The Spy Who Came in from the Cold
by Martin Ritt
List Price:
Our Price: $5.87
You Save: $4.11 (41%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $3.30 (click here)
Category: DVD
See more DVD details
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
DVD details
Actor: Claire Bloom, George Voskovec, Oskar Werner, Richard Burton, Sam WanamakerDirector: Martin Ritt
Brand: BURTON,RICHARD
Cinematographer: Oswald Morris
Producer: Martin Ritt
Editor: Anthony Harvey
Writer: Guy Trosper
Writer: John le Carr?
Writer: Paul Dehn
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono; French (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono; English (Subtitled)
Format: Anamorphic, Black & White, Closed-captioned, Dolby, DVD, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.85:1
Running Time: 112 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2004-07-13
Audience Rating: Unrated
Studio: Paramount
DVD Reviews of The Spy Who Came in from the Cold
DVD Review: more cynical than I thought
Summary: 5 Stars
A stunning film made from a stunning book--how Le Carre was able to get this book cleared by MI5 is beyond me. I believe moreover though I cannot yet prove it that it is in part based on facts. Without giving anything away I am fairly sure that the East German judge was asctually based on quite a distinguished woman related either to Brecht or Walter Benjamin. Moreover I have always thought that the Slansky trials may have been the historical source for Le Carre--again no proof. Finally as the film opens we see one of Burton's last agents killed as he tries to get through the Berlin wall. Given what "Control" is planning it now occurs to me that in order to get Leamus (Burton) ready(i.e. depressed and cynical) for his new mission, Control may have let us say acquested to his own agents death--this would have been going on before the book or film begins--I hope I make myself obscure but I think this possibility will be clear to those who have either read Le Carre's book or seen Ritt's fim both of which to misquote Graham Greene only slightly are the best Spy novel and film I have ever read or watched DVD Review: Dirty, grimy, spy thriller
Summary: 5 Stars
The Bottom Line:
This excellent black and white adaptation of LeCarre's spy thriller, The Spy Who Came in from the Cold stands in sharp contrast to the glamorous portrayal of espionage presented in the James Bond universe by focusing on the drabness, uncertainty, and lack of honor that come with the territory; it drags a little bit in the first hour but if you're patient you'll find quite a film by the time 110 minutes are done.
3.5/4
DVD Review: Good
Summary: 4 Stars
The Criterion Collection's latest release is the 1965 black and white spy classic, The Spy Who Came In From The Cold, directed by Martin Ritt, whose best known films include the Woody Allen Blacklist film, The Front, and the Sally Field union drama Norma Rae. Like those, this is a very well directed and taut film. And, like those later films, this one also misses out on greatness. For those expecting a James Bondian sort of thriller, forget it. This film is an espionage character study, loaded with monologues, dialogues, and philosophic introspection. As such, I can say that there really is not a single genuine action sequence in the film. A few people get shot and die- including the hero and heroine; but, by stating such, up front, I'm really not giving anything about the film away. Why? Because this is one of those films that depends upon the how of its action rather than the why.
It's an almost 2 hour long film (112 minutes), yet never drags. The cinematography is reminiscent, at times, of The Third Man, and other low budget, experimental Orson Welles films from the 1940s and 1950s; even though it was a high profile project based upon the bestselling novel of the same name by John Le Carre. The scoring is understated and precise, the acting by Richard Burton, as Alec Leamas, and Oskar Werner, as Fiedler, is superb, and the plot is twisted, but all makes sense in the end. I will not detail that, even though I have given away the deaths of two of the main characters, because the plot directly relates to a few of the superb exchange sin the film about the ethics of espionage.
And this is why the film is so good. It is the internal machinations, especially in the mind of Leamas, that make this film work. A lesser actor simply could not have sold the part as equivocally as Burton does: is he in the dark or not? Is he an agent on the way down (because of a failed operation) or merely playing one? The title of the film is usually thought to mean that Leamas has finally gained insight into the machinations of the Cold War, but it could also mean the man finally realizes his worth to his employers, the world, and himself. Or, more accurately, his lack of same. The cold that he hits is reality's nor'easter. And, despite his own reputation as a brilliant rou?, Burton proves he truly was a better actor. There are full scenes where the camera just resides its gaze on his mien, and the viewer is riveted. Then there are some bravura editing choices made by Ritt, where scenes end anywhere from a few seconds to a minute or more before they would in conventional Hollywood films. These elisions propel the film forward, narratively, because the audience knows what will occur, and also displays an unusual confidence in the intelligence of the film-goer.
DVD Review: true to life spy movie
Summary: 5 Stars
Spying can be a dirty business and this movie fit's into that dirty part of spying. Everybit of it from it's photography and overall feel of grayness and crushing unglamerous locations makes this movie a classic of the downbeat cynical spy genre. It helps when you have Richard Burton in one of his all time best performances. And every other cast member is at the top of their game and deliver such finely tuned performances that they meld into their characters. It brings back the cold war and the terrible sacrifices that were made to try to infiltrate the eastern block. And no matter how rotten some of the things the west did they are pails in comparison to the nightmare death states of the communist world. But that doesn't make this story any less poignant. The criterian collection did a fantastic job on cleaning this movie it has removed the
lines and specs to leave a almost pristine picture. The movie is black and white and that's ok for it just adds to the whole depressing feeling of this movie. And most people living in the eastern block of the 1960's were living in a oppressive and crushing society which matches the whole film as well. This is a well crafted drama with fine characterizations and it isn't a action movie snd it should be viewed with that expectation.
