A SPY THRILLER

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP88-01365R000300210060-8
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 29, 2004
• Sequence Number: 60
• Publication Date: December 23, 1965
• Content Type: NSPR

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Approved For Release 2005/01 /OtCM -FI$*8-01365R000300218 SiI
Film Review
A Spy Thriller
W \ ORDS like "suspenseful,"
rr vv '`thrilling" and "shattering"
have, through constant use, lost
much of their power when applied
to films, "The Spy Who Came in
From the Cold," now playing at
the Charles and Westview Cinema,
completely restores the impact in
these words. -
A good deal of the film's power
lies in its immediacy. The Cold
War, the Berlin Wall, the preca-
rious world situation are unfor-
tunate but immediate realities,
and they provide the setting for
the picture.
But "The Spy Who Caine in
From the Cold" is more than a
statement of frightening and sus-
penseful realities. It involves--
and reveals-the artistic talents
of director, actors, cameramen.
and the originator of the whole
thing, author John Le Carre.
Ugly Business
This film is the antithesis, of
!James Bond and his followers.
flere, the business of spying is
ugly, intricate, and singularly un-
glamorous. The "villians," rather
than being superhuman fiends,
are real people, as dedicated to
their cause as the Allied spies are
to their own.
While films in the James Bond
genre are enjoyable because of
the glamour, the elaborate effects
and the humor, "Spy Who Came
in From the Cold" is enjoyable-
or perhaps appreciable is a better ! idealism.
word-because it could be, and l'
possibly is, the truth.
Good Camerawork
The camerawork in the film is
exceptional. The black-and-white
cameras move almost stealthily
at times, focusing closely on a
face, then backing up to include
an entire scene. It is for the most
part stark, realistic photography
hat records a scene without try-
! ing to be arty about it.
Director Martin Ritt has kept.
a jerky effect, He uses quick,
startling transitions at the begin-
ning and at several points later in
the picture, but he does not over-
do it. Ile has succeeded in keep-'
ing total coherence and relevance
in a plot that becomes increasing-
ly intricate.
Characters Believable
To the credit of both the author
and the cast, each character isi
totally believable, and engrossing
in his own way. The weary Con-
trol (Cyril Cusack) questions half-
heartedly whether so-called defen-
sive and worthy motives on the
part of the Allies can justify their
employing the same tactics used
by the so-called aggressive ene-
my. Ile questions, but he con-
tinues to do his job.
The girl (Claire Bloom) has
turned to the Communist party in'
an effort to find direction. Both Alec Leamas (Richard Burton) is interrogated by Fiedler
sides are able to use her, not be- (Oskar Werner), in this scene from "The Spy Who
cause she is stupid, but' because Caine in From The Cold," now at the Charles and West-
she needs to believe, and in her view Cinema Theaters. Claire Bloom is costarred in the
naivete does believe, in a
"cause.,, Martin. Ritt production of John Le Carre's spy novel.
The central character, Alec Kith what he stands for, you are it does not seem necessary to
Leamas (Richard Burton) Is a convinced that he is sincerely and go into the plot of the film. Those
man simple in his dedication but totally committed to this stand. v, ho have react ;the book already
complex in his ideas. Ile accepts Fiedler, as portrayed by Werner, know it, and those who haven't
any duty that falls within his evokes both respect and sym- might find it confusing, seeing it
sphere, and carries it out. But as pathy. condensed iitp'a few lines.
a person-beyond his existence as Mr. Werner's performance is at It is enough to say that, even If
a spy-he manifests an intricate once dynamic and controlled. ~ the particulars of the story were
combination of cynicism and Where one gesture or one slight I hot so contemporary, the general
Burton's Role
Richard Burton's Leamas is a
fully drawn, beautifully portrayed
character. At times in previous
films Burton has relied heavily on
his magnificent voice to cover an
incompletely developed character,
but in this film he is outstanding,
vocally, emotionally and intel-
lectually.
Oskar Werner, in the part of
Fiedler, assistant to the German
sspy chief, is superb. Mr. Werner
1his film going at a pace that I succeeds in making his character
moves swiftly, slackens, theni
so intelligent and earnest that., no
picks up again, without producing , matter how much you disagree
confines himself to that one ges-
ture or expression. Every man-
nerism and every inflection is
keyed strictly to the revelation of
character, and there is nothing ! gory. On a broader basis, taking
extraneous. Werner's final ges- in all of its ramifications, "The
Lure sums up one of the film's !Spy Who Came in From the
major points more clearly than cold" is an exceptional film, in
three minutes of dialogue or ac- any category.
tion could tlo.
Others In Cast
The rest of the cast,, which in-
cludes Peter Van Eyck, Sam
Wanamaker, George Voskovec
and liupert Davies, is also excel-
lent.
average spy film.
on a superficial basis, this is a
superb effort in the spy film cate-
Approved For Release 2005/01/13 : CIA-RDP88-01365R000300210060-8