THE SPY WHO CAME IN FROM THE COLD (1966) B/W widescreen 112m dir: Martin Ritt

w/Richard Burton, Claire Bloom, Oskar Werner, Peter Van Eyck, Sam Wanamaker, George Voskovec, Rupert Davies, Cyril Cusack, Michael Hordern, Robert Hardy

The best-selling novel about hypocrisy and betrayal in the world of espionage is brought to the screen with all its grim realities intact. Burton is effective as a disenchanted agent on his supposedly last assignment, and Werner is a standout as a member of German intelligence.

From Variety 's review of the film: "The Spy Who Came in from the Cold is an excellent contemporary espionage drama of the Cold War which achieves solid impact via emphasis on human values, total absence of mechanical spy gimmickry, and perfectly controlled underplaying. Filmed at Ireland's Ardmore Studios and England's Shepperton complex, the production boasts strong scripting [by Paul Dehn and Guy Trosper], acting, direction and production values.

"Film effectively socks over the point that East-West espionage agents are living in a world of their own, apart from the day-to-day existence of the millions whom they are serving.

"Other fictional spies operate with such dash and flair that the erosion of the spirit is submerged in picturesque exploits and intricate technology. Not so in this adaptation of John Le Carre's novel in which Richard Burton 'comes in from the cold' --- meaning the field operations --- only to find himself used as a pawn in high-level counter-plotting.

"Burton fits neatly into the role of the apparently burned out British agent, ripe for cultivation by East German Communist secret police as a potential defector."

Oscar nominations for Best Actor (Burton) and B&W Art Direction.