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"Call for the Dead", set in London in the late 1950s, finds George Smiley engaged in the humdrum job of security vetting. But when a Foreign Office civil servant commits suicide after an apparently unproblematic interview, Smiley is baffled. Refusing to believe that Fennan shot himself soon after making a cup of cocoa and asking the exchange to telephone him in the morning, Smiley decides to investigate - only to uncover a murderous conspiracy with its roots in his own secret wartime past. Starring the award-winning Simon Russell Beale as Smiley, and with a distinguished cast including Kenneth Cranham, Eleanor Bron and Anna Chancellor, this tense, thrilling dramatisation perfectly captures the atmosphere of le Carre's masterful debut novel.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is the first of a series of BBC adaptations of all John Le Carre's Smiley books, starring Simon Russell Beale as Smiley. Unlike the other reviewers I've never read the book, so cannot comment on textual accuracy.
The story introduces us to George Smiley, the devious, cunning and ruthless spy who presents an image of bumbling donnish eccentricity to the world. The story centres around the fall out from the suicide of a man who was suspected of being a spy, but cleared by Smiley only hours before his death. An incendiary suicide note raises questions about Smiley's own conduct, he must investigate not only to get to the real truth, but also to clear his own name. Things soon get deep and dark, as layers of obfuscation are peeled back to reveal a conspiracy that has its roots in Smiley's own past activities in pre-war Germany.
This is really a gripping listen. As with all Le Carre novels there is a rich, complex atmosphere of paranoia, coupled with a twisting, turning plot. The actors really give of their best to bring the characters to life, especially Beale, who evokes memories of Alec Guinness, but manages to put his own stamp on the role. Plaudits must also go to Kenneth Cranham as the practical and worldly Mendel, a Special Branch officer who gets drawn into Smiley's investigations.
The sound production is similarly well done, the whole thing really evokes the feeling of clammy foggy London, with the furtive, paranoid world of the protagonists.
There are two hour long episodes, each on a separate disc, in a normal size jewel case. There are limited liner notes with a short essay about Le Carre and a cast list.
This is a quality production, I look forward to hearing the others in the series.
The story introduces us to George Smiley, the devious, cunning and ruthless spy who presents an image of bumbling donnish eccentricity to the world. The story centres around the fall out from the suicide of a man who was suspected of being a spy, but cleared by Smiley only hours before his death. An incendiary suicide note raises questions about Smiley's own conduct, he must investigate not only to get to the real truth, but also to clear his own name. Things soon get deep and dark, as layers of obfuscation are peeled back to reveal a conspiracy that has its roots in Smiley's own past activities in pre-war Germany.
This is really a gripping listen. As with all Le Carre novels there is a rich, complex atmosphere of paranoia, coupled with a twisting, turning plot. The actors really give of their best to bring the characters to life, especially Beale, who evokes memories of Alec Guinness, but manages to put his own stamp on the role. Plaudits must also go to Kenneth Cranham as the practical and worldly Mendel, a Special Branch officer who gets drawn into Smiley's investigations.
The sound production is similarly well done, the whole thing really evokes the feeling of clammy foggy London, with the furtive, paranoid world of the protagonists.
There are two hour long episodes, each on a separate disc, in a normal size jewel case. There are limited liner notes with a short essay about Le Carre and a cast list.
This is a quality production, I look forward to hearing the others in the series.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Read the book, many times. Love Le Carre and therefore biased. The audiobook read, I think, by the Author is also great. However this production, although abridged, is a delight. Listen to the play on a long car journey or just relax at home and listen as if a radio play (which it is) and the magic of the BBC production and Le Carres writing shine through.
Well worth it, even if I am an unashamed fan!
Well worth it, even if I am an unashamed fan!
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
The first in BBC Radio's ambitious dramatisations of all of John le Carre's George Smiley novels is, surprisingly, a genuine triumph. More faithful than the film adaptation The Deadly Affair (which had to change the character names because Paramount owned them as part of their deal for The Spy Who Came in from the Cold), it benefits enormously from the device of Smiley's imaginary conversations with the wife who abandoned him, and the occasional interjections of those he works with allowing a counterpoint of factual information and self-critical imagination that gives the drama a real cut-and-thrust and sense of momentum.
A few scenes don't lend themselves to radio - an encounter with a killer literally on Smiley's doorstep, a vicious near-fatal beating and the quayside finale do suffer without visuals, the latter in particular falling into grunting sound effects - and one suporting performance as a small-time crook is overstated, to put it mildly. But they're minor caveats to a remarkably gripping and enthralling adaptation. Simon Russell Beale may lack Smiley's ruthlessness in later stories, but here he's at his best as a man beaten down by the disappointments of the world he's chosen to live in, while Eleanor Bron is superb as the disturbed wife of the dead politician.
A few scenes don't lend themselves to radio - an encounter with a killer literally on Smiley's doorstep, a vicious near-fatal beating and the quayside finale do suffer without visuals, the latter in particular falling into grunting sound effects - and one suporting performance as a small-time crook is overstated, to put it mildly. But they're minor caveats to a remarkably gripping and enthralling adaptation. Simon Russell Beale may lack Smiley's ruthlessness in later stories, but here he's at his best as a man beaten down by the disappointments of the world he's chosen to live in, while Eleanor Bron is superb as the disturbed wife of the dead politician.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Beginners, start here
If you are new to Le Carré's world of George Smiley, then this is of course the place to start in my opinion. Read more
Published 5 months ago by maximus
In the begining - enter George Smiley
"It was just a routine interview" says Smiley, Arthur Fennon denounced as a spy, Smiley investigates. "There's nothing in it". Read more
Published 5 months ago by Don Wardell
A good read
Le Carre well read is a joy. This is abridged but well done and the reader is adept at ensuring the pace and language are well expressed. If you are a fan sit back and relax.
Published 8 months ago by Stella
Great Audio Adaptation
These BBC audio adaptations of the Smiley novels are simply brilliant examples of the form. You might expect nothing less from the BBC, but even with high expectations I feel these... Read more
Published on 9 Dec 2009 by The Kinniburgh Kid
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