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?

[Caliban]

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