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The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (Dramatised)  By  cover art

The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (Dramatised)

By: John le Carré
Narrated by: Simon Russell Beale
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Publisher's summary

Simon Russell Beale stars in this BBC Radio 4 dramatisation of John le Carré's novel, which introduced his most famous character, George Smiley.

It is 1962: the height of the Cold War and only months after the building of the Berlin Wall. Alec Leamas is a hard-working, hard-drinking British intelligence officer whose East Berlin network is in tatters. His agents are either on the run or dead, victims of the ruthlessly efficient East German counter-intelligence officer Hans-Dieter Mundt.

Leamas is recalled to London where, to his surprise, instead of being washed up and consigned to a desk he's offered a chance to have his revenge by becoming a pawn in a brilliantly-conceived plot to destroy Mundt. But in order to do so he has to stay out in the cold a little longer...

Starring the award-winning Simon Russell Beale as Smiley, and with a distinguished cast including Brian Cox as Alec Leamas, this tense, compelling dramatisation perfectly captures the atmosphere of le Carré's taut, intricate thriller.

©2009 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2009 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

What listeners say about The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (Dramatised)

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

Brian Cox is great but...

THE SPY WHO CAME IN FROM THE COLD is such a great story that it's hard to make a bad version of it. This one is good, but it's just good. It's been a little while since I read the book, but it seems they throw more Smiley into the story just to have more of him. Yeah, I realize the point is to tell the whole Smiley saga, but he wasn't a huge part of this story until this telling. Mr. Russel Beale is fine as Smiley, but this story is about Alec Leamus, and Brian Cox is wonderful.
My biggest beef with this production is that it wasn't needed. The BBC did a great adaptation with Colin Blakely which was commercially available until recently. That version maintained the mystery within the story better and didn't need a summation at the end explaining exactly what happened in case we didn't get it. I know there's an opinion out there, usually among younger people, that if something is more than 10 years old it should be redone because we can do it better now. This just isn't the case- not for THE SPY WHO CAME IN FROM THE COLD, not for TINKER, TAILOR, SOLDIER, SPY, and from what I've heard so far, SMILEY'S PEOPLE. Newer isn't better. Just newer.
Will this version do in a pinch? Of course, it's a fine production. And more than likely you won't be able to find the older version anyway. Too bad.
As I've said, Brian Cox is wonderful in this. If nothing else listen for him.

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Hard of hearing. Very difficult with voices, effects.

I honestly can’t tell you the story. I have Bluetooth hearing aids. Good hearing. However, the many different voices, some too far from the mic, sound effects and musical notes made it very difficult to follow.
I love the movie with Gary Oldman.
But, I could not see nor hear that story hear.
I do love leCarré. This performance ruined this story.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent

Wonderful acting from Brian Cox et Al. An exciting spy thriller with unexpected twists and ending


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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

astounding script

a plot cleverly devised by British intelligence in order to cover (and save) the position of a nazi whose allegiance is UK inside the Abteilung that went OK but at a brutal cost.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Berlin Wall meets Sherlock Holmes

Mixed with a sprinkling of a failed version of 007 James Bond. If you like to be a crime sleuth who solves mystery puzzles then this dark drama is for you.

WARNING: do not read while drinking as this will require all of your faculties.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Still gripping after 53 years

I read the novel in English class junior year of high school. Very well acted and a worthwhile trip back to the Cold War.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Smashing spy story with a surprising twist!

Loved listening to this spy thriller. It was Very addictive listening to the twists and turns. The actors were fantastic. It was like listening to a movie!

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Old fashioned, verbose and disappointing

Old tales viewed from an old-fashioned, self-absorbed and sexist point of view. The great narration helped me getting through this book.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Dramatization, not Narration

Too much to listen to, voices to keep straight. Didn’t hold my attention. This is a book I’d prefer to read.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Disappointing

I really expected much more. This does not do justice to a great spy story.

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