Smiley's People (TV miniseries) (1982)

Smiley’s People was a 1982 dramatic miniseries in six parts, made for the BBC. Directed by Simon Langton, produced by Jonathan Powell, it is the television adaptation of the 1979 spy novel of the same name by John le Carré. Starring Alec Guinness, Michael Byrne, Anthony Bate and Bernard Hepton. It was released in the United Kingdom on 20 September, 1982 and in the United States the following month on 25 October, 1982.

Synopsis

The series Smiley’s People closely follows the plot of the original novel. It tells the story of George Smiley, called out of retirement when one of his former assets/contacts, an émigré general, is found murdered. In tidying up loose ends for the "Circus", his former employers, he finds Vladimir had uncovered a clandestine operation run by his nemesis, Karla, for his own personal benefit. Smiley is able to use this irregularity against Karla, forcing him to defect to the West.

Actors