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'Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy stars Alec Guinness as George Smiley, John Le Carré's familiar, ageing British Intelligence agent, called out of retirement to discover the identity of the high-ranking Russian mole who has burrowed deep into "The Circus"--codename for the British secret service. This slow-burning, complicated and ultimately rewarding BBC adaptation, dramatised by Arthur Hopcroft and directed by John Irvin, perfectly captures Le Carré's own insight into the shady underworld of spies and the political climate during the Cold War.
The second of the BBC's well-regarded serialisations of John Le Carré's espionage bestsellers, Smiley's People is slightly less compulsively watchable than Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy if only because Tinker, Tailor had a much stronger plot premise (who is the mole in British Intelligence?) than Smiley's People, which takes a very long time to come into focus. Retired spymaster George Smiley (Alec Guinness) wanders around Europe and visits a succession of desperate or eccentric characters as he plays a game which finally leads to another confrontation with and a possible victory over his Moriarty-like Soviet arch-nemesis Karla (an expressive but silent Patrick Stewart)
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
123 of 128 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I'd personally rate these two 6-part serials as some of the best drama the BBC *ever* produced. The acting and direction is outstanding, BAFTA-winning stuff. Alec Guinness is superb, but there's over a dozen other cast members with hardly a duff performance between them - Beryl Reid for instance is excellent. The stories themselves are great, with complex plots that knit together perfectly by the final episodes, and really repay repeated watching on DVD (heaven knows how viewers kept up when this was originally broadcast once episode per week! If you missed one you'd be stuffed!)
As other reviewers have noted, however, this "box set" is simply the BBC's existing DVD releases from 2003/2004 put in a new carboard box. The sound and picture quality really are a bit mediocre at times. Given that this is one of the jewels in the crown of the BBC's output, and there's interest from the film version, you'd think one of the suits at BBC Enterprises would see fit to have this material remastered. The sound could definately benefit from a clean-up with modern techniques... the picture was all shot on 16 mm film, so it's not capable of being "high definition" resolution, but other releases have shown that nonetheless, the superior compression codecs on BluRay make 16 mm film look considerably better than MPEG munging imparted by DVD (particularly if the original film negatives are still available...?)
Considering the BBC regular undertake this kind of remastering work for dodgy old episodes of Doctor Who, you'd think they'd make the effort for this!
So - 5 stars for the content, but only 3 for this repackaging, which smacks of the BBC trying to just flog a few quid out of their back catalogue without giving it the artistic respect it deserves.
As other reviewers have noted, however, this "box set" is simply the BBC's existing DVD releases from 2003/2004 put in a new carboard box. The sound and picture quality really are a bit mediocre at times. Given that this is one of the jewels in the crown of the BBC's output, and there's interest from the film version, you'd think one of the suits at BBC Enterprises would see fit to have this material remastered. The sound could definately benefit from a clean-up with modern techniques... the picture was all shot on 16 mm film, so it's not capable of being "high definition" resolution, but other releases have shown that nonetheless, the superior compression codecs on BluRay make 16 mm film look considerably better than MPEG munging imparted by DVD (particularly if the original film negatives are still available...?)
Considering the BBC regular undertake this kind of remastering work for dodgy old episodes of Doctor Who, you'd think they'd make the effort for this!
So - 5 stars for the content, but only 3 for this repackaging, which smacks of the BBC trying to just flog a few quid out of their back catalogue without giving it the artistic respect it deserves.
36 of 38 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I bought this copy in DVD as a replacement for a tape recording made some several years ago. The quality of reproduction is so very much better and the original suspense is still there even after some thirty years. Well worth the investment. I'm also looking forward to the new version just released to cinemas. The reviews are splendid.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I saw this TV programme back in the 1970's and was impressed then, but watching again this time on DVD made the programme (and the books - which I read before seeing these progammes), all the more incredible. Actually to my mind you really need to watch both progammes: "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier Spy & Smiley's People," to ascertain how these (fictional) Spies were involved in their machinations - that was part and parcel of the "Cold War."
