I had been waiting eagerly for the movie adaptation of the le Carré classic, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy and though it released in the US in September, 2011, I got to see it only now (December 30, 2011) in Pune, India. I am a huge admirer of John le Carré, and the Smiley books in particular, and couldn’t wait to see how the movie turned out.
The quick verdict is that it is a reasonably accurate adaptation and stays true to the primary plot, though it takes quite a few short cuts (in the interest of keeping things moving). One early warning, if the words Circus, Karla, Control do not make sense to you, then a reading of the book is advisable, else much of the movie will not make sense. You can also refer to my handy glossary at the end of this article!
The quick verdict is that it is a reasonably accurate adaptation and stays true to the primary plot, though it takes quite a few short cuts (in the interest of keeping things moving). One early warning, if the words Circus, Karla, Control do not make sense to you, then a reading of the book is advisable, else much of the movie will not make sense. You can also refer to my handy glossary at the end of this article!The primary premise is that there is a mole in the Circus and Control initiates a below the radar operation in Budapest to unmask the mole. The operation goes horribly wrong and the operative sent (Jim Prideaux) is shot and wounded when evading arrest, and practically all the networks in Budapest are rolled up (Circus speak for being exposed). Control and his right hand man, Smiley, are forced out in disgrace and Percy Alleline is appointed as the new head with Bill Haydon, Roy Bland and Toby Esterhase to assist him.
Thoughts of the mole are dismissed when the Circus acquires Witchcraft a senior source within the KGB and the material proves to be just the tonic needed to re-establish the credibility of the Circus with its political masters. Witchcraft proves so irresistible that Alleline cannot resist going to the Cousins (American intelligence, CIA) to prove that Britain can still be a force in the world of espionage.
This is the situation when a fugitive operative of the Circus turns up in London and manages to get to Oliver Lacon with information serious enough to re-examine the mole premise. Lacon, who is part of the political committee that oversees Circus operations, is caught between the devil and the deep sea, on one hand he has a duty to ensure that reports of the mole are fully investigated, and on the other he cannot bear to think that the newly redeemed Circus will be again shamed by the revelation.
Lacon identifies Smiley as the perfect candidate to investigate. Smiley is outside the Circus, however he is intimately familiar with its working and as an outsider is automatically in the clear (or so we think). As Smiley investigates with the help of Peter Guillam and Inspector Mendel (unfortunately Mendel does not get much screen time in the movie, though he has a fair role to play in the book), he finds out that Control suspected all five of his senior team and has given them codenames, Tinker (Alleline), Tailor (Haydon), Soldier (Bland), Poorman (Esterhase) and Beggarman (Smiley himself).
The movie then shifts pace to Smiley painstakingly reconstructing the details of the Hungarian operation and concludes that the mole does exist. Throughout, Karla, the Soviet ringmaster, is a shadowy presence. Smiley has a personal connection with Karla, and Karla in turn recognizes Smiley as the most dangerous threat within the Circus. The finger of suspicion points to all of in turn as the suspense builds up and a trap is set with Ricki Tarr as bait.
The film ends with the unmasking of the spy and Smiley reinstated to head the Circus. Though the plot moves along briskly, the movie is slow paced with the plot unfolding through dialogue rather than action. The film completely evokes the atmosphere of the Cold War and to those unfamiliar with the period (after all Soviet glasnost is almost 20 years old), it might seem a little hard to comprehend. Though I could follow the plot, a person coming completely new to the story might not, and a reading of the book is recommended prior to watching the movie.
The one main divergence from the book, is that Control (played wonderfully by John Hurt, this is exactly my mental image of how Control would be, though the naval touch was missing) has larger screen time (primarily through flashbacks). Smiley, the central character, is played by Gary Oldman (Commissioner Gordon in the new Batman movies) in a suitably understated manner. I could find no fault with Oldman, except that Smiley’s doggedness and persistence (such a primary part of Smiley’s character) is not really brought out. Alec Guiness’ portrayal in the BBC Series is taken as the gold standard, though I have yet to watch it myself (anyone who can lay their hands on that series, please email me!).
The other central characters are well cast, though Colin Firth as Haydon (unimaginable for anyone else to play Haydon), does not get to do much in the movie, and Alleline does not ring true to the character in the book. Tom Hardy as Ricki Tarr, makes the biggest impression and he practically steals the limelight from Smiley.
All in all, a very well made film, with competent acting, which largely stays true to the book. Le Carré has a cameo in the Christmas party scene (though I missed it). Recommended to any lover of good cinema and a must watch for a le Carré fan.
Circus terminology:
Circus – Refers to the British Secret Service (SIS, MI6), so called because of its address in London (Oxford Circus, Piccadilly Circus, etc.).
Control – Head of the Circus, dismissed because of the botched Hungarian job which featured Jim Prideaux (workname Ellis). Supposed to be an ex-Naval man.
Karla – Head of the Soviet Secret Service (KGB)
George Smiley – Control’s right hand man and the man who knows where all the skeletons are buried. Karla is his arch-nemesis. Smiley tried to turn Karla in a Delhi prison when Karla had fallen out of favour with his bosses and before Karla rose to head the Soviet Secret Service.
Peter Guillam – Second rung Circus, and hence not likely to be the mole and trusted by Smiley to help him in his hunt for the mole
Percy Alleline, Bill Haydon, Roy Bland and Toby Esterhase – Tinker, Tailor, Solder and Poorman respectively. Alleline took over the Circus after Control’s exit and these four formed the core who ran the Circus.
Oliver Lacon – part of the ministerial oversight on the Circus and hence an outsider who nonetheless is accountable for ensuring it is clean.
Nursery – Training centre for Circus personnel
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