Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

TV Mini Series
1979
PG
45m

IMDb RATING

8.5/10

10K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

2,526

Alec Guinness, Ian Richardson, Bernard Hepton, and Terence Rigby in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (1979)

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy: Tinker Tailor

Play trailer1:17

10 Videos

99+ Photos

Spy Drama Mystery Thriller

In the bleak days of the Cold War, espionage veteran George Smiley is forced out of semi-retirement to uncover a Soviet agent within MI6's echelons.In the bleak days of the Cold War, espionage veteran George Smiley is forced out of semi-retirement to uncover a Soviet agent within MI6's echelons.In the bleak days of the Cold War, espionage veteran George Smiley is forced out of semi-retirement to uncover a Soviet agent within MI6's echelons.

Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

8.5/10

10K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

2,526

Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

Nominated for 1 Primetime Emmy
- 4 wins & 8 nominations total

Episodes7

Browse episodes

TopTop-rated 1 Season 1979

Trivia
John le Carré was so impressed by Alec Guinness's performance as George Smiley that, in later novels, he wrote Smiley's characterization to be in keeping with Guinness' performance.

Quotes
Roy Bland: It isn't ordinary flight information, Peter. The source is very private.
Toby Esterhase: Ultra, ultra sensitive in fact.
Peter Guillam: In that case, Toby, I'll try and keep my mouth ultra, ultra shut.
[Bill Haydon chuckles]

Crazy credits
The opening titles show a set of Russian matryoshka dolls. One doll opens up to reveal a doll more irate than the other one, and the final doll is seen as being faceless. This was inspired by a line at the end of the "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy" novel describing the mole: "Smiley settled on a picture of one of those little Russian dolls that open up to reveal one inside the other, and another inside him. Of all men living, only Karla had seen the last little doll inside..."

Alternate versions
The American DVD edition is a syndicated edit comprised of six episodes instead of seven.

Connections
Featured in The 33rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (1981)

Soundtracks
Nunc Dimittis
Composed by Geoffrey Burgon
Sung by Paul Phoenix and the Boys of the St Paul's Cathedral Choir

User reviews111

Review

Featured review

Masterful!!!

Since I first saw Tinker Tailor in 1980 on Public Television in the USA, I have wanted to see it again and again. It remains one of the best adaptations of LeCarre, and the best mystery filmed.

Recently I was able to order the PAL version from Black Star video in the UK, and have it converted. It was a lot of money but worth every penny -- A Christmas present to myself.

Guinness gives one of his greatest performances, and the rest of the cast, especially Beryl Reid, Ian Bannen and Ian Richardson, more than hold their own against him. As another viewer said, it is a terrible shame it is not available in the US. I hope that changes some day.

I have a web site for Alec Guinness that IMdb had kindly linked to their page on him, and I plan soon to add a review there of both Tinker Tailor and Smiley's People. Bravo to all concerned for both series.