The Spy Who Came In from the Cold

( 5 )

Overview

Based on the novel by John Le Carre, The Spy Who Came in from the Cold stars Richard Burton as a dispirited, end-of-tether British secret agent. He comes in from "the cold" meaning he is pulled out of field operations to act as a undercover man behind the Iron Curtain. To make his staged defection seem genuine, Burton goes on an alcoholic toot and is imprisoned and publicly humiliated. Once he has been accepted into East German espionage circles, Burton discovers that what he thought was his mission was a mere ...
See more details below
DVD (Special Edition / Wide Screen / B&W)
$38.68
BN.com price
(Save 3%)$39.99 List Price
Pick Up In Store

Pick Up In Store

Reserve and pick up in 60 minutes at your local store

Other sellers (DVD)
  • All (17) from $27.28   
  • New (15) from $27.28   
  • Used (2) from $33.01   

More About This Product

Overview

Based on the novel by John Le Carre, The Spy Who Came in from the Cold stars Richard Burton as a dispirited, end-of-tether British secret agent. He comes in from "the cold" meaning he is pulled out of field operations to act as a undercover man behind the Iron Curtain. To make his staged defection seem genuine, Burton goes on an alcoholic toot and is imprisoned and publicly humiliated. Once he has been accepted into East German espionage circles, Burton discovers that what he thought was his mission was a mere subterfuge--and that he's been set up as a pawn for an entirely different operation. Though Ireland and England "stand in" for East Berlin, Spy Who Came In From the Cold has the air of authenticity throughout, thanks in great part to the bleak black and white photography by Oswald Morris. The film was condemned as incomprehensible by those filmgoers accustomed to the simplistic melodramatics of James Bond; seen today, the double-crosses and double-double crosses seem all too clear and credible.
Read More Show Less

Special Features

Disc Two - New video interview with Author John le Carré; Selected-scene Commentary featuring Director of Photography Oswald Morris; The Secret Centre: John le Carré (2000), a BBC documentary on the author's extraordinary life and work; A 1967 interview with Richard Burton from the BBC series Acting in the 60's, conducted by film critic Kenneth Tynan; An audio conversation from 1985 between Director Martin Ritt and film historian Patrick McGilligan; Gallery of set designs; Plus: A booklet featuring a new essay by critic Michael Sragow; ; Disc One: New, restored high-definition digital transfer; Theatrical Trailer
Read More Show Less

Editorial Reviews

Barnes & Noble - Ed Hulse
The professional spy’s existence, glorified in the wildly popular James Bond movies, was effectively deglamorized in this superb 1965 adaptation of John le Carré’s bestselling novel of Cold War espionage. It’s still a potent, realistic, and gripping film, thanks largely to Martin Ritt’s matter-of-fact direction and Richard Burton’s sober, thoughtful portrayal of an embittered British secret agent nearing the end of his career. Importuned to take a desk job, he instead undertakes what is perhaps his most dangerous assignment: stalking a crack East German agent Oskar Werner. The tension is almost instantly palpable, because the Burton character is depicted as weary, disillusioned, and therefore susceptible to defection. Spy doesn’t rely on the picturesque locations or super-scientific gadgetry seen in the Bond films; it takes place in the gray, grimy cities of Europe and revolves around the exacting cat-and-mouse games that apparently cause even the most clever spies to burn out. The normally flamboyant Burton underplays his role with perfect control, and Werner is similarly punctilious about his character. Ritt’s command of pace and tone heightens the sense of realism and generates bona fide suspense as the advantage shifts from hunter to hunted. The Cold War is long over, but le Carré’s fictional spies still retain the capacity to grab viewers and keep them engrossed in diabolical chess games, in which these accomplished agents often find themselves used as pawns.
All Movie Guide
Among the dark, revisionist espionage films to crop up in the mid-1960s as an antidote to the James Bond phenomenon was The Spy Who Came in From the Cold, an existential examination of the spy world which has lost little of its impact, even since the end of the Cold War. Richard Burton provides the movie's emotional center; he's perfect for the role of the disaffected, burnt-out secret agent. The striking, somber art direction and cinematography and Martin Ritt's terse direction lend weight to Burton's brooding lead performance. Ritt also coaxes quality supporting work from Claire Bloom and Oskar Werner. Inevitably, the film's gritty, bleak mood translated into a poor showing at the box office, but healthy television airings and video rentals have restored its luster.
Read More Show Less

Product Details

  • Release Date: 11/25/2008
  • UPC: 715515033121
  • Original Release: 1965

    • Rating:

  • Source: Criterion
  • Region Code: 1
  • Presentation: Special Edition / Wide Screen / B&W
  • Language: English
  • Time: 1:52:00
  • Format: DVD
  • Sales rank: 22,904

