A Perfect Spy

[Hermitreader]

I have recently acquired the DVD box set of the TV series made in 1987 and I am loving it. It is a lot slower than things are today but the cast with Peter Egan, Peggy Ashcroft, Ray McAnally, and Alan Howard are great. Pretty true to the book too. I wonder if some of the TV produced today will stand up to scrutiny in almost 40 years time.

I recently posted about this! See https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/telly_addicts/5073803-a-perfect-spy-tv-series-of-john-le-carre-novel-bbc-4-and-iplayer

I'd love to watch this. Is it streaming anywhere???

I'd like to offer up Slow Horses on Apple TV. It's the best thing I've seen in a while.

I haven't seen the more recent version so I can't compare but I had read the book just before I saw it on BBC4 and then got the DVD. I agree about the class thing. I find the portrayal of Mary Pym very accurate for the period. I was 23 in 1987 when it was broadcast , newly joined Civil Service and a lot of senior managers were just like Mary, the dinner parties , the politics of the wives club it's all very authentic of the period. Magnus was clearly marked by his parents, especially his father and Brotherhood was the other dominant male in his life. Yes it's a story of a spy but also how someone can pull off a double life but it almost always ends in tragedy of some kind. The thing I came away wondering was how the son Tom would turn out? (I know he is a fictional character, but humour me!).

Is it streaming anywhere???

Link to BBC iPlayer in thread I started posted above.

I haven't seen the more recent version

My thread was about the version you are talking about. The BBC has a whole strand of reshowing old shows.

And as I said on the thread thought it more realistic that later adaptations of Le Carrie

What didn't hold true for me is how anyone was taken in, went along with the father.

Unfortunately it's not on iPlayer anymore it seems.

I thought Perfect Spy was the one set way before the 80s?

Anyway, have you seen the late 70s/early 80s television adaptations of Tinker Tailor... & Smiley's People? Some of the best television ever made.

I was born in the 70s, but when classic series started coming out on DVD, I watched loads of them. My conclusion was the 70s and 80s were a time of very mixed quality television.

Sorry about that, it was so recent I thought it still would be. Or maybe a month is as long as they keep things on line.

Anyway, have you seen the late 70s/early 80s television adaptations of Tinker Tailor... & Smiley's People? Some of the best television ever made.

I think I did, but remember trying to re watch and wasn't so taken with them.

But compared to more recent remakes, so much better.

I think series made now are informed by what the makes have seen on tv, rather than the original series that were based on the actual memories and experiences of people.

Oh thanks. I didn't know. I will go and have a look.

I think series made now are informed by what the makes have seen on tv, rather than the original series that were based on the actual memories and experiences of people.

I've often said that about costume and production design in period dramas of recent years. You can tell when it's the twenty somethings producing their idea of a given period. But a lot of my family & friends work in TV, so it's interesting to discuss (gossip) about which producers are only hiring the cheap youngsters. It's just frustrating to think about if you're actually just trying to watch the thing and suspend disbelief.

I've made myself sound much older than I am, now.

I don't think everyone was taken in by Rick. He served time in prison more than once and the school headmaster seemed to disbelieve every word Magnus said about his father (episode 1 or 2). I suppose pre Financial Services Act etc it was easier for someone to set up in business as an insurance agent. Also it's not in the TV version but it's clear in the book that Rick got Dotty pregnant to prevent her brother pressing charges over the money he stole from the church. The brother's reputation in the church meant he'd have been sullied by his sisters scandalous behaviour. The chancers Rick was in cahoots with were getting plenty of money for their troubles. Also Rick did get fleeced himself by the Rothschild impersonator woman. Some people are just devious liars and swindlers. That has always been the case. Today it would be harder due to social mefia, Internet and anti money laundering legislation. I read that A Perfect Spy is not an autobiography but there are similarities to the true life of LeCarre

Talking about older series being more interesting I started watching "After the War" from a story by Frederic Raphael. (I think 1980s) https://tv24.co.uk/p/after-the-war-season-1-episode-1-m48wfq

And was really intrigued. Much slower pace than current tv, but also seemed more convincing.

But having been really intrigued by episode 1 I really struggled with episode 2 because I think it was made assuming many would have shared memories of that time and get inferences.

Episode 1 is about 2 Jewish school boys trying to survive in traditional boys boarding school during the WWII.

Episode 2 is about one of the fathers and his role post war in dealing with the aftermath of the war but also political presures re creating the state of Israel.

So maybe series are made more in line with the assumed knowledge of the current era.

So maybe I need to find which is my perfect decade, as I find many current series really flimsy.

legislation. I read that A Perfect Spy is not an autobiography but there are similarities to the true life of

It's very close, I think. Basically a Roman a Clef.

I agree that watching older TV can be tricky if you don't know the inferences. I'm just about old enough to know about the Cold War and the Cambridge spies, Philby, Burgess, Maclean are names I know so I can understand the absolute desperation to find a spy in that era. I would also understand Jewish themes in wartime but post war reconstruction is something I am less knowledgeable about. Background knowledge is required no doubt about that.

I've just checked and all I can see if Amazon Prime for £1.99 and Apple tv - which I think will give a free week to new subscribers.

Thanks @IwantToRetire

I think I'll be subscribing when series 4 of Slow Horses is released so I'll watch it then.

Any recommendations of similar would be appreciated. I'm currently watching The Ambassador on Prime. Proper 90s.