Perfect Spy (3pc)

Director: Peter Smith
Actors: Peter Egan, Ray Mcanally, Alan Howard, Ruediger Weigang, Jane Booker
Studio: BBC Warner
Category: Video

Buy New: $37.90

New (3) Used (6) Collectible (1) from $15.00

Rating: 14 reviews
Sales Rank: 23755

Format: Box Set, Color, Original Recording Reissued, Ntsc
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Media: VHS Tape
Number Of Discs: 3
Running Time: 376 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.6
Dimensions (in): 7.6 x 3.8 x 3.2

ISBN: 0790754886
UPC: 794051120533
EAN: 9780790754888
ASIN: B00004WGBP

Release Date: July 19, 2000
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days

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Customer Reviews

   Read 9 more reviews...

BBC Series Is a "Must See" for John LeCarre Fans !    November 22, 2008
W. Hosford (Northern CA USA)
First of all,if you are a fan of John LeCarre`s work,then you enjoy that detailed,realistic and methodical "real world" espionage life that LeCarre sucks you into. This BBC mini-series is a wonderful adaptation of the novel and has much re-watch value.I recommend reading the book "A Perfect Spy" before viewing the mini-series...you will enjoy it that much more if you do!A great BBC television program that will also appeal to fans of British television and foreign film. In my opinion the mini-series comes in 3rd place behind the BBC classics: "Tinker,Tailor,Soldior,Spy" & "Smiley`s People". Fellow LeCarre fans will have a big smile on their face if they find boxed set under the Christmas tree!
Thank you for reading!


It's Not Must-See TV    February 27, 2007
Stephanie DePue (Carolina Beach, NC USA)
6 out of 7 found this review helpful

"A Perfect Spy" was the third of Britisher John LeCarre's cold war spy novels to be filmed for television by the British Broadcasting Company. As they generally did at that time, they threw money at the screen: script by the talented Arthur Hopcraft, who'd previously done the honors for the same author's "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy," and "Smiley's People;" location filming in glamorous places, extras and cars galore. Yet it's just not the same "must-see tv" as its stablemates.

Magnus Pym, played by Peter Egan, is here the perfect spy, double-dealing with zest. We are apparently supposed to think he's like this because his father Rik(Ray McAnally, who died soon after filming was completed) was an outside-the-law confidence trickster who enjoyed his work, and maybe that is enough to explain the son's behavior, who knows. It's certainly noticeable that most viewers will not find either main character particularly likeable;whereas Rik and his troops seem at least always to be having a good time, Magnus is portrayed as being a nasty little boy from the beginning. Interestingly enough, we must assume this material is intensely personal to its author. He's described his own father as a conman, and both author and his character Magnus have studied and worked in the German-speaking world. In fact, he's repeated these elements in several books, as he's repeated the seaside hideout, even the nickname "Tiger," here, used by father to son; in "Single and Single," the conman father is called "Tiger" himself.

So why doesn't it work? To begin with, it's seven episodes, the riveting "Tinker" and "Smiley" are only six. And the other two series have many sharply-drawn, memorable characters, plus attention-grabbing plots. There are many fewer characters here, they're not nearly as flavorful, and the plot, especially as it's a downer, doesn't really seem to need so many episodes. Furthermore, aside from McAnally, and Dame Peggy Ashcroft in an important supporting role, the Beeb seems to have stinted on the leading and supporting roles. Many of these actors are just not as expressive as they could be. A lot of viewers might find they are tempted to forget that third disk.


An outstanding adaptation of a novel which must have been very tough to film    January 29, 2007
ShahidM (Rockville, MD)
7 out of 7 found this review helpful

This mini-series is based on one of the most complex books I have read - dealing extensively with the inner demons of a man on an inexorable path to self-annihilation. I am happy to note that this mini-series does a superb job of translating the story from the book to film.

Yes, allowances have been taken - I don't think one could have made a film of this book without taking such allowances. Purists will object, and I'm sure each of us can find fault in some of the choices made, but these choices, by definition, are very subjective. As a whole, on its own the mini-series stand as a brilliant achievement - a great character study of a man's loss of his own character as he descends into dark abysses of continuous duplicity.

Peter Egan, a surprising choice for the role, does an outstanding job in the title role. A number of users have commented on how inappropriate he is for the role. I disagree, and again, I think the problem is the subjectivity of the subject. So much of the movie is based on his inner feelings and it is hard to convey that to the viewer. Some might prefer a more robust expression of his inner turmoil, but that does not really fit well with the character. I think, his more subtle approach is much more engaging and truer to what I imagined in the book - of course, others may have imagined differently and for them this may become a problem with his portrayal.

Overall an outstanding adaptation of the Le Carre book. Be forewarned that, just like the book, it is long and deliberately slow moving and may not be for everyone. Very little 'action' as such, but an exceptional character study of what makes a 'Perfect' Spy. There is a certain sadness which permeates the film, and becomes quite powerful at the end. Highly, highly recommended for those who prefer thoughtful, deliberately paced movies.

IMDB users have given this film an extremely high 8.8 (out of 10) rating as of January 2007.


if this one could be a perfect spy, then    September 15, 2006
None Whatsoever (Orange County, CA - Surrounded by dogs, smog, rightwing extremists & racists)
4 out of 21 found this review helpful

every con artist could be a better spy than this perfect spy.
a guy came from a con artist parent, at first looked smart when he was young, then after he completely became a grown man, he seemed to lose all the wits and merits and turned out to be a stupid and naive so-called spy. well, le carre's novels were all like this, all the english intelligence organizations were nothing but wimpy, dim-wit in the game of the cold war. the worst of this mini series was that only the guy who played the perfect spy aging from volumne one to volume 2, but all the years his father, his father's peers, his superior, his controller, none of them ever looked older. nothing changed actually. this was very bad adaptation from a very bad novel. i just don't and can't understand what in the world that any sane reader would have found le carre's spy novels intriguing, nor could i understand how and why in the world his novels would inspire the movie producers to adapt his novels into lame, bore-to-death, dreary and long movies one after another, again and again. espionage like this, in this way? by god, indeed was nothing just child play, don't you think?


The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly    June 21, 2006
Vincent Poirier (Tokyo, Japan)
27 out of 33 found this review helpful

The Good: Ray McAnally's brilliant performance as Rick Pym, the main character's conman father.

The Bad: the miniseries oversimplifies the narrative by giving us Magnus Pym's story along a single time line, from boyhood to adulthood. The novel works on two time lines; the first one follows the search for Magnus Pym who has disappeared and the second one follows his reminiscences of his life as he hides in a seaside hotel. The book jumps back and forth, and while the US, UK, and Czech secret services are all looking for him, we are wondering why Pym went into hiding and why he seems scared and relaxed all at once. In the miniseries, we don't much care about Magnus at all. The only thing I cared about was when would Pym senior reappear.

The Ugly: Peter Egan as Magnus Pym. Completely wrong. In the book Magnus Pym was very much like his father, seductive and charming, which is why he was such a successful spy. In the mini series, Pym is unimposing and weak. It's difficult to believe he can convince anyone to trust him.

Very disappointing. Apart from McAnally, Rudiger Weigang as Pym's college friend and Czech contact gives a hammy but good performance. For diehard LeCarre fan only.

Trivia: McAnally played the Pope's envoy in "The Mission".

Vincent Poirier, Tokyo