The Spy Who Came In from the Cold (Paramount Pictures) (1965)

PUBLICITY STAR RICHARD BURTON AND UNIQUE “SPY” DRAMA SHAPE NEW-STYLE FILM THRILLER Richard Burton, the world’s most sought-after actor and movie’s Number One male idol, gives the phenomenal ‘spy syndrome’ a much-needed breath of new life with his starring role in “The Spy Who Came In From The Cold”—opening ...... at the ae Theatre—produced and directed by Martin Ritt for Paramount Pictures. Burton, who co-stars in the film with Claire Bloom and Oskar Werner, recalls that immediately after reading the runaway bestselling novel by John le Carré, on which the new-style spy chiller is based, he was determined to play the British agent of the title. The magnetic, dashing and powerful Burton, who, with a couple of minor changes in the dossier, could be perfect casting for the super-spy, super-lover and superhero, James Bond, held fast to his aspiration to tackle the complex and challenging role of the hard-living anti-hero, Alec Leamas. In a startling departure from the current genre of escapist, fantasyland spy films, “The Spy Who Came In From The Cold” is a hardnitting and intricately woven account of a duel between British and East German intelligence officers. Helplessly caught in the machinations of the efficient espionage system is Leamas, a cynical, seedy, at times sordid character; a spy whose activities are no better, no worse than those of his opposites in the other camp. In short, Burton’s agent is man, not superman. His spy, on the way down through no fault of his own, is brought “in from the cold’— a phrase from the language of the world of espionage meaning “relegated to a desk job.” He then is sent on a special assignment, only to be sacrificed to protect an East German double agent. The qualities that have made Burton an heroic actor are now masterfully turned to an exquisite portrayal of the disillusioned Leamas—who becomes in the actor’s powerful grasp a figure that audiences can at once identify with and root for. The celebrated Welshman, once the lucky benefactor of a family project designed to help one of the large brood to get ahead, has performed with remarkable brilliance in almost every phase of theatre. By the time he was thirty, he had successfully played more Shakespearean roles than any other actor of our day. He made an immediate impact on the New York stage when he appeared in Christopher Fry’s “The Lady’s Not for Burning” and again in Jean Anouilh’s “Time Remembered.” In “Camelot,” he scored a different kind of success in his first stage musical, and most recently, he captured Broadway as the star of John Gielgud’s production of “Hamlet.” In films, his recent achievements include “Cleopatra,” “V.I.P.’s,” “Becket,” “Night of the Iguana” and “The Sandpiper.” “The Spy Who Came In From The Cold,” a Salem Films production, has a screenplay by Paul Dehn. Its distinguished international cast features Peter Van Evck, Cyril Cusack and Sam Wanamaker. Still # SP/Spec/1 Mat 3A “SPYISM” IS THE COMPLEX, COMPELLING AND CHALLENGING SUBJECT of Paramount Pictures’ new and tensely exciting “The Spy Who Came In From The Cold,” a Salem production produced and directed by Martin Ritt opening........ atthe ..... Theatre. Based on John le Carré’s best-selling novel of the same name, the thrilling espionage film stars the very able and widely acclaimed Richard Burton, the highly sensitive and beautiful Claire Bloom and the brilliant and versatile European actor, Oskar Werner. It also stars Sam Wanamaker, George Voskovec, Rupert Davies, Cyril Cusack and Peter Van Eyck. “The Spy” is a blunt and critical story of the grim and sometimes brutal tactics of espionage in a world, supposedly civilized, but constantly plagued by a cold war between East and West. “THE SPY FROM THE COLD” A TRIUMPH OF DRAMA, STYLE AND GREAT TALENTS “The Spy Who Came In From The Cold,” a stunning new espionage thriller which combines contemporary drama, classical style and the talents of some the world’s top creative artists, opens AeA cn 8 at the. 25 se heatre. BLOOM AND BURTON Still # SP-137 BETRAYED IN A THANKLESS WORLD—Leamas (Richard Burton) is grim and tense as he bitterly explains the details of British Control’s double-cross to Nan (Claire Bloom) as they drive towards the Berlin Wall in their effort to escape from East Germany. A Salem production for Paramount Pictures, “The Spy Who Came In From The Cold,” which opens Theatre, stars Richard Burton, Claire Bloom, Oskar Werner and co-stars Sam Wanamaker, George Voskovec, Rupert Davies, Cyril Cusack and Peter Van Eyck. It was produced and directed by Martin Ritt, based upon John le Carré’s best-selling novel. Sesame Oey see BEANE Voces ce oe Mat 2A Produced and directed by Martin Ritt for Paramount Pictures, the powerful film co-stars Richard Burton, Claire Bloom, and Oskar Werner. Based on the _best-selling novel by John le Carré that was a literary sensation, the drama has become a gritty, intense screen portrait of the chilling hell that exists in a carefully planned duel between East and West. At a time when the ‘spy craze,’ with its super-heroes and incredible villains, has wrung every last drop of wonder from its wonderlands— no matter how strange a place is, it loses its strangeness when lived in long enough—*The Spy Who Came In From The Cold” takes the spotlight with a fresh approach. A new-style story exceedingly well done would seem to be enough of an achievement. But “The Spy” is good, not just because of freshness, but because it moves swiftly through the world of espionage with classical simplicity, style, and a clearly human approach. Director Ritt masterfully maintains an unrelenting mood of quiet menace; a somber background for the hard-hitting tale. And throughout production work, the extremely thorough Ritt faced myriad problems as he moved his unit to England, Ireland, Holland and Germany for location shooting. He came through unscathed even after his request to film the dramatic opening and closing scenes at the Berlin Wall was rejected by East Berlin officials. He simply built “the Wall” and Checkpoint Charlie, with the result being so perfect that the fantastic set was auctioned intact after filming ended. Ritt’s dedication was one of long standing and it never waivered. Attracted to the superbly written novel even before its overwhelming success, while, in fact, it was still in galley form, he purchased the film rights knowing he had something different. He was aware, also, that it was an artistic work which demanded special treatment. The new film, which also marks Ritt’s first time out as both producer and director, is certainly the most ambitious and exciting venture in his distinguished career. He was so attracted to the powerfully realistic story that he acquired the film rights after reading the galley-proofs of what later became the overwhelmingly successful best-seller by John Le Carre. “The story was rough and strong, bitter and sharp,” Ritt recalls. “I vowed it would be shot just that way — that I wouldn’t lose my nerve!” His carefully selected cast is headed by the talented Burton as Alec Leamas, the reluctant hero who finally ‘comes in from the cold’ to end his life in a truly courageous act; the sensitive Miss Bloom as Nan, the girl who falls helplessly in love with Leamas; and the distinguished Werner as the brilliant Fiedler, Communist counterspy. Thus, “The Spy Who Came In From The Cold” is the sensational sum of outstanding parts. A Salem Films production from a screenplay by Paul Dehn, it boasts a brilliant cast of featured players, including Peter Van Eyck, Cyril Cusack, Sam Wanamaker, Michael Hordern, Robert Hardy and George Voskovec. Still # SP-143 ATOP THE WALL! Richard Burton, portraying Leamas, straddles the Berlin Wall and despite the shouts from Smiley on the Western side and the warnings on the Eastern side, he makes his bitter decision. Produced and directed by Martin Ritt for Paramount Pictures, “The Spy Who Came In From The Cold” stars Richard Burton, Claire Bloom and Oskar Werner and opens ...... at ther tats cee Theatre. Mat 1A