DVD Review: The Wisdom of Crocodiles
Summary: 5 Stars
This film is so entirely unique from anything else that it seems inaccurate to merely call it a spy film. I suspect that this is the first film of it's kind to introduce the concept of the soul-shrinking effect of extreme expedience, inherent in such activities. I have seen this theme highlighted in subsequent films, including a recent one, "The Good Shepherd". I'm not saying that other films that have employed this theme are dominated by it, as with this film. Even the title of this film implies the theme. And when the lead character can no longer cope with his meaningless, reptilian existence, the system swallows him up for the sake of expedience as well. This film could have been called "The Wisdom of Crocodiles".... I came away very impressed, seeing a brilliant and unique film of that era, that holds up very well.
Description of The Spy Who Came in from the Cold
A veteran spy wants to \come in from the cold" to retirement but undertakes one last assignment in which he pretends defection and provides the enemy with sufficient evidence to label their leader a double agent.Genre: Feature Film-Action/Adventure
Rating: NR
Release Date: 28-MAR-2006
Media Type: DVD"""
John le Carre's classic spy yarn gets a suitably brisk, unromanticized telling in this quintessential Cold War movie. A British agent (Richard Burton) sets up an elaborate cover story for being lured into defecting to the Communists, but he hardly needs to manufacture his disgust and cynicism over spying. The grim business of point-counterpoint espionage has rarely been depicted with less glamour; Burton's great climactic speech on the subject is the definitive take on sinking to the level of the enemy. Claire Bloom is an offbeat love interest, and a bearded Oskar Werner is an East German investigator on Burton's case (the pecking order in the Communist spy hierarchy is a source of black humor). Director Martin Ritt extends his unvarnished approach to the movie's stripped-down look, which means that Richard Burton is constantly in a harsh, unflattering light. He looks terrible, but it's in the service of a fine performance. --Robert Horton
General DVDs
DVD Video
- Action & Adventure
- African American Cinema
- Animation
- Anime & Manga
- Art House & International
- Classics
- Comedy
- Cult Movies
- Documentary
- Drama
- Educational
- Fitness & Yoga
- Gay & Lesbian
- Horror
- Kids & Family
- Military & War
- Music Video & Concerts
- Musicals & Performing Arts
- Mystery & Suspense
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Special Interests
- Sports
- Television
- Westerns
Bestsellers in General DVDs
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Full-Screen Edition)Release date: 2009-12-08; DVD
Best price: $9.99
Price in other shops:
![Quantum of Solace [Blu-ray] Image](/images/Quantum-of-Solace-Blu-ray-B001PPLIFU-X.jpg)
Quantum of Solace [Blu-ray]MGM HOME VIDEO (UNDER FOX); Release date: 2009-03-24; DVD
Best price: $9.99
Price in other shops:
Lost: The Complete Fifth SeasonRelease date: 2009-12-08; DVD
Best price: $36.99
Price in other shops:
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (Single-Disc Edition)PARAMOUNT HOME VIDEO; Release date: 2009-10-20; DVD
Best price: $12.25
Price in other shops:
Terminator Salvation (Widescreen Edition)Warner Brothers; Release date: 2009-12-01; DVD
Best price: $9.99
Price in other shops:
![G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (Two-Disc Edition + Digital Copy) [Blu-ray] Image](/images/G-I-Joe-The-Rise-of-Cobra-Two-Disc-Edition-Digital-Copy-Blu-ray-B002NXSRX4-X.jpg)
G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (Two-Disc Edition + Digital Copy) [Blu-ray]PARAMOUNT HOME VIDEO; Release date: 2009-11-03; DVD
Best price: $18.90
Price in other shops:
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Two-Disc Limited Special Edition + Digital Copy)Warner Brothers; Release date: 2009-12-08; DVD
Best price: $19.99
Price in other shops:
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Widescreen Edition)Warner Brothers; Release date: 2009-12-08; DVD
Best price: $9.99
Price in other shops:
![Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Blu-ray/DVD Combo + Digital Copy & BD-Live) [Blu-ray] Image](/images/Harry-Potter-and-the-Half-Blood-Prince-Blu-ray-DVD-Combo-Digital-Copy-BD-Live-Blu-ray-B000ZELISO-X.jpg)
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Blu-ray/ DVD Combo + Digital Copy & BD-Live) [Blu-ray]Warner Brothers; Release date: 2009-12-08; DVD
Best price: $15.99
Price in other shops:
Star Trek (Single-Disc Edition)PARAMOUNT HOME VIDEO; Release date: 2009-11-17; DVD
Best price: $8.49
Price in other shops:
Similar DVDs, VHS Video, Audio CDs
Three Days of the CondorREDFORD,ROBERT; Release date: 1999-08-17; DVD
Best price: $5.22
Price in other shops:
Operation AmsterdamFINCH,PETER; Release date: 2003-05-20; DVD
Best price: $4.38
Price in other shops:
The Eagle Has LandedLIONS GATE HOME ENT.; Release date: 2001-08-14; DVD
Best price: $3.14
Price in other shops:
The ConversationHCKMAN,GENE; Release date: 2000-12-12; DVD
Best price: $5.33
Price in other shops:
The Man Who Never WasTCFHE; Release date: 2005-06-07; DVD
Best price: $8.43
Price in other shops:
The Counterfeit TraitorParamount; Release date: 2004-07-13; DVD
Best price: $9.39
Price in other shops:
Smiley's PeopleGUINNESS,ALEC; Release date: 2004-08-10; DVD
Best price: $38.74
Price in other shops:
Tinker Tailor Soldier SpyRelease date: 2004-03-23; DVD
Best price: $36.55
Price in other shops:
The Day of the JackalUNI DIST CORP. (MCA); Release date: 1998-04-29; DVD
Best price: $4.49
Price in other shops:
The Odessa FileVOIGHT,JON; Release date: 2000-01-11; DVD
Best price: $7.95
Price in other shops: