Lilyan,
the third novel in the trilogy is "The Honourable Schoolboy", which through a breathtaking plot set partly in the deep dungeons of archives and registries at the circus, partly in indochina and honkong and with more action than is usually the case with Le carré, tells the story about the period between TTSP and SP. It starts off where TTSS ends and Smiley accepts the role of caretaker of the circus "after the fall" (i.e. haydon's unmasking), and ends a few years before SP picks up the trail again.
The main character, besides Smiley, Connie Sachs and Peter Guillam at the circus, is Jerry Westerby - a slightly drunkish journalist and occassional agent of the circus with the far east as his primary playing field. In fact JW appears in TTSS in a short scene (both in the novel and the film) when Smiley questions him about an experience that had made him write a letter to Lacon with long going worries about a traitor in the circus.
Unfortunately, there was never time or money to get THS on the screen before Alec Guinness passed away. There where plans, but the plot is so complicated and moves around so much in the world so that it is understandable that financing the thing was difficult. Now Sir Alec is gone, but I for one would not object to a completion of the trilogy with someone else as Smiley. It would have to be an actor (british naturally) with extreme talent for that "nonplaying" style of acting that made AG so great a cast. Maybe someone like Anthony Hopkins....(?)
Anyway, if your parents like the films you gave them, you should recommend them to read the novel THS (as well as the other two, of course!) - if they are the bookreading type, that is.
Cheers!
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Lilyan_Chandler
19 years ago
Christian-Munthe
Thanks for the detailed reply! It's too bad they didn't get a chance to make a third movie. I agree that they should make it with someone else playing Smiley, but those are very big shoes to fill (Anthony Hopkins is an excellent suggestion).
I finished watching Smiley's People a week ago, and now I am watching Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. Yes, I realize I am watching them out of order, but since I had already seen Smiley's People years ago, I thought it was the best way to get reacquainted with the Circus. I have seen the first two episodes of TTSS and I am hooked (I actually had dreams about it last night).
I am considering getting the books for my parents for Christmas, hopefully they will read them.
Again, thanks for telling me the title of the missing piece of the trilogy.
Cheers!
"HAVE YOU GONE MAD?" Ron bellowed. "ARE YOU A WITCH OR NOT?"
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Lilyan_Chandler
19 years ago
Another suggestion for the character of George Smiley: Derek Jacobi. I like Anthony Hopkins, but I think I'll always see him as Hannibal Lector (superb performance in Silence of the Lambs) that it's difficult to picture him as a protagonist. Sir Derek has proven himself to be a very versatile actor and might work as George Smiley.
Your thoughts?
"HAVE YOU GONE MAD?" Ron bellowed. "ARE YOU A WITCH OR NOT?"
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trpdean
19 years ago
Jacobi is an interesting suggestion, but in spy terms, I see him as the homosexual who broke the German code in World War II - it would be far too expected that he would lose Lady Anne. I think Anthony Hopkins is the perfect suggestion- and if you think of him mainly as Hannibal Lecter, I really think you should see more movies starring him
E.g. I just saw Juggernaut in which he's a superb harassed Scotland Yard detective.
Or see him play Richard the Lionhearted when he was the crown prince in the fantastic Lion in winter with Peter O'Toole, Timothy Dalton and Katherine Hepburn.
Or see A Married Man in which he's the very picture of a brilliant arrogant barrister in a mid-life crisis who's interested in getting involved in politics.
Or see him in Q.B. VII as a German doctor who may have performed experiments on Jews but in the decades since the War has been a renowned doctor working to cure diseases among nomadic Arab tribes.
Or as a ventriloquist in the spooky Magic.
Or see him in one of his later roles like Remains of the Day or Charing Cross Road or Howard's End or the one where he plays oxford don C.S. Lewis with Deborah Winger.
He's a great actor who is best as someone playing a brilliant contained man.
Others who COULD do it well (though I'd prefer Hopkins) are Ian McKellan, Michael Gambon, John Wood, Edward or James Fox, David Warner - I'd prefer all of them to Derek Jacobi. The late Dirk Bogarde would have been interesting. So would Sir Michael Redgrave.
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bmwhtly
19 years ago
I suggested this on another board where there is discussion about this and was met with blank stares.
Peter Firth.
If you don't know who he is, watch any episode of Spooks (or MI:5 if you must). He plays the head of Section, and is superb. He fits the bill physically and as a performer, I think he could do Smiley very nicely indeed.
'There are three of them, and Alleline'
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rock_bustin
19 years ago
Sorry,
But Hopkins is too virile for the part ("suc,suc,suc,suc,suc!").
You need an "Elder Statesman-type" of Brit Acting: Ian Mckellen.
A trifle faggy perhaps, but powerful & subdued acting style.
Check out Richard the 3rd.
Imagine: "Karla - You shall not pass!" Or, "Enderby, you fool of a Took!"
Made for the role.
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mike-osullivan3
17 years ago
My nomination would be Michael Gambon, a fine actor with all the necessary characteristics.
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thatsnumberwang
16 years ago
Peter Firth=Brilliant suggestion. Although I'm sure as an actor he'd probably say no, just to not play another Head Spook.
http://saucybetty.blogspot.com
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finnegansword
16 years ago
I've read through the string of responses to the original query. The middle novel, "The Honourable Schoolboy," is the weakest of the trio in my view. Elsewhere, on this site, others seem to agree. I tried reading it years ago and eventually gave up. Perhaps I should make the effort and try again? My problem is that I suffer eye-strain after about half-an-hour.
In the case of John le Carre's novels, I find that many of them have an engrossing start, a tedious middle section and a punchy finish, such as, "Our Game," for example. But the joy of reading this author lies in his sophisticated use of the English language that only an educated man can possess. Happily, some equally talented people have transcribed his work for the screen. Britain is, (or was) fortunate to have actors such as Alec Guinness who could play such parts as Smiley. Frankly, I think it would be a mistake to try and find someone to fill his shoes, even 27 years after Smiley's People was first transmitted.
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16 years ago
[deleted]
finnegansword
16 years ago
So far as I remember post-war London, it was a grey, shabby city after five years of war, with bomb sites surrounding St. Paul's Cathedral and elsewhere. East Germany was no better and remained largely undeveloped behind its Berlin Wall. Hence the choice of black & white film. The opening scene of Richard Burton waiting at Checkpoint Charlie for the agent to cross over, sets the mood perfectly with a sad refrain on piano in the background - mock Chopin. Burton playing the part of a field man, stays out in the cold, declining a desk job from Control. Instead, he poses as an out-of-work salesman and drunk, waiting to be picked up by the other side. Tense stuff…….
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jla-32
15 years ago
Yes, der blaue diamant, the central character in The Honourable Schoolboy was Jerry Westerby.
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winstonacely
17 years ago
I actually like the idea of using Jacobi. Smiley and Claudius are very similar characters. Hugely intelligent, but constantly looked on as nothing more than vacant. Of course, I'm over looking the disabilities that Claudius had, but otherwise I think they're quite similar and Jacobi would be brilliant.
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