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits
Richard Burton Alec Leamas
Claire Bloom Nan Perry
Oskar Werner Fiedler
Sam Wanamaker Peters
George Voskovec East German Defense Attorney
Rupert Davies George Smiley
Cyril Cusack Control
Peter Van Eyck Hans-Dieter Mundt
Michael Hordern Ashe
David Bauer Young Judge
Anne Blake Miss Crail
Richard Caldicot Mr. Pitt
Marianne Deeming Frau Floerdke
Scot Finch German Guide
Niall MacGinnis Guard
Walter Gotell Holten
Robert Hardy Carlton
Edward Harvey Man in the Shop
Katherine Keeton Stripper
Esmond Knight Old Judge
Bernard Lee Patmore
Beatrix Lehmann President of Tribunal
Richard Marner Vopo Captain
George Mikell German Checkpoint Guard
Warren Mitchell Mr. Zanfrello
Nancy Nevinson Mrs. Zanfrello
Steve Plytas East German Judge
Michael Ripper Lofthouse
Michael Ritterman Security Officer
Tom Stern CIA Agent
Technical Credits
Martin Ritt Director, Producer
Edward Marshall Art Director
Oswald Morris Cinematographer
Motley Costumes/Costume Designer
George Frost Makeup
Tambi Larsen Production Designer
Josie MacAvin Production Designer, Set Decoration/Design
Ted Marshall Production Designer
Hal Pereira Production Designer
Sol Kaplan Score Composer
Paul Dehn Screenwriter
Guy Troper Screenwriter
John le Carre Source Author
Anthony Harvey Editor
Read More Show Less

Scene Index

Disc #1 -- Spy Who Came In From the Cold - The Film
1. Checkpoint Charlie [7:13]
2. Control [5:28]
3. Nan [12:16]
4. "The Link" [7:03]
5. Contact [5:58]
6. The Pussy Willow [7:09]
7. Paid Defector [9:55]
8. Fiedler [2:02]
9. Fresh Air [7:45]
10. Mundt [9:20]
11. Tribunal [6:03]
12. Surprise Witness [11:20]
13. Escape [7:43]
Read More Show Less

Menu

Disc #1 -- Spy Who Came In From the Cold - The Film
   Play The Movie
   Chapters
      Color Bars
   Trailer
Disc #2 -- Spy Who Came In From the Cold - The Supplements
   John Le Carré
      Play
   The Secret Centre: John Le Carré
      Play
      Index
         "The Secret Path"
         Switzerland
         "The Call"
         The Berlin Wall
         Smiley
         "Endless Standoff"
   Martin Ritt
      Play
         Early Career
         Present and Past
         Progressive Artistry
   Oswald Morris
      Play
      Index
         Opening Scenes
         Leamas And Nan
         Strip Club
         Tribunal
         Ending
      Set Designs
   Acting In The 60's: Richard Burton
      Play
      Index
         Introduction
         Leading Man
         Hamlet
         Film
         Elizabeth Taylor
         Live Audience
Read More Show Less

Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4
( 5 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(1)

4 Star

(4)

3 Star

(0)

2 Star

(0)

1 Star

(0)

Your Rating:

Review Guidelines
Add Recommendations
Your Name: Create a Pen Name or

Barnes & Noble.com Review Rules

Our reader reviews allow you to share your comments on titles you liked, or didn't, with others. By submitting an online review, you are representing to Barnes & Noble.com that all information contained in your review is original and accurate in all respects, and that the submission of such content by you and the posting of such content by Barnes & Noble.com does not and will not violate the rights of any third party. Please follow the rules below to help ensure that your review can be posted.

Reviews by Our Customers Under the Age of 13

We highly value and respect everyone's opinion concerning the titles we offer. However, we cannot allow persons under the age of 13 to have accounts at BN.com or to post customer reviews. Please see our Terms of Use for more details.

What to exclude from your review:

Please do not write about reviews, commentary, or information posted on the product page. If you see any errors in the information on the product page, please send us an email.

Reviews should not contain any of the following:

  • - HTML tags, profanity, obscenities, vulgarities, or comments that defame anyone
  • - Time-sensitive information such as tour dates, signings, lectures, etc.
  • - Single-word reviews. Other people will read your review to discover why you liked or didn't like the title. Be descriptive.
  • - Comments focusing on the author or that may ruin the ending for others
  • - Phone numbers, addresses, URLs
  • - Pricing and availability information or alternative ordering information
  • - Advertisements or commercial solicitation

Reminder:

  • - By submitting a review, you grant to Barnes & Noble.com and its sublicensees the royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable right and license to use the review in accordance with the Barnes & Noble.com Terms of Use.
  • - Barnes & Noble.com reserves the right not to post any review -- particularly those that do not follow the terms and conditions of these Rules. Barnes & Noble.com also reserves the right to remove any review at any time without notice.
  • - See Terms of Use for other conditions and disclaimers.
Search for Products You'd Like to Recommend

Recommend other products that relate to your review. Just search for them below and share!

Create a Pen Name

Your Pen Name is your unique identity on BN.com. It will appear on the reviews you write and other website activities. Your Pen Name cannot be edited, changed or deleted once submitted.

 
Your Pen Name can be any combination of alphanumeric characters (plus - and _), and must be at least two characters long.

Continue Anonymously
Sort by: Showing all of 5 Customer Reviews

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    The Spy Thriller That Started It All!

    John Le Carre's THE SPY WHO CAME IN FROM THE COLD was the first to introduce the genre of the 'Spy Thrillers' that captured the espionage double-dealing twists of the Cold War as the NATO Allies faced off against the Warsaw Pact. The movie is true to the book. Done in black and white, the dark, moody tone of the filming successfully relies on the powerful acting abilities of Richard Burton and Oskar Werner. Great flick. If you're a buff of Cold War spy thrillers, this is where you begin. Don't miss it!

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted November 6, 2011

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted July 9, 2009

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted August 18, 2011

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted December 3, 2010

    No text was provided for this review.

Sort by: Showing all of 5 Customer Reviews