With the US release of the espionage thriller Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy tomorrow, I thought I would look back over the years and bring together a list of my top ten favorite British spy movies.
Take a look at the list of films I have chosen then let me know if you agree with my choices in the comments section below.
10. Goldfinger
When you think of British spy films, who else could possibly spring to mind before James Bond? With his dapper suits and alluring charm he’s a man who oozes with cool. Never has this been more apparent than in Goldfinger in which Sean Connery is at his very best as the iconic agent. Perhaps it’s dated a little bit, but that trademark look and those classic scenes will never grow old.
09. The Deadly Affair
The recently deceased Sidney Lumet, director of Dog Day Afternoon and 12 Angry Men, adapted this John Le Carre story for the big screen in 1966. It’s hardly his greatest work, but it’s nonetheless a tremendously engaging portrait of British intelligence’s battle with communism. It’s got all the mystery, intrigue and political undertones you would want in a Le Carre plot excellently handled by Lumet and well performed by its cast.
08. The Ipcress File
A young Michael Caine stars in this mystery movie about a spy trying to discover why scientists are being kidnapped and brainwashed. It all sounds a bit silly, but in practice this is a wonderfully low-key, suspenseful little spy flick and the best of the Harry Palmer series. Caine is predictably excellent in the lead role too.
07. Contraband
This early film from legendary Powell and Pressburger is as smart, wry, sexy and engaging as anything Alfred Hitchcock made during his prime. Set in the early days of wartime Britain during the blackouts, it’s a film that few have seen but really deserves to be discovered. It’s an incredibly entertaining flick.
06. The Man Who Knew Too Much
It may only run over an hour in length, but The Man Who Knew Too Much is the film that put Alfred Hitchcock on the map. It was this film that got him recognized by Hollywood and set the master of suspense firmly on his path to success. It’s fast, witty and a perfect example of the world’s greatest film-maker finding his feet.
05. Casino Royale
The finest of all the James Bond films, Casino Royale finally decided to ditch the traditional, by-the-book approach to how you make a Bond film and instead aspired to just be a terrific piece of action cinema. And my goodness, does it succeed. The story is top-notch with an excellently unique performance from Daniel Craig giving what was previously a tired franchise a huge boost of adrenaline.
04. The Lady Vanishes
Still one of the finest films Alfred Hitchcock made, The Lady Vanishes displays great dialogue, excellent acting and a fantastic sense of humour in a way that makes the film impossible not to adore. It will never be recognized in the way that Vertigo and North By Northwest are, but it really does rival them for entertainment.
03. Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
Anyone off to see the latest adaptation of Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy this weekend is in for a treat as it’s easily one of the finest British spy films ever made. Its stunning cast all bring their A-game to the table in this suspenseful tale of a retired agent trying to find a mole at the top of MI5. But the most interesting aspect is how it switches the gloss of James Bond to uproot the murky underbelly of British espionage, painting its story on a canvas of mistrust, deception and double-crossing. It’s mesmerizing stuff from beginning to end. Our review is here.
02. The Spy Who Came In From The Cold
Like Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, there is little fun to be had in this early John Le Carre adaptation. There is no spectacle, glamour or excitement here. Instead, what you get in The Spy Who Came In From The Cold is a bleak insight into Cold War espionage; a colourless world void of warmth and charm that will inevitably drain you as you consume it. Nonetheless, though it’s tough to watch, this Oscar nominee was a profoundly brave step in a new direction during an era in which James Bond was at its most popular. It, therefore, makes for one of the most accomplished spy movies ever.
01. The 39 Steps
Film history was made in 1935 when Alfred Hitchcock, at the time a little known, run of the mill film director, received a contract to bring a low budget spy thriller to the big screen. He launched himself at the film and used the opportunity to provide his studio with a masterpiece of the genre, establishing his reputation as the master of suspense. From motifs and MacGuffins to dark comedy and intriguing characters it’s a quintessential Hitchcock movie that remains among his finest work ever.
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