Review: The Spy Who Came in From the Cold

Based on the John Le Carre novel, burned-out Cold War spy Richard Burton wants out of the game, but Control (Cyril Cusack) wants him for one last job that has him masquerading as a drunken louse apparently wanting to defect to the Germans. Taking a job at a library he meets Claire Bloom (perfectly cast, if a bit underused), a Communist whom he slowly develops a bond with. Rupert Davies plays spy George Smiley (a character more prominent in other John Le Carre novels), Michael Hordern (excellent as always) plays a clearly gay Communist who recruits Burton, Bernard Lee (‘M’ from the Bond series) is a shop owner, Peter Van Eyck is the top East-German spy Burton is apparently after, and Oskar Werner is his second-in-command who actually hates him. Sam Wanamaker is especially good in a small but crucial role as a Russian agent. That’s “12 Angry Men” co-star George Voskovec, solid in a thankless role as an East German Defence Attorney.

 

1965 Martin Ritt (“Edge of the City”, “Hud”, “Norma Rae”) film is a spy film for all the people who like their spies bitter and less glamorous than Bond. It’s a serious, bitter, glum, and pessimistic film. A model of its type. Burton is perfect in the title role of the burned-out agent who is playing things up as part of his mission. The supporting cast is stellar too, with Wanamaker, Cusack, Werner, and Hordern especially good. There’s something almost sinister about Cusack’s mild-mannered, tea-drinking, calm demeanour here, whilst Werner steals his every scene. Peter Van Eyck couldn’t be more perfectly cast as the German Intelligence officer Mundt.

Terrifically bleak cinematography by the great Oswald Morris (“The Hill”, “Look Back in Anger”, “Lolita”) is another highlight here. Cold, rainy, and miserable has never been captured more beautifully. A depressive atmosphere is actually a plus in this film’s case, the finale is absolutely fantastic. It's pure Le Carre, cynical, dirty spy stuff where everyone is a bit grubby. The screenplay is by Paul Dehn (“The Deadly Affair”, “Escape From the Planet of the Apes”, “Murder on the Orient Express”) and Guy Trosper (“Jailhouse Rock”, “One-Eyed Jacks”, “Birdman of Alcatraz”), from the John Le Carre (“The Deadly Affair”, “The Tailor of Panama”) novel. The excellent music score by Sol Kaplan has a sombre, haunting, almost mournful quality. A must-see spy film for those who aren’t into the gadgets and stunts.

 

Rating: B+