Rating: 
Summary: A thorough presentaiton of le Carre's classic story
Review: Regarding Theresa C. Shaton's note about the Ricky Tarr plot-line apparently missing, I can't speak for anyone else, but my copy of the DVD certainly seems to have it. Indeed, it takes up much of the second episode. As an aside, I'm very glad that this thread is in this adaptation. While one could argue that it's the sort of thing that doesn't really advance the story (some would probably say it confuses matters), it's this kind of detail that really makes "Tinker, Tailor..." so wonderful. It's a rare TV (or film) adaptation of a novel that can capture not only the plot (which film tends to do well) but also the little nuances that give the fictional world dimension. Obviously, the producers had a great blue-print, but it's to their immense credit that they not only met the challenge but, in some respects, exceeded it. The end result was a piece of work that stands on its own terms as one of the great stories of the modern era.
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Summary: Like the book? This production will blow you away!
Review: Sometime in the early 80's in New York I was working on something and looked up at the TV because I knew I recognized that man speaking ... who is that? Oh right! That's George Smiley! What's he doing on TV? Guinness captures Smiley so perfectly, so completely, that it was the character I recognized and not the actor. Only then, of course, did the penny drop and I realized what I was watching. It's among my top 5 favorite novels of all time, and this production fully captures the delightfully intricate plot-within-plot-within-plot. The casting is exemplary and the acting and direction are superb examples of what one has come to, if not expect then certainly hope for from the land of the RSC. If you know the books, you will not be disappointed. Stop reading this and click on "add to your cart". Several years ago I discovered this production on PAL video (not NTSC as we use here in the States). I unhesitatingly purchased a universal VHS machine solely so that I could watch this series, which I purchased from Amazon UK. I've watched it lovingly perhaps 6 times. Anybody wanna buy some used tapes? :-)
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Summary: Magnificent Suspense Drama...
Review: Students of fine,modern English literature are well aware of the
excellence in story telling craft to be experienced in the reading of John Le Carre's masterpiece trilogy: THE QUEST FOR KARLA. The work comprises three character-driven studies of Cold War combat and treachery in shadow worlds of spying and counterintelligence:TINKER,TAILOR,SOLDIER,SPY; THE HONOURABLE SCHOOLBOY and SMILEY'S PEOPLE are literary milestones exploring what is both admirable and most frail and fraudulent in the human condition. Spy fiction genre has rarely(on occasion by Graham Greene)pushed to transcendence in repeated insights into what makes men and women of POWER(or pretense to power)tick. TTSS is premier tale of the(post-modern,political)Quest. Much like Dostoyevsky's Brothers Karamazov it probes facets of human heart and will to answer the Biblical riddle/curse: What does it profit a man to win the world, if he loses his immortal soul? Superficially...this term is employed guardedly,with respectful irony...Le Carre's story is about the Search for a MOLE...an arch traitor; perched at Olympian Heights in The British Secret Intelligence Service. When the traitor is finally revealed, a careful reader will recognize John Le Carre has disected and illuminated the monstrous egotism of Lucifer himself. It is to ALEC GUINNESS that BBC TV's exalted role of Michael-the- Archangel,and Dragon slayer is bestowed. Like reincarnation of ONCE & FUTURE KING, Le Carre's Master Master-Spy(St.)GEORGE SMILEY with modest plodding honor;integrity and searing intellect RECONSTRUCTs a Fallen Round Table and rescues its illuminating GRAIL.Ensemble cast of TINKER,TAILOR,SOLDIER,SPY is incontestably superb. 3 disc DVD package presents 6 hour long episodes which are monuments to intellectual suspense and literary challenge. If you've read the novel,you will marvel at Director John Irwin's atmospheric,thematically authentic Cold War ambiance, as he faithfully presents Arthur Hopcraft's skillful teleplay of Le Carre's often labyrinthine plotting gambits and characterization portraits:
SMILEY is humble man of honor. Michael Aldrige's PERCY ALLELINE is self-infatuated/important narcissistic power drudge; Ian Richardson is suave,genuinely talented bounder,Bill Haydon; Bernard Hepton is prissy,obsequious SIS lackey,TOBY ESTERHASE;and Terence Rigby is coarse "where's-my-money honey?" Roy Bland. Ian Bannen play the betrayed Jim Prideau. Alexander Knox plays CONTROL...who tries but cannot "save the day". And Sian Philips essays all-important cameo of ANN SMILEY, aristocratic whore who is George Smiley's wife; best friend and best enemy. PATRICK STEWART essays cameo of SMILEY's-SIS/ENGLAND's and the WEST's arch rival and ideological opponent:KARLA. Karla will be dealt-with in concluding book...and second 3 disc battle array:SMILEY's PEOPLE. TINKER, TAILOR,SOLDIER,SPY,however,stands unique;ultra non plus; as one of the finest television entertainments ever produced. It is Alec Guinness'acting Icon and singularly magnificent suspense drama. (10 stars)
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating
Review: The aging head of the British Secret Intelligence Service ("the Circus") has discovered that the Soviets have a very highly-placed mole within his organization. However, before he can discover who the mole is, he dies of natural causes, taking the secret of the mole's existence with him. However, when the mole is again suspected, the government has no one to turn to, except for the retired spymaster, George Smiley (played by Alec Guinness). Trusting no one inside the Circus, Smiley must discover who the mole is, and plug the leak. I remember all the talk when this miniseries came out in 1979, and now I get to see it again! This is a fascinating story, a mystery that will keep you on the edge of your seat, as Smiley tracks his mole. I enjoyed this miniseries (on 3 DVDs) as much now, as I did then, and do not hesitate to recommend it to you.
