Under the non de plume John Le Carre, David Cornwall penned a series of best-selling spy novels including “The Spy Who Came in from the Cold,” “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy,” ‘The Little Drummer Girl’’ and “The Russia House,” that are cerebral, unadorned, gritty. The antitheist of Ian Fleming’s suave James Bond. In fact, his most popular character George Smiley just blended into the crowd: “Obscurity was his nature, as well as his profession,” Cornwall described him in “A Murder of Quality.” “The byways of espionage are not populated by the brash and colorful adventure of fiction. A man who, like Smiley, had lived and worked for years among his country’s enemies learns only one prayer; that he may never, never be noticed. Assimilation is his highest aim.”
Before his death at the age of 89 in in December, 2020, Cornwall sat down for a rare interview with award-winning documentarian Errol Morris...
Before his death at the age of 89 in in December, 2020, Cornwall sat down for a rare interview with award-winning documentarian Errol Morris...
- 10/23/2023
- by Susan King
- Gold Derby
John le Carré, a prolific novelist whose Cold War spy stories dominated the bestseller lists, has died at age 89.
His family confirmed he had died of pneumonia at the Royal Cornwall Hospital on Saturday night. “We all deeply grieve his passing,” they wrote in a statement.
In addition to Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Le Carré’s works included the novels The Spy Who Came In From The Cold and The Night Manager. Most of his works were made into television series, movies and more, with actors Richard Burton, Alec Guinness, Ralph Fiennes, and Gary Oldman among those taking up the Le Carre’ roles.
Jonny Geller, his agent, described him to the UK’s The Guardian as “an undisputed giant of English literature. He defined the cold war era and fearlessly spoke truth to power in the decades that followed … I have lost a mentor, an inspiration and most importantly, a friend.
His family confirmed he had died of pneumonia at the Royal Cornwall Hospital on Saturday night. “We all deeply grieve his passing,” they wrote in a statement.
In addition to Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Le Carré’s works included the novels The Spy Who Came In From The Cold and The Night Manager. Most of his works were made into television series, movies and more, with actors Richard Burton, Alec Guinness, Ralph Fiennes, and Gary Oldman among those taking up the Le Carre’ roles.
Jonny Geller, his agent, described him to the UK’s The Guardian as “an undisputed giant of English literature. He defined the cold war era and fearlessly spoke truth to power in the decades that followed … I have lost a mentor, an inspiration and most importantly, a friend.
- 12/13/2020
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
The slick, eerie Cold War thriller “Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy” hasn’t hit our shores yet, but it’s proving a massive critical and audience hit in the United Kingdom. As we eagerly await its fall release, word comes from The Guardian that Studio Canal is already prepping a sequel to the somber spy film. Multiple sequels, actually, all featuring Gary Oldman’s George Smiley.Smiley is the lead in several of John Le Carre’s spy novels – Call of the Dead, A Murder of Quality, The Honourable Schoolboy, and Smiley’s People – and makes minor appearances in several others, which means they could even build an MI6 universe a’la Marvel Studios. He would be a great anti-Jason Bourne franchise, as he is all brain, calculation, diplomacy, and a good memory. He’s an unassuming middle aged man who just happens to be a spy.Gary Oldman told The...
- 9/27/2011
- LRMonline.com
The film adaptation of John Le Carre's classic Cold War spy novel "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy" is already a success story.
The reviews out of the festivals have been raves, more regular critics have been giving it 4 & 5 star reviews, and the box-office is promising after a strong No. 1 opening in the UK the other week. I myself saw a sneak preview of it tonight and am certain it'll be on my 'best of the year' list, it's a superbly executed and quite loyal adaptation.
Now, The Guardian reports that the film's producer and financier Studio Canal is keen on making this their first franchise and are expected to make an announcement next week in Paris about development of a sequel.
Le Carre wrote eight books with the George Smiley character, played by Gary Oldman in the new film, including the likes of "Call for the Dead," "A Murder of Quality...
The reviews out of the festivals have been raves, more regular critics have been giving it 4 & 5 star reviews, and the box-office is promising after a strong No. 1 opening in the UK the other week. I myself saw a sneak preview of it tonight and am certain it'll be on my 'best of the year' list, it's a superbly executed and quite loyal adaptation.
Now, The Guardian reports that the film's producer and financier Studio Canal is keen on making this their first franchise and are expected to make an announcement next week in Paris about development of a sequel.
Le Carre wrote eight books with the George Smiley character, played by Gary Oldman in the new film, including the likes of "Call for the Dead," "A Murder of Quality...
- 9/26/2011
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
… and John Patterson should know. He's spent the summer watching John Le Carré adaptations
To while away the time until the release of Tomas Alfredson's remake of Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, I've spent a happy summer immersing myself in John Le Carré's back catalogue. It hardly feels like work at all.
Few novelists manage to see three of their novels filmed within a span of five years. It happened to Le Carré after The Spy Who Came In From The Cold became a worldwide bestseller in 1963, and Martin Ritt's classic 1965 film adaptation, with Richard Burton and Claire Bloom (Rupert Davies as Smiley), offered a bleak and morally complex alternative to the James Bond ethos.
The Deadly Affair, Sidney Lumet's adaptation of Call For The Dead appeared in 1966. James Mason plays Smiley (renamed Charles Dobbs) with the same bespectacled, hang-dog mien he wore in Georgy Girl the same year,...
To while away the time until the release of Tomas Alfredson's remake of Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, I've spent a happy summer immersing myself in John Le Carré's back catalogue. It hardly feels like work at all.
Few novelists manage to see three of their novels filmed within a span of five years. It happened to Le Carré after The Spy Who Came In From The Cold became a worldwide bestseller in 1963, and Martin Ritt's classic 1965 film adaptation, with Richard Burton and Claire Bloom (Rupert Davies as Smiley), offered a bleak and morally complex alternative to the James Bond ethos.
The Deadly Affair, Sidney Lumet's adaptation of Call For The Dead appeared in 1966. James Mason plays Smiley (renamed Charles Dobbs) with the same bespectacled, hang-dog mien he wore in Georgy Girl the same year,...
- 9/9/2011
- by John Patterson
- The Guardian - Film News
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