I'm sitting here watching this program 45 years after I saw it first aired when I was 18 years old. My feelings are so tangled up, 45 years have passed. So much has happened, so much sadness, and so many struggles the past 4 and half decades. Watching this is comforting and grounding, though non of the dreams of that 18 year old man ever came true. I am still alive today, living only for the day. I hope all have health and happiness in 2024.
Am still working contracts, while listening to some of those around me boasting they've been there for 35 years, wow, when you get to the 'end of the ride,' and all you can say is, 'I got a gold watch and a pension!', how sad! I'll tell Saint Peter I got my damn money's worth and then some, even with the homeless bits. Make 2024 your best ride.
Wow, so many of us feel that way, and I believe Le Carre somehow could reach us with the same, simple potency. The power of honest, naked truth...."Here's how I feel". Thank you.
So half wary through, plenty of time to do the things you wanted to do as 18 - and yes there is something comforting and grounding about slow paced thought out series/books like these My first book was The Honourable Schoolboy and I loved every bit of it and felt it to be hugely realistic (although founded on nothing) rather than the normal "action" spy stuff I think most of it happens with your nose in some document
Have watched this series countless times since I discovered it in the mid-2000s and I never tire of it; notice new details every time. The actors and dialogue are just great. Have long searched for comparable material but really nothing except the excellent Sandbaggers TV series satisfies. I hate the remake and all feeble modern attempts at this vibe. Long live everyone involved :)
I hadn't realized until recently how popular this video has become. Thank you to everyone for watching and liking this compilation. I'd like to take the opportunity to clarify something regarding the versions of the series I used for it: - The version I used for *Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy* is the uncut *UK version* , the one that has many scenes that were omitted from the US release - The version I used for *Smiley's People* is, however, *the US version* , not the unedited UK version. At the time of making the compilation, the UK version was not available in high quality on RU-vid, therefore I decided to use the higher quality US one to avoid compromising the overall quality of the video. You can still find the UK version on RU-vid though, albeit in lower quality. If I had the chance, I would like to remake this video at some point with both uncut versions and HD footage across the board. It would've been great to include The Honourable Schoolboy in the middle as well, though sadly it was never adapted into a TV series nor into a film. It would've been the true Quest for Karla compilation otherwise. I also thought of using the 1983 BBC radio adaptation starring Peter Vaughan instead, along with some images as a slideshow to represent some of the scenes of the play, but I dropped the idea ultimately. Would you like to see something like that at some point? Anyway, thanks again for watching!
If you get the chance to put in the HD version of the uncut Smiley's People, I'd certainly love it. Once in a while I have to go scroll through the episodes to see the atmospheric stuff and the few bits that really did make it more perfect that were cut out of the US version. I've watched some documentaries about Kim Philby and George Blake that make this seem all the more amazing work of truthy fiction. I can't get over the acting, screenplay, script, casting. I wonder sometimes if all ten or eleven hours of it wouldn't be a hit in meatspace theaters to this day. Maybe just packed houses full of Boomers who need bathroom breaks, but, truly, I bless you for this and spread the link everywhere I go. ♥♥♥
@@jeffcurrey8765 I did not know that, but DID just recommend to a friend who I know will LOVE this, that he can watch it on his laptop and if his headphones don't help him hear it, he can switch on the closed captioning. His hearing is tanking pretty hard and he reads so fast it makes my head swim. So this is good to know. Thanks.
So now I need to watch Smileys people the uncut version to see what I missed lol. I also plan to get the book and listen to on recordings for the blind.
Beryl Reid as Connie Sachs delivers a heartbreaking tour de force. Flirty, resentful, lost, vulnerable, searingly intelligent, abandoned, volatile, eccentric and a little bit crazy all at the same time. A really remarkable performance.
She was a very fine actress with a lot of roles under her belt but this one would win an Oscar today by a mile. She had reached the very top of her trade. RIP.
