The Spy Who Came in from the Cold

Starring: Richard Burton, Claire Bloom, Oskar Werner
Directed by: Martin Ritt
Rating: Unrated
Genre: Drama, Thriller, Spy
1965

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: A British agent (Richard Burton) refuses to "come in from the cold" during the Cold War, instead choosing to take one final mission.

Review:

Tim: This spy movie is so appealing precisely because it is the exact opposite of James Bond. For every inch that Bond goes over-the-top in his portrayal of the spy world, this film is grounded in realism. Make no mistake about it, if you are looking for Bond thrills here, you will be sorely disappointed. However, if you want to see what it is really like for a secret agent, then you will find more than enough to enjoy here.

The film is surprising because it paints the spy world as dark, dangerous, and void of any glamor that we are so used to seeing in our spy action films. This is a shock to our system,as the world here is devoid of glamor and heroes, and instead, everyone exists in a fragile state of gray.

Richard Burton is fantastic as the titular spy. He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor. He is exactly who we want as we embark on this accurate and unflinching look at the world of espionage.

I doubt very many of these types of films could be made- it is not easy to watch, and movie goers would ultimately rebel at this unromantic look. However, this film serves an excellent purpose, serving as a counter to the romantic silliness that we so often find at the movie. This film reminds us of that.

The Spy Who Came in from the Cold is essential for any spy-lover to see the film's significance is much more apparent as you watch.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 7.5



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Three Days of the Condor, The Day of the Jackal