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Miniseries – Smiley's People

Play trailer Poster for Miniseries – Smiley's People Sep 1982 Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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90% Tomatometer 40 Reviews Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
George Smiley is called out of retirement to conclude his career-long battle with the enigmatic and ruthless Russian spymaster Karla.
Smiley's People — Miniseries

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Alec Guinness returns to The Circus and brings his bravura reserve in Smiley's People, an absorbing finale for John le Carré's Karla Trilogy.

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Critics Reviews

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Dennis Pryor The Age (Australia) 10/13/2021
Designed to make the customer feel that he is too dumb to understand this sophisticated stuff. Take heart, baffled viewers, all of Smiley's people are the same -- there's less to them than meets the eye. Go to Full Review
Michael Shmith The Age (Australia) 10/13/2021
By sheer virtue of its ingenious plot and exacting characterizations it becomes entertainment; but disturbing entertainment. Go to Full Review
Brian Courtis The Age (Australia) 10/13/2021
The television equivalent of the 'Times' crossword puzzle. It's splendid... as long as you know the rules. Go to Full Review
Jennifer Selway Observer (UK) 10/13/2021
Alec Guinness has this way of making it all seem serious and believable again. Go to Full Review
Martin Amis Observer (UK) 10/13/2021
At once champion and victim of the le Carré myth, the production glowed with an omniscience far too smug for syntax. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Stephen C @bob25009 Dec 30 6 successful episodes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! In British English with American English subtitles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See more David F @dfulmer 01/03/2025 This is a solid adaptation of the John le Carre novel. Since the novel is mostly people interrogating other people, that’s what this film is, mostly. It does what it can for a TV series as far as setting, set dressing, atmosphere, and whatnot. It’s a faithful adaptation which continues the George Smiley face off against Karla (and wraps it up). See more tom w @RT93495255 10/01/2022 Like the Tinker Tailor series, I thoroughly enjoyed Smiley's People. The masterful, understated craft of Sir Alec Guiness is a joy to quietly witness. I only wish a re-mastered version would be released with English subtitles. At 78, I am rather hard or hearing and the posh West End public school accent is a challenge for me. I can follow the gist but I miss many of the nuances. Fortunately for me, Sir Alec speaks more clearly than most, perhaps attributable to his early stage career. On stage, one has to be able to 'whisper' to the back row. See more Read all reviews
Smiley's People — Miniseries

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Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Sep 20, 1982 Mme Ostrakova was desperate to believe the sweating Russian who promised the return of her daughter; then there was the Paris letter which rang old bells for General Vladimir; these two events summoned master spy George Smiley from retirement. Details Episode 2 Aired Sep 27, 1982 After Vladimir's death, Smiley makes inquiries among a number of Russian exiles in London, and uncovers the negative of an astonishing photograph. Details Episode 3 Aired Oct 4, 1982 Vladimir has two proofs, but Smiley has only found one; it was an erotic photograph of Otto Leipzig, the General's lieutenant; now aware that Vladimir has quarreled with his postman Toby Esterhase, Smiley plans to visit old friends. Details Episode 4 Aired Oct 11, 1982 Smiley gets into trouble with his superiors, who want the investigation closed, but he finally encounters the woman and gets her account. Details Episode 5 Aired Oct 18, 1982 Otto Leipzig is dead, but after Kirov's confession, the trail becomes clearer, and Smiley finds himself traveling to Switzerland. Details Episode 6 Aired Oct 25, 1982 With information gained from Russian ambassador Grigoriev and a meeting with the elusive Alexandra, the scene is set for Smiley's final confrontation with his arch enemy, Karla. Details
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Season Info

Director
Simon Langton
Network
BBC
Genre
Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
British English
Release Date
Sep 20, 1982