“Flirty, resentful, lost, vulnerable, searingly intelligent, abandoned volatile, eccentric and a little bit crazy.” You’ve got some nerve flagrantly plagiarising my Tinder profile purely for the muted sense of accomplishment one realises when they accrue a handful of upvotes in the YT comments section. 😝
Ironically,Alec Guinness wasn’t very happy that Beryl Reid was chosen for the part ,God knows why…………she was,according to to the book,THE perfect Connie Sachs.
Michael Lonsdale as Grigoriev is totally, totally wonderful acting. " I am Grigoriev! And who are you, please? Al Capone?" The inflexion of the accent is just brilliant.
I was looking for this comment! He is utterly brilliant, what a treat to experience this amazing piece of acting ❤ Alec Guinness isn’t half bad either 😊
I spent more than a decade in the Service. The completely authentic atmosphere, sets, etc made my hair stand on end. This is an enduring masterpiece in every respect.
@@pitdog75 🎬 *A quite remarkable cinematic achievement (especially if you appreciated Bertolucci's 'The Conformist' some 50 years ago). I personally had to reread the original Le Carré novel, though, to be in capacity of reconstructing the whole plot. 😉
@@user-wj9mh1yr8d *Worth watching as a true flick that's necessarily 'revisiting' the novel in an artistic, creative way, wheras the TV series is just like reading the whole book, one page after the other, through someone elses's eyes (the director's).
What a masterpiece. I tried buying Smiley’s People on DVD years ago and could not get it. I’m so happy to have been able to see these two together, uncut and commercial free. They don’t make them like they used to, parts of this are as beautiful as paintings to look at, and some of the best dialogue ever in movies.
John Le Carre was simply brilliant and this production is seamless. The Acting and direction is superb. Alec Guinness is fantastic. Everyone is stellar. Thank you
Right-brained to a fault, the books were tough for me to follow, but, fwiw, after seeing every iteration of these filmed versions, I tried again: it was worth it.
The story is a classic and so is this production. It’s so far above anything produced today the difference is stark. It’s subtle and beautifully told. Movies today are nothing but absurd car, motorcycle, helicopter chases and CGI theatrics with no believability or heart.
Nowadays for tension and suspense there is a spectacular multi car multi vehicle elaborate chase off carparks and through peoples rooms. In this Smiley walks down a corridor, into and out of shadows, into darkened rooms. And the tension and suspense is greater. Bravo.
In the remake of Tinker Tailor, a freight elevator door opens to reveal Benedict Cumberbatch standing stark still with no expression, waiting. Scared me as bad as any gotcha moment I've seen.
This combination of the two series together is truly superb. It was truly a pleasure to see this again, for such thoughtful dramas today are exceptionally rare, especially when it comes to allowing the viewer to think intelligently without the use of CGI, crashes, chases, etc. Guinness was perfect for this role and it was well supported by everyone in this production. It was equally interesting to see Patrick Stewart and Alan Rickman in their small parts. Time has certainly moved on since then but a part of me will always miss the things that seemed simpler back then.
Acting is a term that's used today to describe just about everything regardless of how poorly it's done. How glad I am to have witnessed the difference . What a masterfully crafted viewing experience. I think especially the development of the characters of Connie and Toby Esterhause was intriguing interesting and beautifully portrayed The dramatic ending no words spoken breathtaking.
I only saw these two for the first time over the last two years. And, to me, they are the two best, made-for-TV dramas I have ever seen. Possibly, ever made. Thank you for posting them. ☮
You've been watching a lot of movies yourself. The peasants did the fighting, unprotected, died in vast numbers, and got spat on for it by heavily armored "knights" who usually survived .@@LiMi-sm1wh
I want to commend the person(s) that made this possible. I have watched this many times and never tire of the masterpiece. I have watched all of the LeCarre movies that have been translated from book to film and they are all completely engrossing but this is by far my favorite. The interesting thing I discovered when I read the book(s) re: The Quest for Karla is that the series is as close to word for word that is possible. I am planning on spending my weekend watching. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I fully agree, in spite of the fact that I'm an insufferable yank. Two of my favorite actors are Ian McShane and Ian Richardson. McShane was in tv show about solicitors back in 2003 called "Trust" where he played the head of the firm in London. In terms of a tv drama, one of the best I have ever seen. And of course Richardson's talents are boundless in House of Cards. If I had met either of them, I would hug them.
