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The Spy Who Came In from the Cold

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The Spy Who Came In from the Cold

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• Crime/detective
• Thriller

• 1965
• Martin Ritt
• 107 mins
• PG

Summary

Spy drama adapted from the novel by John le Carré, starring Richard Burton. Disillusioned with the world of espionage, secret agent Alec Leamas is desperate to retire from British Intelligence. However, his superiors decide that this air of disenchantment is the perfect cover for a potential defector, and Leamas is sent behind the Iron Curtain for one last assignment. But nothing is as it seems.

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Review

A star rating of 4 out of 5.

David Parkinson

This gritty adaptation of John le Carré's gruelling novel finally offered Richard Burton a role worthy of his wonderfully world-weary style, after years wasted on sullen romantics. Bitterness seeps from every pore as he goes behind the Iron Curtain for a final showdown with his East German counterpart. With agents trapped behind state secrecy and false identities, this isn't the glitzy neverland of James Bond, but a dangerous reality in which suppressed emotion matters more than derring-do. Martin Ritt's icy direction and Oswald Morris's bleak black-and-white photography make this not just the most authentic Cold War film, but also one of the best.

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7.5/10

How to watch

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Streaming

• Paramount+
• Sky Store

Credits

Cast

rolenameAlec LeamasRichard BurtonNan PerryClaire BloomFiedlerOskar WernerHans-Dieter MundtPeter Van EyckPetersSam WanamakerGeorge SmileyRupert DaviesControlCyril Cusack

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Crew

rolenameDirectorMartin Ritt

Details

Theatrical distributor

Paramount Film Service Ltd

Released on

1966-01-21

Languages

English | Dutch

Guidance

Edited for language, and contains violence and brief nudity.

Available on

video and DVD

Formats

Black and white

News & features about The Spy Who Came In from the Cold

• 
  
  The Night Manager favourite to return to John Le Carré universe with another BBC spy drama
  
  The new series brings together an A-list ensemble.

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  Ghosts and Hamnet stars confirmed for epic spy drama from iconic The Night Manager author
  
  The all-star cast will join Hugh Laurie and Matthew Macfadyen for the new John Le Carré adaptation.

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• 
  
  BBC unveils first look at Spooks legend as iconic spy George Smiley alongside Monster star in new espionage drama
  
  Matthew Macfadyen and Charlie Hunnam star in Legacy of Spies.

• 
  
  Spooks legend returns to spy genre with all-new BBC thriller series based on classic novel
  
  Legacy of Spies will be based on John le Carré's best-selling novel The Spy Who Came in from the Cold.

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  Death in Paradise icon confirmed for new John Le Carre role in UK tour
  
  The new show will begin its UK tour in March.

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  Legacy of Spies series from BBC adds Black Doves star as filming begins
  
  Agnes O'Casey has joined the starry line-up, which also includes Matthew Macfadyen and Charlie Hunnam.

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  John le Carré's sons on 'profound, intense' journey making documentary
  
  It was the Cornwell brothers' "first step into the documentary space".

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  Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy author John le Carré has died, aged 89
  
  The literary giant's spy novels were perfect stories for film and TV adaptations.

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