This time it's Denholm Elliott as the rather ordinary walking detective and spy whose cunning and ability to pick up clues and details allows him to solve even the most complex of murders. In this film, it surrounds the death of the trouble making wife of a school master and later a student. Elliott integrates himself with the staff of the school which includes Glenda Jackson, Billie Whitelaw and most importantly Joss Ackland as a homosexual teacher whose love for a student has him on the verge of a breakdown. Christian Bale also has a very important role as a handsome young student whose seemingly innocent nature hides a lot of secrets as well.
Slow-moving but in a way that is necessary for the viewer to pick up every detail, just never tries to fool them with twists that make no sense. Everything that comes out in the end are things that the audience can see as a possible lead to the person responsible, and it is wonderfully filmed. Glenda Jackson, then involved in her run for the British House of Commons, is a supporting player in this but makes her few scenes as intense as her greatest film and stage rules. Elliot is a perfect George Smiley and Ackland walks off with the film as details about his character are revealed and his situation gets more intense. It's obvious that Bale would go on to greater things after this, his youthful charm still visible underneath a quiet performance.
Slow-moving but in a way that is necessary for the viewer to pick up every detail, just never tries to fool them with twists that make no sense. Everything that comes out in the end are things that the audience can see as a possible lead to the person responsible, and it is wonderfully filmed. Glenda Jackson, then involved in her run for the British House of Commons, is a supporting player in this but makes her few scenes as intense as her greatest film and stage rules. Elliot is a perfect George Smiley and Ackland walks off with the film as details about his character are revealed and his situation gets more intense. It's obvious that Bale would go on to greater things after this, his youthful charm still visible underneath a quiet performance.