I can’t think of a television series that even comes close to the quality of this on so many levels. I get more out of it each time I view it all. 5 times now.
First I watched this in 78 and 82 U.S. broadcasts. Your upload is the British release with extended and additional scenes. I return to this as a touchstone of great tv. In the casting, their performances, the dialog I find new things In every viewing. Thank you.
LeCarre has long been one of my favorite writers. These productions are hands down the best adaptations made, coming very close to capturing the subtlety and intricacy of plot and character. As I remember, they were broadcast in series on PBS in this country sometime in the late 1970s. The casting was impeccable, especially in contrast with Diane Keaton in The Little Drummer Girl.
This is full of show stoppers.. It's absolutely captivating from the first frame to final one with Alec Guinness removing his glasses and displaying an incredibly complex reaction to Sian Phillips barb, although who could forget Beryl Reid as Connie......so arresting .
Much, much thanks for making this video. Being able to watch the whole thing as one continuous presentation really makes it enjoyable in a special way. It took some real work and care to blend the pieces so seamlessly together and your effort was definitely worthwhile.
I had heard about these films for years here in America, happy I was able to view them, great story, Alex Guinness was terrific as always will, I will miss him forever!
Yep…. Here’s me 2.12 into a 10hr plus saga. Oh well… the Pom’s were always going to come out on top in a BBC production, I just didn’t need to know that it was Colonel Mustard in the Ballroom with the candle stick just quite yet.
Benchmark dramatisation of an epic story and its continuation in Smileys People. The characters are so well portrayed and reflect the depth and breadth of their composition in the books. Its hard to read the books again without imaging the cast in one's mind. I too watched this as a young man and like some of my favourite music from the same era, I feel a lot of comfort when I watch this pairing. Thanks for packing it into a block and all the best to the other commenters.
Karla was defeated and knew it. And a struggle to accept it, so he drops the lighter for Smiley on the ground. To let Smiley know how he hurt him, like saying, you won but remember what i did to you. And as the great George Smiley walked off, the lighter is left behind. He looked at it and left it behind. Like saying back to Karla, yes but i left that part in the past. What a brilliant series.
Amazing! The writing is superb but this acting brings it to another level. Everytime I watch I catch 10 new things I hadn't noticed before. Like a fine aged wine
John Le Carre's skill was of enduring stuff! So long ago that I "discovered" him, then to find him once again! A treat. Thank you. Wish he was still with us!
Thanks for stitching these two masterpieces together without all the annoying theme music in between. This was a very enjoyable marathon movie binge. Much appreciated. 👍🏽
@@kristiantoimil It's one of the highlights! But I think this person means they don't want to hear the opening and closing theme music repetitively. Who would watch more than a couple episodes at a time, though? This show is intense, and takes some time to absorb.
Superb visual realization of the books, with fine use of often dismal landscapes and effective use of music. The acting was excellent all round, Alec Guinness outstanding. I also liked the dialogue between George and Toby that if George is involved with creeps like Gregoriov, he needs a Hungarian creep like Toby as his babysitter. The end was marvelous, that even when you win there is something hollow at the center. Thank you for making this available.
I adore how she roasts George. "You gather? Wish you would gather. Gather up for good." "Chelsea pensioner. Hot, cold, and deep frozen. Fought every war since Thermopylae". And her banter. "I wouldn't trust Saul Enderby further than I can throw Oliver Lacon." she's golden.