The most relevant feature of this DVD is, the marvellous, glorious acting of Sir Alec Guiness - he brings John Le Carre's character of George Smiley to life. If these programme are new to you, or you weren't born in the 1970/1980's you are best advised to watch them especially for the very fine dramatic acting of Sir Alec Guiness, and the other associated great actors of this time period. If like me you like Espionage type thrillers (with very complex/convulted plots) this is the film for you. Its very dated time period is its key element - capturing a time of our pasts who great relevance to the contemporary world - because don't forget Spies work for goverments.
Good films to me are about showing you an alternative time periods - because the past is important. If spies and government plots interest you, then this is the DVD for you, because DVD's can be watched over-and-over again - without being boring. In my opinion this DVD is 20 out of 10 - truly magnificent. Seemleesly superb great acting - always watchable, and always engaging. Tinker, Tailor, Soldier Spy & Smiley's People - brilliant, exciting, interesting and enticing - buy this DVD now!Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy and Smiley's People Double Pack [DVD] [1979]
The most relevant feature of this DVD is, the marvellous, glorious acting of Sir Alec Guiness - he brings John Le Carre's character of George Smiley to life. If these programme are new to you, or you weren't born in the 1970/1980's you are best advised to watch them especially for the very fine dramatic acting of Sir Alec Guiness, and the other associated great actors of this time period. If like me you like Espionage type thrillers (with very complex/convulted plots) this is the film for you. Its very dated time period is its key element - capturing a time of our pasts who great relevance to the contemporary world - because don't forget Spies work for goverments.
Good films to me are about showing you an alternative time periods - because the past is important. If spies and government plots interest you, then this is the DVD for you, because DVD's can be watched over-and-over again - without being boring. In my opinion this DVD is 20 out of 10 - truly magnificent. Seemleesly superb great acting - always watchable, and always engaging. Tinker, Tailor, Soldier Spy & Smiley's People - brilliant, exciting, interesting and enticing - buy this DVD now!Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy and Smiley's People Double Pack [DVD] [1979]
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy/Smiley's People double bill - 13 hours of...
Here we have one of the greatest spy stories ever told, brought to glorious life by the BBC. Never having read the book I can't comment on how closely this follows it, but I can... Read more
Published 6 days ago by Victor
original and best
Not yet seen Smiley's People so this refers only to Tinker Taylor Soldier Spy.
After watching the good but grossy over-rated Gary Oldman film I decided to revisit the original... Read more
After watching the good but grossy over-rated Gary Oldman film I decided to revisit the original... Read more
Published 6 days ago by Ivan Richards
Tinker Tailor - The First and Best
I remember being captivated when the BBC first broadcast this series. I watched the reruns with just as much enthusiasm, and I had intended to purchase a copy VHS or DVD but never... Read more
Published 15 days ago by G. T. Swain
2 Great TV Series of the past!
We all thought the TV series was so much better than the film and much truer to the original storyline. Read more
Published 18 days ago by Mrs J
BOX SET-TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY
PURCHASED BOX SET FOR A GIFT WHICH WAS ONLY OPENED LAST NIGHT. TO MY DISMISS THE DVD'S HELD WITHIN PACKAGE ARE BOTH SAME (IE DISC 2) -THERE IS NO NUMBER 1 IN PACKAGE. Read more
Published 21 days ago by deb
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy and Smiley's People Double Pack [DVD]...
Saw the recent Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy film starring Gary Oldman and was disappointed, but it inspired me to get the BBC series. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Mr. Kenneth J. Royle
a gripping story from start to finish
Other Paths to Glory (Crime Masterworks)This was the first Anthony Price novel I read, and indeed was given a copy by the author in 1975. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Don Aitkin
Tinker Tailor 5 Smileys 3
Whilst the recent film and all within it are excellent, the BBC adaptation is still my favourite. The ability to linger with some of the characters due to the lengthier run time is... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Man from poundstretcher
Watching great actors work
TTSS
When I first saw the original broadcast of this series I din't really understand what was going on. Since then I have read the book, and seen the 2012 movie. Read more
When I first saw the original broadcast of this series I din't really understand what was going on. Since then I have read the book, and seen the 2012 movie. Read more
Published 1 month ago by John Ogden
Special televisual production
I adore these series. They encapsulate a mood that cannot be created on film, as they are allowed a methodical pace, and the smaller scale appears so much more representative of... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Linds
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