The Spy Who Came in from the Cold: True Ritt
By November 09, 2008
Martin Ritt’s 1965 movie of John le Carré’s first great novel (and first best seller), The . . . Read more »
Film Info
- United States
- 1965
- 112 minutes
- Black and White
- 1.85:1
- English
- Spine #452
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 Perry | Claire Bloom |
| Fiedler | Oskar Werner |
| Peters | Sam Wanamaker |
| East German Defense Attorney | George Voskovec |
| George Smiley | Rupert Davies |
| Control | Cyril Cusack |
| Hans-Dieter Mundt | Peter Van Eyck |
| Ashe | Michael Hordern |
| Dick Carlton | Robert Hardy |
| Patmore | Bernard Lee |
| Tribunal President | Beatrix Lehmann |
| Old judge | Esmond Knight |
Credits
| Director | Martin Ritt |
| Based on the novel by | John Le Carré |
| Screenplay | Paul Dehn and Guy Trosper |
| Cinematography | Oswald Morris |
| Assistant to the producer | Richard McWhorter |
| Production design | Tambi Larsen |
| Music | Sol Kaplan |
| Editing | Anthony Harvey |
| Production supervisor | James Ware |
| Art director | Edward Marshall |
| Assistant director | Colin 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
Current Posts
Film Essays
Film Essays
The Spy Who Came in from the Cold: True Ritt
By November 09, 2008
Martin Ritt’s 1965 movie of John le Carré’s first great novel (and first best seller), The . . . Read more »
Film Essays
The Spy Who Came in from the Cold: True Ritt
By November 09, 2008
Martin Ritt’s 1965 movie of John le Carré’s first great novel (and first best seller), The . . . Read more »