Rating:
Summary: Slow, methodical, but relentless
Review: The opening shot sets the tone of the entire six hours. We see a dingy meeting room in an old London office building. The radiators are indiscretely visible, the paint is peeling off the walls, the lone cabinet looks creaky. Through the windows we see it's a cold grey day. A man sits at the table smoking a cigarette; he is soon joined by a second who sits diagonally opposite him. A third man arrives with a tea cup, saucer over the cup to keep the contents from splashing. A fourth man smoking a pipe arrives, sits at the head of the table sets down a folder and opens. The scene has lasted a minute, it was silent, no music was heard, though the first man coughed once or twice. The last man then says "We are ready to begin" and low horns begin sounding the theme music. This is director John Irvin's idea of a quick scene! Later scenes move much more methodically, and involve long conversations about the plot, but that are framed beginning and end with chit-chat about the wife and the cottage. There is some action, but we almost feel it interferes with the plot and we want to get back to those conversations that contain the gold dust we need to sift out of the polite exchanges. Alec Guinness is perfect as George Smiley. Slow and methodical and illustrating GS's quirks and mannerisms perfectly. Notice how often he takes off his glasses and wipes them clean. The rest of the cast performs admirably. On my first viewing, they had managed to hide some truly difficult dialogue (e.g. "Now, Young Mr. Guillam, are you happy in Brixton?" le Carre's weakness is realistic dialogue, for all his realism elsewhere) and turn them around into believable expressions of character. Finally it seems the weather improved the production no end. Many of the scenes were filmed outdoors during the third coldest recorded winter since WWII. The actors were cold and were genuinely oppressed by particularly rotten English weather. This added to an already realistic production. Highly highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding
Review: There is a mole in the circus. A deep cover soviet spy has infiltrated the British intelligence service, and all its operations are in jeopardy. Retired agent George Smiley is brought back, secretly, to uncover the mole, and fix the mess.
There must be dozens of spy novels based on these or similar premises. What makes this series unique, is the elegance of the production, the fidelity to the source book, the quality of the original novel of course, and the outstanding cast. Sir Alec Guiness' performance as Smiley is elegant and understated. Sian Phyllis, one of my favorite actresses delivers a cameo performance as Jane, his philandering wife. Patrick Stewart, before he became Jean Luc Piccard, delivers another cameo as Smiley's nemesis Karla.
British TV has a "penchant" for producing this literary masterpiecs the way they should be done. I can see HBO, or any American network utterly destroying a piece of work like this, but, done by the Brits, it becomes a barroque yet understated gem.
Do not read any further, just go get it! You'll be glad you did.
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Summary: A great DVD that has been available for over a year.
Review: This DVD is already out and so is Smiley's People. Both are must purchases. Great acting, very suspenseful, completely different than any James Bond story.
Rating:
Summary: Brilliantly Done
Review: This is an excellent dramatization of John LeCarre's novel. The cast is superb, with the great Alec Guiness of course magnificent as the quintessential Georg Smiley and Ian Richardson doing a fine job as the hateful Bill Haydon. The program recreates the atmosphere of the novel splendidly, and those who have read the novel will enjoy the dramatization all the more.
Rating:
Summary: Alec Guinness is superb in Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy.
Review: Tinker, Tailor and Smiley's People stand as two of the best television shows of all time in the mystery genre. For purposes of this review, I will concentrate on Tinker, Tailor; but what I say is equally valid for Smiley's People.
First, the acting is wonderful. Starting with Alec Guinness as George Smiley, secret agent and sometimes head of The Circus (the Enqlish equivalent of the CIA), the casting is perfect, down to the last bit player. Guinness, unfortunately dead now, was an accomplished actor and his performaces in The Lavender Hill Mob, Bridge over the River Kwai, Tunes of Glory, Dr. Zhivago, etc., set the bar high for all other actors. As George Smiley he is intelligent, patient, tough, obsservant, thoughtful, and relentless. When he is on screen it makes sense to watch his every move and listen carefully to everything he says. He has the difficult problem of trying to find a mole in the Circus. This mole has established deep cover and only George Smiley has the skill, intelligence, and know-how to ferret him out. Watching Smiley at work is a clinic in detective work.
As I have suggested, the story is complicated and involved. Thanks to television, we have the time to follow each clue to the end. Smiley assembles his crew of talented sleuths and begins to collect the evidence that will eventually lead him to the traitor. Many plot twists and turns contribute to the mounting evidence Smiley needs to make his case, including the infidelity of his wife, the lovely Ann.
Each strand of the plot needs special handling. From ambush in the woods of Czechoslovakia to the inner sanctum of the Circus, everything seems real and our involvement in the story is total. No false notes occur anywhere in Tinker, Tailor, or Smiley's People for that matter.
Tinker, Tailor is cerebral, not action oriented; although enough action takes place to satisfy most viewers. This film is dark, quiet, and reflective, the mirror of George Smiley's mind. No happy endings here and no easy answers to the problem of Britain's fast fading influence in the world.
Tinker, Tailor works on every level and must be considered one of the finest films made for television in the espionage genre. Superb.
Rating:
Summary: A Remarkable Achievement
Review: Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy is a remarkable achievement that reminds us that "made for TV" can, in some cases, stand proudly beside the very finest feature films. Director John Irving takes every advantage of the extended time that a mini-series allows to carefully unravel an enthralling plot dripping with atmosphere. Alec Guiness plays the world-weary but brilliant spy George Smiley with such genius that it is difficult not to stand up and applaud at the end of every scene. Guiness' performance is the shining jewel in a film that gets just about everything right. From Geoffrey Burgon's perfectly matched score to Arthur Hopcraft's spot-on adaptation, this is how you do a mini-series. Even a quarter-century later, Tinker sets the standard.
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