The Spy Who Came in from the Cold - actors, characters and roles

All actors and their roles in the film "The Spy Who Came in from the Cold"
The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (1965)
Timing: 1:52 (112 min)
The Spy Who Came in from the Cold - TMDB rating
7.1/10
325
The Spy Who Came in from the Cold - Kinopoisk rating
7.565/10
1522
The Spy Who Came in from the Cold - IMDB rating
7.5/10
21000

Actors and characters

Photo Richard Burton #58442Photo Richard Burton #58443Photo Richard Burton #58444Photo Richard Burton #58445

Richard Burton

Richard Burton
Character Alec Leamas
Photo Claire Bloom #83668Photo Claire Bloom #83669Photo Claire Bloom #83670

Claire Bloom

Claire Bloom
Character Nan Perry
Photo Oskar Werner #142182Photo Oskar Werner #142183

Oskar Werner

Oskar Werner
Character Fiedler
Photo Sam Wanamaker #85244

Sam Wanamaker

Sam Wanamaker
Character Peters
Photo George Voskovec #50954Photo George Voskovec #50955

George Voskovec

George Voskovec
Character East German Defense Attorney
Photo Rupert Davies #257340Photo Rupert Davies #340616

Rupert Davies

Rupert Davies
Character George Smiley
Photo Cyril Cusack #93434Photo Cyril Cusack #93435Photo Cyril Cusack #93436Photo Cyril Cusack #93437

Cyril Cusack

Cyril Cusack
Character Control
Photo Peter van Eyck #101150Photo Peter van Eyck #101151Photo Peter van Eyck #101152

Peter van Eyck

Peter van Eyck
Character Hans-Dieter Mundt
Photo Robert Hardy #10422

Robert Hardy

Robert Hardy
Character Dick Carlton
Photo Bernard Lee #56666Photo Bernard Lee #56667Photo Bernard Lee #56668

Bernard Lee

Bernard Lee
Character Patmore
Photo Beatrix Lehmann #286580

Beatrix Lehmann

Beatrix Lehmann
Character Tribunal President
Photo Esmond Knight #85250Photo Esmond Knight #85251Photo Esmond Knight #85252

Esmond Knight

Esmond Knight
Character Old Judge
Photo Niall MacGinnis #62894Photo Niall MacGinnis #62895

Niall MacGinnis

Niall MacGinnis
Character German Checkpoint Guard
Scot Finch
Character German Guide
Photo Anne Blake #255473
Anne Blake
Character Miss Crail

George Mikell

George Mikell
Character German Checkpoint Guard
Photo Richard Marner #87318
Richard Marner
Character Vopo Captain
Photo Warren Mitchell #265890

Warren Mitchell

Warren Mitchell
Character Mr. Zanfrello
Photo Steve Plytas #55942
Steve Plytas
Character East German Judge
Photo Tom Stern #115032
Tom Stern
Character CIA Agent

What's left behind the scenes

  • The film is based on the novel of the same name by David Cornwell, better known to readers as John le Carré. The cover of the first edition featured a review by Graham Greene: “It is the best spy story I have ever read.”
  • Le Carré received the “Golden Dagger” for this novel in 1963 – an award from the British Association of Detective and Political Fiction, and in 1965 – the “Edgar” Award, presented by the “Mystery Writers of America.” It was the first book to receive awards from both of these organizations.
  • In 2005, the novel was included in Time magazine's list of the 100 best novels published between 1923 and 2005.
  • For the role of Limas, Ritt initially wanted to cast Paul Newman, who had just appeared in his epic drama "Hud." He asked the renowned playwright John Osborne to write the screenplay, but Osborne declined, noting that he had been drawn to the "excellent dark material" but was put off by the presence of the handsome Newman in such a serious role. Newman was replaced by Burt Lancaster, but he was unable to take the part due to commitments to other projects. The final choice was British actor Richard Burton. The director had to work hard to convince Paramount Pictures to approve Burton for the role and accept his fee of $750,000.
  • The director was extremely unhappy with Burton's alcoholism and his wife Elizabeth Taylor's jealous attitude towards him. Knowing that Burton had previously had an affair with his co-star Claire Bloom, Taylor would not allow even a friendship between them on set.
  • The film's principal photography took place in wintertime Ireland, near Wicklow, in order to capture a somber atmosphere, which led Ritt to decide to shoot in black and white. The remaining scenes were filmed on Trafalgar Square, at Ardmore Studios, and in the German community of Garmisch-Partenkirchen.
  • For this novel, Le Carré received the "Golden Dagger" in 1963 – an award from the British Association of Detective and Political Fiction, and the "Edgar" Award in 1965, presented by the Mystery Writers of America. It was the first book to receive awards from both of these organizations simultaneously.
  • In 2005, the novel was included in Time magazine's list of the 100 best novels published between 1923 and 2005.
  • For the role of Limas, Ritt decided to invite Paul Newman, who had recently starred in his epic drama "The Hud". The director asked the renowned playwright John Osborne to write the screenplay, but he refused, noting that he was attracted by the "excellent dark material", but was put off by the presence of the handsome Newman in such a serious role. Newman was replaced by Burt Lancaster, but he was unable to play the role due to commitments to other projects. The final choice was the British actor Richard Burton. The director had to work hard to convince Paramount Pictures to approve Burton for the role and accept his fee of $750,000.
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