The wonderful Alec Guinness as George Smiley
So, as I often do when a remake comes out (that is, one that looks vaguely interesting and perhaps worth watching and not Arthur) I decided to watch the old 1979 mini-series of John LeCarré’s spy book, ‘Tinker, tailor, soldier, spy’. Starring Alec Guinness as George Smiley (I love Alec Guinness), and Bernard Hepton as Toby Esterhase (Bernard Hepton is another one of my favourites, starring in both Colditz and Secret Army to name two), it is set in contemporary times (back then) when George is approached by an old friend from ‘The Circus’, a British Intelligence division. It would seem there is a mole (i.e. a man working secretly for the Russians and passing them secrets) and they bring George back to winkle him out.
I only vaguely remember it from when it was on the first time around – I would have been sent to bed before it came on I suspect – but I really enjoyed watching it. I should mention I also read the equally excellent book. Whenever I think of George Smiley I always picture Alec Guinness. The series is full of brilliant ex public school boys (as was the service back then) and it seems odd to see so many people
You've got to go to Geneva tonight... 347 Rue De La Carrier...
smoking, but it also looks rather wonderful; all these people smoking and not giving a crap about it. Also worth noting are the occasional ‘nods’ to homosexuality in it – I doubt anyone in the 70s who wasn’t gay themselves would have even noticed them to be honest, but you do now. It’s so funny seeing what the country looked like back then compared to today, and I still enjoyed just looking at all the different cars from that era like the MkII Granada and the Rover P6 which they use. I should also say that I read the book years ago and couldn’t remember who the mole was so it was a surprise when I watched it to find out. And don’t worry, I won’t reveal them here and spoil it if you go to the flicks to watch the new version.
I do quite fancy going to see the film now and seeing how it compares, so will probably up date this after that. But I can say that the TV series is still brilliant and although it does look dated, the script itself and the subject is as interesting and exciting now as it was then.
Film reviews seem good so far, with Rotten Tomatoes giving it 97%, so that seems promising.