Perhaps one of the least known, and must underrated film production in history. Created on ( by Hollywood standards ) a non-existent BBC Budget, based upon excellent material, and screenplay a masterwork, and with a lead actor create some of the best work of his career. The problem is that this was never James Bond, not lovely Women, no lovely car chases, no lovely guns. Instead this was a tale of ordinary flawed human beings lying, cheating, blackmailing, stealing, and betraying each other under the banner of patriotism and the good of the nation. So by its very nature its audience was not males 16 to 25 years old, and had limited appeal and limited presentation. However much like a cult classic that grows an audience over time, these films have done so, to the point that even Hollywood took an abortive attack on the work, not horrible, but not the same depth. There are several references to "...our American cousins....", and what this refers to is that at the time frame these stories exist in the English Intelligence and counter-intelligence service continued to rely on HUMIT or espionage based upon interpersonal connections and "trade-craft". however in its life and death struggle with the Soviets the Americans were concerned almost exclusively with nuclear deployment and delivery and they invested huge, HUGE sums and resources into electronic, high altitude, satellite and computer mass-data technologies. For the English security services having access to this was extremely important. So what is portrayed in both amazing works is the slow death of a "style" of intelligence that was no longer useful ( or apparently so ), and the hero George Smiley was more than aware of this, much to his displeasure.
"Least known"?! Nuts. I remember the time well, and you couldn't turn around without seeing the books for sale, TV Guide mentioning it on the cover, TV ads for it to the point I got sick of it. I had no interest in it--though I was always into spy stories. I found a copy last year and finally watched...and I think I got much more out of it as a mature adult, than I would have as an ignorant teenager. Least known....sheesh.
I love that, when someone goes off on a monologue looking for Smiley's pity, he simply glosses over it and gets straight to business. It's almost intimidating. Like he doesn't want to waste time with your personal issues.
Obviously a great "Two" TV 📺 series. Another thing obvious is the character of the actors who play these characters. As a man who has led many diffrent lifes- some will even say diffrent faces - its refreshing to see the honor, respect, reasonableness and responsibility of the characters. Men and women who would risk all; or nothing simply based on honor. Completely opposing views but drop it all for friendship. Sad part is this is not that long ago - God, how has society fallen - even within the service. The Amazing part is that society is Completely redeemable and I will keep the faith.
I think I'll start this as a prank on my wife to see how long it takes her to ask me, "How long is this?" Lol, thanks for posting! I loved the book and the actors in this adaptation.
Very glad to have come across this, while living abroad and not having a great deal of classic TV to watch. An amazing production with so many fine actors and script.
What a treat, this is truly a timeless treasure on so many levels. I’m sitting here amazed how quickly 10 hours went by, in my mind I can only compare it to a fine wine with all it’s complexity, many layers and rich textures coming together such that the total is so much greater than the sum of it’s parts. Thanks for putting this together and posting it.
I saw Smiley's people before Tinker Tailor, and really enjoyed it. Seeing Alec Guinness in a role other than Obi Wan or Bridge on the River Kwai or Lawrence of Arabia was so cool. I saw one of his contemporaries who acted with him in LOA, Peter O'Toole, seated at the stage on a trip to Europe via London in '84 as he performed as the star of the play Pygmalion, which was also made into a movie with Peter in the role.. Peter was the only actor of such stature like Alec Guinness I ever met. I always loved British Movies and Theater because of learning about the English of Shakespeare in American High School, my English teacher who was a chaperone on my first journey to Europe in '84. Thanks for sharing something now added to my own archives in case I travel across the pond again and want something to remind me of the way things were before the Wall of Berlin fell.
Fantastic!!! The talk between Toby and George in the basement of art gallery was out of world. No actor in Hollywood could do that. Thanks!!!! PS: We Cold War 2.0 brewing with Russia. In real life or fiction: Who will be Karla? Who will be George? Circus? Moscow Center? So many question!
