MovieChat Forums > Smiley's People (1982) Discussion > The image of Karla (spoilers)

The image of Karla (spoilers)

posted 19 years ago by CmdrCody
13 replies | jump to latest

SPOILERS....I think it's great that the two times we actually see the feared and dreaded master adversary Karla in TTSP and SP, underplayed by the masterful Patrick Stewart, he's looks like a caged animal, under arrest by British Intellegence. He says not a word during both encounters with Smiley. It's his eyes that do all the talking.

What a build-up by leCarre to this otherwise unseen and terrifying entity! When others talk of "The Sandman," they tremble. His long "ears," his global reach and his lethal "solutions" to all unwanted meddlers who got into his Great Game were made quite evident by many who knew of him and the long string of corpses left in his wake around the world.

The mythos of Karla is hard to reconcile with the fleeting physical appearance of the great adversary of "Control" and George Smiley. Just as leCarre intended...

CmdrCody

[–] slatbrad 18 years ago

As terrifying as Karla was, he seemed to be genuinely afraid of the mousy-looking George Smiley. Near the end of Tinker Tailor Bill Haydon repeats something Karla said about Smiley. Karla thought that if any real threat came against the mole project, it would come from Smiley. "He said you were quite good." That said (to me) that of all the beasts the Circus had, George was the only one Karla feared. As ruthless and determined as Karla was, when he looked at Smiley he understood "this is the one man who could match me."

A teacher I had in college, speaking of her students and people in general, said you really have to beware of "the quiet ones" . It's the one who doesn't look dangerous, who could be your worst nightmare.

An outsider looking at Smiley could be excused for thinking "there's nothing going on in that head." He doesn't appear to be doing or thinking anything. Everybody underestimates Smiley because of his bland appearance. And everybody pays for it in the end.

--slatbrad--

[–] CmdrCody 18 years ago

slatbrad...good comments...spot-on!

CmdrCody

[–] mrtrevenen 18 years ago

Except...when Karla and Smiley meet in the prison, there is nothing about Smiley that should make Karla worry. As a matter of fact, it is Smiley's effete demeanor that provokes Karla to steal the lighter, seeing the weak point in the adversary.

[–] slatbrad-1 18 years ago

Yes, Smiley did look tired and spent in that scene. And why not? He was sweating (in more ways than one) because he was trying to get Karla to defect. In essence, he was trying to sell something that his customer didn't want to buy.

Later in the scene Smiley commented that it was only after this point that the man known as Mr. Gerstmann became the Karla we all know and love.

Was it that weariness on George's part that geve Karla the impetus to succeed? Perhaps that and his survival of the ongoing purges. Somebody high up in Soviet Intellegence decided "Karla, have a certain something. And we want you to use it."

Cheers

[–] Cten05 17 years ago

Just saw this brilliant pair of series. Re mrtrevenen's comment: I read the move as Karla saying "I'll think about it."

-Cten05

[–] finnegansword 15 years ago

Am I the only one to think that Karla's image is based upon that of Lenin? The bald pate, the high forehead, the dark eyes? The Russian Communist anti-hero......

[–] kesler-b 15 years ago

An interesting thought. I doubt leCarre thought about casting when writing the novel, but when working on the script it may have been a factor in choosing Patrick Stewart. This production came a few years after the miniseries "Fall of Eagles" with Patrick Stewart as Lenin. It was a brilliant choice; I remember hearing about a new "Star Trek" series in 87, and was looking forward to it as a long time fan of the original series. When I first saw a picture of the cast in costume I immediately thought "Good Lord, the captain is Karla".

[–] fanaticita 11 years ago

Karla and Smiley meet in prison and that is how Karla steals the lighter? I don't remember that being in Smiley's People series. In which book/film of Le Carre's did this occur? Again, I saw the Acorn version which I understand had several cuts.

[–] dylanw1 11 years ago

Smiley recounts his encounter with Karla in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (in the TV series, it is shown as a flashback, with Patrick Stewart as Karla).

[–] fanaticita 11 years ago

Thank you!

[–] suicidea 11 years ago

Just to be clear: Karla doesn't "steal" the lighter, he just takes it. Then looks at Smiley, as if saying "I'm taking it, all right with you?"

There's another point which I consider important. In both series, it's mentioned that Karla lives almost like a hermit, extremely modest, and Gregoriev in Smiley's People mentions that "he was appalled that a person of such high rank needed so little to live."

Consider that Smiley, at least to some extent, is similar. I mean, he doesn't show any particular interest in luxury or wealth (unlike Toby Esterhase or Roy Bland, for example). He lives in a modest home. He sells his old, valuable books when he's in need of money. Even his shoes soak in the rain, he doesn't wear higher quality, expensive shoes. His main concern in life is to get the job done, a quality he shares with Karla. Perhaps that's one of the reasons Karla considered Smiley his match, or why he saw him as the only real threat.

Never be complete.

[–] dylanw1 11 years ago

Then looks at Smiley, as if saying "I'm taking it, all right with you?”

I thought not so much “all right with you?” but “What are you going to do about it?”

He lives in a modest home.

For what it’s worth, the house in question recently sold for £3,250,000 (just over $5.5 million).

http://www.zoopla.co.uk/property/9-bywater-street/london/sw3-4xd/23137 079

[–] benth04 11 years ago

Karla picks up the lighter. He keeps it and I am sure that Smiley knows that it is one of those small "life insurances" that spies have - at least in literature. Just like he himself keeps a box in his club with extra passports, driving licenses and other documents, a gun, money

'his own certainly, but equally certainly retained in defiance of the Exchange Control Act. He hade them in his pocket now'.

The lighter is
1: Karla's Escape Pass, should he ever feel the need to defect. Kinda ID. If Karla should defect after Smiley's possible death he would be rather sure that someone knew the story about the lighter, and therefore able to identify him positively.
2: A trophy, just like soldiers taking daggers or parts of uniforms (caps, medals) from killed enemies.