The Spy Who Came in from the Cold

Martin Ritt

United States

1965

112 minutes

Black and White

1.85:1

English

452

Synopsis

John le Carré’s acclaimed best-selling novel about a cold-war spy on one final, dangerous mission is every bit as precise and ruthless on-screen in this adaptation directed by Martin Ritt. Richard Burton delivers one of his career-defining performances as Alec Leamas, whose hesitant but deeply felt relationship with a beautiful librarian (Claire Bloom) puts what he hopes will be his last assignment, in East Germany, in jeopardy. The Spy Who Came in from the Cold is a hard-edged and finally tragic thriller, suffused with the political and social consciousness that defined Ritt’s career.

Cast

Alec Leamas Richard Burton
Nan PerryClaire Bloom
FiedlerOskar Werner
PetersSam Wanamaker
East German Defense Attorney George Voskovec
George SmileyRupert Davies
ControlCyril Cusack
Hans-Dieter Mundt Peter Van Eyck
AsheMichael Hordern
Dick Carlton Robert Hardy
PatmoreBernard Lee
Tribunal President Beatrix Lehmann
Old judgeEsmond Knight

Credits

DirectorMartin Ritt
Based on the novel byJohn Le Carré
ScreenplayPaul Dehn and Guy Trosper
CinematographyOswald Morris
Assistant to the producerRichard McWhorter
Production DesignTambi Larsen
MusicSol Kaplan
EditingAnthony Harvey
Production supervisorJames Ware
Art directorEdward Marshall
Assistant directorColin Brewer

Disc Features

SPECIAL EDITION DOUBLE-DISC SET:

  • New, restored high-definition digital transfer
  • New video interview with author John le Carré
  • Selected-scene commentary featuring director of photography Oswald Morris
  • The Secret Center: John le Carré (2000), a BBC documentary on the author’s extraordinary life and work
  • A 1967 interview with Richard Burton from the BBC series Acting in the 60’s, conducted by film critic Kenneth Tynan
  • An audio conversation from 1985 between director Martin Ritt and film historian Patrick McGilligan Gallery of set designs
  • Theatrical trailer
  • PLUS: A booklet featuring a new essay by critic Michael Sragow

From the Current

Press Notes: Move Over, Bond

Nov 30, 2008

Leamas, Alec Leamas. Okay, so he might not be as much of a household name as a certain martini-swilling secret agent. But while a new James Bond film is currently in theaters, critics last week were showing their allegiance to Richard Burton’s classic sixties cold-warhorse upon the release of Martin...

The Spy Who Came in from the Cold:
True Ritt

by Michael Sragow Nov 9, 2008

Martin Ritt’s 1965 movie of John le Carré’s first great novel (and first best seller), The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, declares “a plague on all your houses” to capitalists...

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Available Editions

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DVD

2 Discs

SRP: $39.95

Criterion Store price

$31.96