TINKER, TAILOR, SOLDIER, SPY (3-DVD SET)

When PBS first broadcast Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy in 1979, I was floored. Alec Guinness plays a British intelligence agent who investigates “The Circus” for a possible mole. Twists and turns abound in this carefully crafted Cold War spy drama. Finally, this DVD set (but no Blu-ray) is available in the U.S. I also ordered the sequel, Smiley’s People, so I’m just yearning for some free time to watch Alec Guinness work his magic again. If you haven’t seen these classic BBC dramas, you’re missing some of the best suspense ever shown on television. The trailer to the new movie version of Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (release date is December 9) is available to you below. I can’t wait to see it! GRADE: A

10 thoughts on “TINKER, TAILOR, SOLDIER, SPY (3-DVD SET)

  1. Patti Abbott

    Those early days of Masterpiece seemed better to me. The productions seemed to vary in tone and style. Today there is a sameness about them. Looking forward to the new version too.

    Reply
    1. george Post author

      I don’t know how they’re going to cram all the plot of Le Carre’s TINKER, TAILOR, SOLDIER, SPY into two hours, Patti. But I’m eager to see the new movie version.

      Reply
  2. Jeff Meyerson

    I agree, Patti. In those days we would never miss a Masterpiece Theatre. Now, not so much. We tried to watch this week but Rickman’s narration just got too tedious and we switched it off halfway through. I just didn’t care about the characters or where they were going.

    I see Oldman is more in his BATMAN somber mode (as is appropriate) than his wild man persona for Smiley. I’m hoping it’s good.

    Reply
  3. Richard R.

    I absolutely loved this when it was first broadcast, and watched most of it when it was repeated a few years later. It got me to buy the book, which honestly I could follow a little better than the MT version, but that may just have been because I could flip back and reread sections if I needed to. Now I have the entire set in the THE HUNT FOR KARLA omnibus and have read all but the last one. LeCarre is one hell of a writer.

    I have reservations about the new film, I would have much rather they cleaned up and digitized the mini-series, even broken it into two films, and rereleased it. But then there may not be as much action as today’s movie audience demands, no big chases, explosions, woo-woo. It’s a very intellectual book and series. How they can put it into a film for today’s audiences, and as you say into two or so hours, I can’t imagine. I’ll be keeping an eye out for the reviews.

    Reply
    1. george Post author

      Well said, Rick! I was a big fan of the original PBS broadcast as well. Finally, this set has been released, but I’m still annoyed there’s no Blu-ray. I’m baffled by the movie version. As you point out, the hunt for the mole is intellectual. Contemporary audiences seem to distain anything without an explosion or some gunplay.

      Reply
  4. Steve Oerkfitz

    Loved the original miniseries. The new version has done well enough that I’ve read that they plan a follow up of another Smiley novel.

    Reply

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