I hadn't noticed the parallel until last night. If John Le Carré was still alive he would 100% make a novel about this. I don't know if he'd bring George Smiley back from the dead once more, though
I watched this on PBS in the late 70s. As lover of all le'Carre and especially the "Circus" novels, I also loved these brilliant adaptations. I was 19 and in college when this was first shown, but it much later until I truly appreciated the symbolism of the Russian nesting dolls opening sequence.
All in one video? Brilliant! Just watched it over two days. It's genius, I love Smiley's slow considered yet determined pace of an old experienced man, all the younger colleagues hanging on his every word. Did he indeed win? Not before Karla inflicted huge damage and ended up a broken man himself. But I suppose the intelligence squeezed out of him was a win.
The damage Kim Philby and his treacherous Cambridge colleagues caused was immeasurable. It compromised so many intelligence operations, and human lives as well... The equivalent of capturing Karla might be the Farewell case, at the beginning of the eighties...
Truly brilliant. Agree with you all the way. I think LeCarré's feeling was that nobody wins... I think that underlines all the melancholy and futility in this fabulous work of literature and cinema/television.
@@olev01 you're right. He said once that spies did not win the cold war. I think they made a significant contribution though. Le Carré certainly was amongst the very best writers as far as telling about the hidden unconscious of western society is concerned. I must have read Tinker Taylor Soldier Spy two dozen times (first time in French, my mother tongue, then in English). I never had to wonder who the mole was, because unfortunately, I had read The Honourable Schoolboy before Tinker Taylor... So I knew from start... But I could still appreciate the way he built the narrative so that the reader doubts page after page... Besides my favourite scene is the moment when Smiley unveils to Esterhase (as well as Guillam) what he understands about Karla's plot.
Nobody winning is the best we can hope for. Give a little and win a little then lose a bit. It all evens out in the end and both sides survive. Better than blowing each other to kingdom come.@@olev01
There are many missing scenes. However this is a good version, in fact features a few scenes not previously shown. The uploader has done a great job with this long version of the whole story, excellent.
Bernard Hepton was a genius. I suspect he enjoyed playing Toby Esterhase, he had a great range from lilly-livered and ungrateful brat in TTSS to confident maestro of surveillance in Smiley's People.
This video got me through a foot injury so bad that I couldn't even get off the couch and load my BBC DVDs. My deep gratitude to the uploader and creator of this video.
Growing up in the 60s and 70s, I became a fan of a new TV format: the miniseries. Roots, Ike, Centennial, ... it was a format which lent itself so well to bringing novels to the screen, often better than what cinema could achieve. "Tinker, Tailor" and"Smiley's People" are prime examples, and it might be one of the lasting accomplishments of streaming services to have revived this format, in what they prefer calling "Limited Series". Many thanks for the upload.
An absolute masterpiece. This is the first time I am re-watching both series since the time they came out in the late seventies. Quite faithful to the novels, and brilliantly constructed. And casting Sir Alec Guinness, a beloved and outstanding actor, as George Smiley was a bit of pure genius. Cold War espionage can't be evoked more beautifully than these two miniseries. Dr Sudevan Wisconsin
yes it can; "THE SPY WHO CAME IN FROM THE COLD" with richard burton, claire trevor & oskar werner. as good as THIS is, that surpasses it almost a prequel to this in a way really.
@@babagalacticus My mistake, I was thinking in terms of miniseries rather than feature films, perhaps I should have made that clear. Of course, THE SPY WHO CAME IN FROM THE COLD is a great film and it shows the dark side of espionage in a way that is superlative -- I have seen it many times and taught it in film classes. The films based on the novels of Le Carre prior to SPY are not quite as good as SPY, although they are worth watching (Call for the Dead, The Looking Glass War). BTW, I believe it was Claire Bloom rather than Claire Trevor who plays the role of Nan Perry, whom Leamas has a relationship with in London. Thank you for your observation. Dr Sudevan, Wisconsin
Smiley’s conversation with the expat emigre Mikell: make no mistake. George, laconic he may be but, make no mistake about it, he can command and his word is bond and law. Mess around at your own risk! Smiley plays the long game. Takes his knocks. Holds!
