Today’s quick review: The Spy Who Came in from the Cold. Alec Leamas (Richard Burton), a jaded British spymaster stationed in Berlin, comes back home to London for one last job: to frame his Soviet counterpart Mundt (Peter van Eyck) as a British double agent. Posing as a washed-up drunk, Leamas convinces Fiedler (Oskar Werner), Mundt’s second-in-command, to approach him for information. But Leamas is not prepared for what the mission will cost.
The Spy Who Came in from the Cold is a classic spy thriller based on the novel by John le Carre. Richard Burton stars as Alec Leamas, a spy whose years of experience in the field have left him disillusioned and bitter. The Spy Who Came in from the Cold features a tightly written plot, a cast of down-to-earth characters, and a strong thematic backbone. Though short on action and romanticism, the film makes for an artful and rewarding watch.
What sets The Spy Who Came in from the Cold apart from other spy movies its emphasis on the human cost of espionage. Leamas is asked to do terrible things in the name of his country, and his conscience haunts him even as he carries out his orders. While the main plot—Leamas’ attempt to deceive Fiedler—is handled well, the film’s true payoff comes when the conflict bewteen Leamas’ orders and his morals comes to a head.
The added depth this conflict provides, coupled with the film’s high level of craftsmanship, is enough to make The Spy Who Came in from the Cold a classic of the spy genre. Those who are drawn to the grounded, bitter, and cerebral side of the genre will not want to miss it. Those who prefer more adventurous and daring spy movies will want to look elsewhere.
For a noir set in post-War Berlin with a similar tone, try The Third Man. For another Cold War spy thriller, try Funeral in Berlin, The Ipcress File, or Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. For a modern spy movie that examines the personal and moral cost of the business, check out Spy Game.
7.6 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 to 7.5 for a strong plot and weighty themes.