In the bleak days of the Cold War, espionage veteran George Smiley is forced out of semi-retirement to uncover a Soviet agent within MI6's echelons.
Writers:
Awards:
- Nominated for 1 Primetime Emmy. Another 4 wins & 7 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Series Cast
| Alec Guinness | ... |
George Smiley
(7 episodes, 1979)
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| Michael Jayston | ... |
Peter Guillam
(7 episodes, 1979)
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| Anthony Bate | ... |
Sir Oliver Lacon
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(7 episodes, 1979)
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| George Sewell | ... |
Mendel
(7 episodes, 1979)
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| Bernard Hepton | ... |
Toby Esterhase
(5 episodes, 1979)
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| Ian Richardson | ... |
Bill Haydon
(5 episodes, 1979)
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| Hywel Bennett | ... |
Ricki Tarr
(5 episodes, 1979)
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| Terence Rigby | ... |
Roy Bland
(4 episodes, 1979)
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| Ian Bannen | ... |
Jim Prideaux
(4 episodes, 1979)
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| Michael Aldridge | ... |
Percy Alleline
(4 episodes, 1979)
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Alec Sabin | ... |
Fawn
(4 episodes, 1979)
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| Alexander Knox | ... |
Control
(3 episodes, 1979)
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Duncan Jones | ... |
Roach
(3 episodes, 1979)
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Daniel Beecher | ... |
Spikely
(3 episodes, 1979)
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| Beryl Reid | ... |
Connie Sachs
(2 episodes, 1979)
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John Wells | ... |
Headmaster
(2 episodes, 1979)
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Frank Compton | ... |
Bryant
(2 episodes, 1979)
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Frank Moorey | ... |
Lauda Strickland
(2 episodes, 1979)
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| Joss Ackland | ... |
Jerry Westerby
(1 episode, 1979)
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| Warren Clarke | ... |
Alwyn
(1 episode, 1979)
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| Thorley Walters | ... |
Tufty Thessinger
(1 episode, 1979)
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| John Standing | ... |
Sam Collins
(1 episode, 1979)
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Susan Kodicek | ... |
Irina
(1 episode, 1979)
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Hilary Minster | ... |
Boris
(1 episode, 1979)
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| Pauline Letts | ... |
Mrs. Pope-Graham
(1 episode, 1979)
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Mandy Cuthbert | ... |
Molly Purcell
(1 episode, 1979)
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| Patrick Stewart | ... |
Karla
(1 episode, 1979)
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| Nigel Stock | ... |
Roddy Martindale
(1 episode, 1979)
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Betty Hardy | ... |
Headmaster's Mother
(1 episode, 1979)
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Stephen Earle | ... |
Norman
(1 episode, 1979)
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| Siân Phillips | ... |
Ann Smiley
(1 episode, 1979)
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| Guy Standeven | ... |
Flemying-Smith
(1 episode, 1979)
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| George Pravda | ... |
Polyakov
(1 episode, 1979)
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Jean Rimmer | ... |
Senior Secretary
(1 episode, 1979)
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Marjorie Hogan | ... |
Alisa Brimley
(1 episode, 1979)
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Milos Kirek | ... |
Barak
(1 episode, 1979)
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| Eugene Lipinski | ... |
Czech Guard
(1 episode, 1979)
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| Joe Praml | ... |
Paul Skordeno
(1 episode, 1979)
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Jo Apted | ... |
Linda
(1 episode, 1979)
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Brian Hawksley | ... |
Bookseller
(1 episode, 1979)
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Timothy Stetson | ... |
the American
(1 episode, 1979)
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| Robert MacNeil | ... |
Self (host)
(uncredited)
(6 episodes, 1979)
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| Reg Thomason | ... |
Reception
(uncredited)
(1 episode, 1979)
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| Terry Pearson | ... |
Schoolmaster
(uncredited)
(1 episode, 1979)
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See full cast and crew »
Production Companies
Distributors
- Acorn Media Group (2004) (United States) (DVD)
- Antenne 2 (A2) (1980) (France) (tv) (dubbed version)
- BBC Worldwide (2003) (United Kingdom) (DVD)
- Cinematic Vision (2011) (Denmark) (DVD)
- Great Performances
- Pidax Film (2015) (Germany) (DVD)
- Pidax Film (2020) (Germany) (Blu-ray)
- Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) (1980) (United States) (tv) (original airing)
- Rai 2 (1980) (Italy) (tv)
Special Effects
Other Companies
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
George Smiley has been retired for about a year when he finds a friend from the Circus, his old outfit in British Intelligence, sitting in his living room. He is taken to the home of an advisor to the Prime Minister on intelligence matters, where he finds evidence that one of the men in the senior ranks of his old agency is a Russian spy. Smiley is asked to find him, without official access to any of the files in the Circus or letting on that anyone is under suspicion. With only a few old friends, his own powers of deduction, and secrecy as weapons, Smiley must unearth the spy who turned him out of the Circus.
Written by John Vogel |
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| Taglines | One Of Britain's Master Spies Is Working For The Enemy. See more » |
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| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
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Did You Know?
| Trivia | John le Carré was so impressed by Alec Guinness's performance as George Smiley that, in later novels, he wrote Smiley's characterization to be in keeping with Guinness' performance. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in The 33rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (1981). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Nunc Dimittis See more » |
| Crazy Credits | The opening titles show a set of Russian matryoshka dolls. One doll opens up to reveal a doll more irate than the other one, and the final doll is seen as being faceless. This was inspired by a line at the end of the "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy" novel describing the mole: "Smiley settled on a picture of one of those little Russian dolls that open up to reveal one inside the other, and another inside him. Of all men living, only Karla had seen the last little doll inside..." See more » |
| Quotes |
Roy Bland:
It isn't ordinary flight information, Peter. The source is very private. Toby Esterhase: Ultra, ultra sensitive in fact. Peter Guillam: In that case, Toby, I'll try and keep my mouth ultra, ultra shut. [Bill Haydon chuckles] See more » |