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The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (Dramatised)

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The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (Dramatised)

By: John le Carré
Narrated by: Simon Russell Beale
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About this listen

Simon Russell Beale stars in this BBC Radio 4 dramatisation of John le Carré's novel, which introduced his most famous character, George Smiley.

It is 1962: the height of the Cold War and only months after the building of the Berlin Wall. Alec Leamas is a hard-working, hard-drinking British intelligence officer whose East Berlin network is in tatters. His agents are either on the run or dead, victims of the ruthlessly efficient East German counter-intelligence officer Hans-Dieter Mundt.

Leamas is recalled to London where, to his surprise, instead of being washed up and consigned to a desk he's offered a chance to have his revenge by becoming a pawn in a brilliantly-conceived plot to destroy Mundt. But in order to do so he has to stay out in the cold a little longer...

Starring the award-winning Simon Russell Beale as Smiley, and with a distinguished cast including Brian Cox as Alec Leamas, this tense, compelling dramatisation perfectly captures the atmosphere of le Carré's taut, intricate thriller.

©2009 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2009 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd
Espionage Literature & Fiction Scary
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What listeners say about The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (Dramatised)

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great story

This is another dramatisation from the BBC. The story is good and the cast really brought it to life.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Gripping masterpiece

This has to be one of the best spy thrillers i've ever enjoyed.



The story is an artfully crafted masterpiece, and the BBC's format of telling it doesn't skip a beat in building the tension.



You get a similar story format from many of Le Carre's novels, (like Bond: the enemy, the back-stabbers, the beautiful girl, the plot, the peril) - but each time there's a difference that makes each distinctive in its own way.)



The story for this is chilling and gripping from the start. It brings out the coldness of the cold war with style.



Not only one of my favourite audios, this is certainly my favourite of Le Carre's stories.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Brilliant but short.

This is a great listen. The actors are fantastic and the story gripping. My only wish is that it was longer.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

All the spies you ever wanted.

What did you like most about The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (Dramatised)?

The voice acting is perfect. Easy to listen t and totally captivating.

What other book might you compare The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (Dramatised) to, and why?

rather than to a book I would compare this version to a good radio dramatization. The ones that made radio what it used to be...a great drama platform.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Turn this book into a movie...speis and more spies in their golden era. It would be a great spy movie.

Any additional comments?

All the spies you ever wanted.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Best of the Le Carre dramatisations

A brilliantly dramatised version of the book. On par if not better than the film with Richard Burton.

The dramatisation is dark and claustrophobic with minimal background sound and only ever two people talking at any time which really makes you be in the room with the characters. The play immerses you into the atmosphere and you live each moment.

Brilliant and a sheer joy to experience!

Brian Cox as Alec Leamas is perfect for the role as big drinking, bitter spy on one last mission... Ruth Genmell as Liz Gold, naive and innocent... Another great performance. Simon Russel Beale is a scene stealer with his role as Smiley!

Well worth the listen over and over and over again!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Exquisite

Russell Beale and the rest of the cast transport one back to the civil service of the 60's with ease and atmosphere. Masterful.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Gripping Spy Story

This is a superbly acted dramatisatrion of the John Le Carre novel which had me gripped all the way through. The cast is uniformly excellent, but a particular mention from Brian Cox who is the 'spy' in the title. A very fine performance.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Brilliant 1960's spy thriller

Great narration or rather play format takes a fantastic story and makes it compelling listening.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Good, gripping and well-dramatised

This dramatised version is spare - which suit this story just fine. I really enjoyed it, the accents are not distracting and the dark menace is very well conveyed.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

The Spy who came in from the cold.

A great story from a great author who has first hand experience of the trade.......... The first Smiley and the first of many great spy stories by this man.

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