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Product Description
Product Description
It is 1962: the height of the Cold War and only months after the building of the Berlin Wall. Alec Leamas is a hard-working, hard-drinking British intelligence officer whose East Berlin network is in tatters. His agents are either on the run or dead, victims of the ruthlessly efficient East German counter-intelligence officer Hans-Dieter Mundt. Leamas is recalled to London - where, to his surprise, instead of being washed up and consigned to a desk he's offered a chance to have his revenge by becoming a pawn in a brilliantly-conceived plot to destroy Mundt. But in order to do so he has to stay out in the cold a little longer...Starring the award-winning Simon Russell Beale as Smiley, and with a distinguished cast including Brian Cox as Alec Leamas, this tense, compelling dramatization perfectly captures the atmosphere of le Carre's taut, intricate thriller.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
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Whilst i respect those reviewers who have read the original book, and therefore can meaningfully talk about the adaptation's faithfulness, I can only review this audio adaptation as a piece of stand-alone radio drama, with no idea of how accurate the mood or characterisations are.
As a dark, bleak drama set in the period of the Cold War, it is infinitely more compelling than the utterly unreal seeming James Bond version of espionage.
Production values are great, there is brilliant use of sound effects and music to set scenes and indicate the passage of time and place.
Brian Cox as Alex Leamas, the world-weary, bruised and complex intelligence officer and Ruth Gemmell as Liz, the young British CP member and Leamas' girlfriend are both superb. Cox particularly holds the whole piece together.
Like another reviewer however, I'm a little surprised that the wonderful Simon Russell Beale, as Smiley, received star billing. Maybe Smiley has a more central role in the other le Carre radio adaptations, but in The Spy Who Came In from the Cold he occupies about 2 minutes of 3 hours air time. So I'm also a little surprised at reviews which single him out for praise! as you have to listen very very hard to identify he has appeared in a scene or 3! He's talked ABOUT all the time, but isn't really in the action of this one at all!!! The real star is Cox; without his weighty performance this could garner no real accolades.
I couldn't go the whole 5 stars as there are some pretty wincing attempts as German accents, with the accent playing the actors, rather than the actors playing the characters.
Afraid without Cox I'd have had to stop listening once the action shifted to Berlin, as the cod accents had me gritting my teeth and wincing!!!
Cox, Gemmell, a classy script, excellent music and the fine skills of the producer/director and recording engineers make this a tight and absorbing piece
As a dark, bleak drama set in the period of the Cold War, it is infinitely more compelling than the utterly unreal seeming James Bond version of espionage.
Production values are great, there is brilliant use of sound effects and music to set scenes and indicate the passage of time and place.
Brian Cox as Alex Leamas, the world-weary, bruised and complex intelligence officer and Ruth Gemmell as Liz, the young British CP member and Leamas' girlfriend are both superb. Cox particularly holds the whole piece together.
Like another reviewer however, I'm a little surprised that the wonderful Simon Russell Beale, as Smiley, received star billing. Maybe Smiley has a more central role in the other le Carre radio adaptations, but in The Spy Who Came In from the Cold he occupies about 2 minutes of 3 hours air time. So I'm also a little surprised at reviews which single him out for praise! as you have to listen very very hard to identify he has appeared in a scene or 3! He's talked ABOUT all the time, but isn't really in the action of this one at all!!! The real star is Cox; without his weighty performance this could garner no real accolades.
I couldn't go the whole 5 stars as there are some pretty wincing attempts as German accents, with the accent playing the actors, rather than the actors playing the characters.
Afraid without Cox I'd have had to stop listening once the action shifted to Berlin, as the cod accents had me gritting my teeth and wincing!!!
Cox, Gemmell, a classy script, excellent music and the fine skills of the producer/director and recording engineers make this a tight and absorbing piece
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Amazon Vine™ Review
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I've always enjoyed the BBC's crime and thriller dramas, but this was my first introduction to le Carre. This is a new dramatisation, first broadcast early this year.
Not being previously familiar with the novel, I found this a little hard to get on with at first. The narrative is quite complex, and there isn't a lot of voiceover narration to help out. It doesn't help that some of the voices are quite similar, so following the switches between characters is tricky at first. Also, of course, this is a cold-war drama that begins around the time of the building of the Berlin Wall. The dramatisation seems to assume a reasonable level of familiarity with the political context of the time.
These reservations aside, the CD is well worth persevering with. As the narrative unfolds, it becomes interesting and engaging. The acting is generally good - though, as with many BBC dramas, some of the accents are somewhat less than convincing. Ruth Gemmell as Liz Gold is particularly good.
