique work. The cast is wonderful, with Alec Guiness leading an all-star ensemble; Guiness who usually plays a lean, dignified Brit, delivers a masterful performance as the meek, frog-like Smiley. Ian Richardson does a wonderfully ironic role as Bill Haydon and Ian Bannen is haunting as the wounded agent Jim Prideaux. A particular standout is Patrick Stewart as Smiley's enemy the Soviet spy Karla, who commands intensity and menace without uttering a single word throughout his appearance. On the whole, if you want to see how real spies do their work, this is the show for you to watch. It will not be exciting or easy, but it will be worth the watch.

Jackson Booth-Millard I knew about the British all star cast film, starring Gary Oldman, but I knew before I was going watch that I had to see the original and renowned TV miniseries, also with some very good names in the cast, based on the novel by John le Carré. Basically George Smiley (BAFTA winning Sir Alec Guinness), deputy head of the British Secret Intelligence Service, has spent a year in retirement following failed Czechoslovakia spy mission "Operation Testify", but is forced out when veteran British agent Jim Prideaux (Ian Bannen) has identified from a Czech general that a deep-cover Soviet spy has been planted in British Secret Intelligence Service organisation Circus, named because of its headquarters at Cambridge Circus in London. British chief spymaster Control (Alexander Knox) was disgraced, but his obsession with the Soviet mole has leaked to the British who believe that a mole working for "Moscow Centre" is passing highly classified information code-named "Operation Witchcraft". British agent Ricki Tarr (EastEnders' Hywel Bennett) revives the fear of a mole with evidence backing up Control's theory, and a list of suspects is narrowed down to four men - Roy Bland (Terence Rigby), nicknamed "Soldier", Toby Esterhase (Bernard Hepton), nicknamed "Poorman", Bill Haydon (Ian Richardson), nicknamed "Tailor", and Percy Alleline (Michael Jayston), nicknamed "Sailor". Under the instruction of civil servant Sir Oliver Lacon (Anthony Bate), Smiley secretly investigates the events surrounding Operation Testify, and uses it to help him identify the mole, whom he nicknames "Gerald", still-serving protégé Guillam helps him, and slowly he uncovers an ingenious plot, involving betrayal of country, of the service, and of friendship. Also starring George Sewell as Mendel, Alec Sabin as Fawn, Duncan Jones as Roach, Daniel Beecher as Spikely, John Wells as Headmaster, Frank Compton as Bryant, A Clockwork Orange's Warren Clarke as Alwyn, Worzel Gummidge's Thorley Walters as Tufty Thessinger, John Standing as Sam Collins, BAFA nominated Beryl Reid as Connie Sachs, Sir Patrick Stewart as Karla and Siân Phillips as Ann Smiley. Guinness is fantastic as the polite and silently clever British Intelligence officer following the clues to expose the guilty man, the supporting cast members are also great as they are put in the frame during the investigation to find the mole, I admit I did not understand all the political dialogue and some things going on, but I did not quit on it and it is a well put together piece of work, and the opening credits with the Russian dolls and end credit music were also highlights in each episode, a most interesting drama series. It won the BAFTA for Best Film Cameraman for Tony Pierce-Roberts, and it was nominated for Best Drama Series/Serial, Best Design, Best Costume Design, Best Graphics, Best Film Sound and Film Editor, and it was nominated the Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Limited Series. Very good!