The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (1965)

User Review

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  Barneyonmovies

  8 / 10

  WHAT I LIKED: Le Carré is known for his intricately-constructed twisty espionage stories populated by problematic protagonists, and 'The Spy Who Came in From the Cold,' is the epitome of that. Martin Ritt's big-screen adaptation works very well because on the one hand Paul Dehn and Guy Trosper's script does a good job of laying out the ammoral web of deceit such that you understand the game and the affect it must have on those involved. And on the other hand it works because the central character - unsurprisingly for a Martin Ritt film - is brought to life so well. You really get under his skin and feel for him despite his troubled ways as he comes across very much as a victim doing his best to play things cool in a difficult world. That's helped tremendously by a masterful performance from Richard Burton, and all in all makes it a highly engaging thing to watch.
  
  WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: Like with all Le Carré stories, it can be hard work to follow such a relentlessly awful world.
  
  VERDICT: A great on-screen depiction of Le Carré's messy, ammoral story and the troubled character within it, Richard Witt's 'The Spy who Came in From the Cold,' is an indesputably great espionage thriller.

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