Overall, this is a good dramatisation that repays perseverance. I suspect that people who are already familiar with the story might find it easier to engage with on first listening.
Not being previously familiar with the novel, I found this a little hard to get on with at first. The narrative is quite complex, and there isn't a lot of voiceover narration to help out. It doesn't help that some of the voices are quite similar, so following the switches between characters is tricky at first. Also, of course, this is a cold-war drama that begins around the time of the building of the Berlin Wall. The dramatisation seems to assume a reasonable level of familiarity with the political context of the time.
These reservations aside, the CD is well worth persevering with. As the narrative unfolds, it becomes interesting and engaging. The acting is generally good - though, as with many BBC dramas, some of the accents are somewhat less than convincing. Ruth Gemmell as Liz Gold is particularly good.
Overall, this is a good dramatisation that repays perseverance. I suspect that people who are already familiar with the story might find it easier to engage with on first listening.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Amazon Vine™ Review
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I've read the book. I've seen the film. I've listened to Le Carre read this. I am totally familiar with the story. Yet I wanted to listen to this BBC production.
My children used to listen to their favourite story books over and over again. I never understood why - but I do now!
Familiarity with the story does not impair the tension, anger, surprise and disbelief that is contained in this tale and so adequately portrayed in this production. In fact, if someone heard this for the first time, I think they would be encouraged to buy the book.
I hope so. Le Carre, at his best, wrote twisted and complex tales made famous in the days of the Iron Curtain. This group of books are his best and I think I'm right in saying, this one his first.
He went on to Tinker Tailor and Smileys People - masterpieces. But the style is here in the first and very well portrayed in this production.
Brilliant!
My children used to listen to their favourite story books over and over again. I never understood why - but I do now!
Familiarity with the story does not impair the tension, anger, surprise and disbelief that is contained in this tale and so adequately portrayed in this production. In fact, if someone heard this for the first time, I think they would be encouraged to buy the book.
I hope so. Le Carre, at his best, wrote twisted and complex tales made famous in the days of the Iron Curtain. This group of books are his best and I think I'm right in saying, this one his first.
He went on to Tinker Tailor and Smileys People - masterpieces. But the style is here in the first and very well portrayed in this production.
Brilliant!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Atmospheric, Cox marvellous, lose the 'Allo 'Allo Germans
The John Le Carre bandwagon/revival continues. This is a very welcome addition to the BBC audio set of CD versions of the BBC radio four dramas that revisit and dramatize Le... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Withnail67
Utterly Gripping
I bought this for a long road trip I recently had to do and found it utterly compelling, atmospheric and a pleasure. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Lucifers Folly
Absolutely thrilling!
I'm not usually one for writing reviews but I've just had the best ever train journey home from work listening to the final disc which had me laughing with the 'foul' twists,... Read more
Published 10 months ago by Sid
Great book - ideally suited for audio - and very well done
I remember watching "Smiley's People" on the BBC years ago with my Dad, and being absorbed in it, without even fully following what was going on. Read more
Published 13 months ago by S. Diment
John leCarré - Spy who came in from the cold
For a BBC Audio production the background hiss was a real suprise and very unwelcome. As for the Author; I don't doubt his brilliance and world aclaim but should he be allowed to... Read more
Published 20 months ago by The Audio Traveller
Chilly
From the recent John Le Carre season from Radio 4. Simon Russell Beale is a rather more softly spoken Smiley from Alec Guiness but the story really benefits from the transfer to... Read more
Published on 25 Feb 2010 by Stuart Burns
Bleak, atmospheric, moving
This is the third of the BBC's dramatisations of John Le Carre's Smiley novels and, although George Smiley himself only appears briefly, this is arguably the author's most... Read more
Published on 1 Jan 2010 by M. D. Smart
It's going to be a Cold War Christmas
What a treat!
I'm probably in a minority in that I have never read any of le Carre's books or watched the TV series, so the story here was brand new to me. Read more
I'm probably in a minority in that I have never read any of le Carre's books or watched the TV series, so the story here was brand new to me. Read more
Published on 2 Dec 2009 by The Kinniburgh Kid
A Cerebral Spy
If you are coming to this from cold and have never heard of Le Carre, Smiley, Tinkers (or indeed Tailors) then I'd proffer a word of warning: James Bond this aint. Read more
Published on 13 Nov 2009 by B. Roche
Not marvellous
I'm sorry to say that I was not very taken with this. The cast did their best, but I would say that perhaps a le Carre book should not be dramatised. Read more
Published on 22 Oct 2009 by C. C. Chivers
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