Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

[Chris Newman]

I want to see the film BUT I have to finish watching the fantastic 1979 TV series again. I bought the set today and Smiley's People. Alec Guinness is wonderful, Ian Richardson is hilarious and Beryl Reid had me sobbing just as she did 32 years ago. I have just watched Episodes 1 to 4 in succession (I meant to spread it out, one a night, but it is so watchable). Am I right in thinking the first broadcast of TTSS was interrupted by a BBC strike and they feared there might be national riots?

[antongould]

I think I shall be particularly interested to read your reaction then, Anton, as you are so imbued with the TV series! Also in the views of others, of course!

Well better late than never the Goulds finally watched TTSS last night and were all very much impressed. As to comparison with Sir Alec - I like dear Chris in the final post will always go back to the TV series but I felt Oldman gave a scarily good performance and seemed the correct age as per the books.

Does anyone know if the same crew are to do Smiley's People?

[Nick Armstrong]

Well better late than never the Goulds finally watched TTSS last night and were all very much impressed. As to comparison with Sir Alec - I like dear Chris in the final post will always go back to the TV series but I felt Oldman gave a scarily good performance and seemed the correct age as per the books.

Does anyone know if the same crew are to do Smiley's People?

Interesting thought - haven't heard anything.

Have a look at the episode of 'Harry & Paul' currently on iPlayer - there's an amusing sketch (called 'Eeny Meeny Miny MOLE' ) where the two rival Smileys are found both working at the 'circus' - Enfield does a good Guinness, Whitehouse looks uncannily like Oldman's version. Silly ending to the sketch, but it starts well

[mercia]

wiki says

Following the success of 2011 Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy cinema film, Gary Oldman, who plays George Smiley in the film, has stated that there is a strong possibility that a sequel will be made. During the 2012 Academy Awards he told the press that Smiley's People would be the most likely sequel. If so, it will mean that the cinema series will skip The Honourable Schoolboy, just like BBC did in its serialisation of the "Karla Trilogy" in the early 1980s

[Richard Tarleton]

Not worth starting another thread for, but gave "A Most Wanted Man" a try on TV last night, on You Know What Box Office. Had to give up - the gloomy lighting, muttered/indistinct dialogue, Philip Seymour Hoffman's cod-German accent....

The first victim of any film/television version of a Le Carré novel is his exquisite prose - its place taken by actors acting, and camerawork....One or two haven't been bad (Tailor of Panama, Constant Gardener)

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

... and of course Smiley's People is currently running on BBC4

[Cockney Sparrow]

... and of course Smiley's People is currently running on BBC4

Much enjoying this, although I saw it 1st time round. With Alec Guiness, so little is needed to convey so much. Also enjoying Bernard Hepton and Beryl Reid, etc

[DracoM]

Beryl Reid was totally brilliant in it, but I bet she was tricky to film. Were not those arthritic hands truly hers and not some acting skill?

[Ferretfancy]

Beryl Reid was totally brilliant in it, but I bet she was tricky to film. Were not those arthritic hands truly hers and not some acting skill?

I worked as assistant mixer on TTSS, and heard a bit of the production gossip. Apparently Beryl Reid and Guinness didn't get on, and were constantly trying to out manoeuvre each other on set. For instance, Beryl would deliberately hand Guinness a cup of tea so that he had to accept it with the wrong hand and hence looked clumsy. This wasted quite a bit of shooting time.
The film editor told me that editing the sound on the dialogue with Alec Guinness was very easy.He always placed physical action in the gaps between phrases, for example -- " Dialogue" - sound of book being put on table -"Dialogue " Sound effect and speech were never heard at the same instant. This was because in the film industry sound effects were stripped from dialogue so that they could be altered or moved. Guinness was such an experienced film actor that this style of performance was second nature to him.

[antongould]

I worked as assistant mixer on TTSS, and heard a bit of the production gossip. Apparently Beryl Reid and Guinness didn't get on, and were constantly trying to out manoeuvre each other on set. For instance, Beryl would deliberately hand Guinness a cup of tea so that he had to accept it with the wrong hand and hence looked clumsy. This wasted quite a bit of shooting time.
The film editor told me that editing the sound on the dialogue with Alec Guinness was very easy.He always placed physical action in the gaps between phrases, for example -- " Dialogue" - sound of book being put on table -"Dialogue " Sound effect and speech were never heard at the same instant. This was because in the film industry sound effects were stripped from dialogue so that they could be altered or moved. Guinness was such an experienced film actor that this style of performance was second nature to him.

Wonderful reminiscences Ferretfacy; just been watching the Beryl Reid episode of Smiley's People and you would never, IMO, guess there was any lack of harmony.

[Nick Armstrong]

I worked as assistant mixer on TTSS, and heard a bit of the production gossip. Apparently Beryl Reid and Guinness didn't get on, and were constantly trying to out manoeuvre each other on set. For instance, Beryl would deliberately hand Guinness a cup of tea so that he had to accept it with the wrong hand and hence looked clumsy. This wasted quite a bit of shooting time.
The film editor told me that editing the sound on the dialogue with Alec Guinness was very easy.He always placed physical action in the gaps between phrases, for example -- " Dialogue" - sound of book being put on table -"Dialogue " Sound effect and speech were never heard at the same instant. This was because in the film industry sound effects were stripped from dialogue so that they could be altered or moved. Guinness was such an experienced film actor that this style of performance was second nature to him.

Love it. Thanks ferret