The entire opening scene had the feel of a Monty Python skit… Phenomenal series. Loved watching it as a young boy on PBS, in NYC. Back when both PBS and NYC meant something.
What can one say? Thank you! I have the DVDs of both series but this means I can dip-in easily and often. As so many have said, excellent novels, screenplay, production, direction and acting. Prima facie, it is of course about espionage in the Cold War but, as with Shakespeare, there is a strong undertext examining the Human Condition. RIP John le Carre (and the many excellent actors, etc , whom pre-deceased him).
Also counterpoint scenes, The pedestrians above the Baltic import export company, the camera window at the club, the young carefree couple at the docks, Harry at the country estate. Everybody is enjoying themselves except George.
The complete TV show. Outstanding cast, superb scripting, appropriately suspenseful incidental music and a ripper of a story. A favourite moment: Sir Alec's transition from seemingly harmless retired gent absent-mindedly cleaning his glasses into the menacing, glaring spycatcher clinically studying his prey (Ricki Tarr) which takes place between 48:00 to 48:20 is wonderfully good.
Just bloody marvellous viewing. All those famous faces, clever writing and cinematography. Despite all above I’m left with a deep longing for the taste of Gauloises cigarettes, why the hell did they stop making them?!
I had been contemplating buying the dvds since my friend had his copies back off me. Thank you so much for this. Two of the greatest tv shows ever made. I watch them every year, at least once. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
What a cast! Glittering performances all the way down the line. Alec Guinness - the perfect Smiley Anthony Bate - an unexpectedly sympathetic Lacon. Beryl Reid - as the other commenters have mentioned. Michael Lonsdale - amazing Grigoriev Barry Foster - what a perfectly insufferable Sir Saul Enderby Bill Paterson - the toadying Lauder Strickland And this not even the half of it!
If you want to see many of these same wonderful actors working together in other projects, two come to mind from the era: 'Gorky Park' might interest you along with 'The Fourth Protocol'. Both, fine films w/ several of these outstanding character actors giving great performances.
I must've watched these a dozen times... I enjoyed them more than the books... I once met David Cornwell/John le Carré down at his home in Cornwall... I didn't take to him much... found him quite arrogant... no disputing his brilliance as a writer or his acumen and service in his Intelligence and other roles...
I am confused as to why so many call this boring or suggest it rambles incoherently. I never get tired of it and have seen several versions. I have not read the book, but do want to. What a great work of art!
because it's from a VERY different era, both acting and narratively, a different time indeed. LE CARRÈ is a master of the human factor, tradecraft & location. and what "several versions" are you referring to? i know only of gary oldman's movie.
@@babagalacticus I’m 62 years old. I have observed the younger generation, think any movie that does not have noisy violent scenes at least once every three minutes, is boring.
I've watched this so many times I can't tell you. It seems every time I learn something new like it went over my head before. And then it's like " how did I even follow along before." I just simply love it.
The transition from Richard Burton's "Spy who came in from the cold" to this was smooth because Burton and Guiness bring gravitas to their roles and maintain the credibility of them thereby.
I have just concluded sipping my last bit of nectar ...Tinker Tailor...Every frame of the series is... can't think of an adjective to describe it🙂. I am ready to watch it again👍
I can and have watched this a hundred times and the characters are so intense it never gets old. I have read the books but I still get something each time I watch. The Actors are just incredible a real moment in time when people could Act not just play a role written for them. Impossible to remake thank God. The only mistake I can find is the Safe. You cant go back and forth with a dial they dont work that way. If you go past a number you have to go around again....you see.
