This is what I love about this book. He doesn't glamourize either side. he shows that both of them know the most important rule of any type of war - you do what you have to do if you want to win
Oh hell, you can take just about any scene from this movie and it absolutely makes chills climb my spine.... And I read the book, the short, magnificent, brutal book before I saw the movie. And never have I seen an actor so deftly slide into a character role so convincingly, so completely. The book, all by itself, blew me away when I first read it. And today, whenever I think of the character of Leamas, it's not whatever mind's eye image I formed of him whenever I first read it that I see. It is, and forever shall be, Richard Burton in that devastating role.
Perfectly summed up. A devastating book that says everything it needs to about the Cold War in a tidy 200 pages or so. And the great director Martin Ritt perfectly captured the novel in this movie. Ritt said of Burton’s performance in this movie: something like “ i got the last good lay out of the old whore.”
+JR9979 too good for a oscar a jewel beyond value for insiders. Some hard truths the public don't like hearing when you consider what won that year. Yes politics...
Claire Bloom & Richard Burton means perfection for me together. They filmed four movies together, and they are amazing as a couple in everyone of them. Alexander The Great is my favorite, but omg. Richard really had something for Claire onscreen.
I've been reading "the great game" by Frederick P. Hitz about the real life spy game & the myth. He says this scene/speach by Burton is one of the most accurate about all of it. Good book.
I can think of no other actor who could convey in a character such genuine deep-seated disaffected anger and contempt for all those around him. Watch Richard Burton in the courtroom scene in "The Medusa Touch" as a further example. Or his portrail in "Night of the Iguana". And as for "Whose Afraid of Virgina Woolf?"...well I rest my case.
Happy 91st to Claire Bloom. They originally considered Rita Tushingham due to her working class cred, but Bloom did a good job. Also Richard wanted Liz for the part, but he didn't have casting control, though he did get his friends in other roles in the film. Burt Lancaster was originally considered as a possible actor for it too.
Claire Bloom's face (reaction} along with the magnificent acting by the great Richard Burton is what makes this scene so remarkable. She is extremely beautiful, and her realization of the truth makes her face look scared, disappointed, and distraught. She finally to her horror realizes that she has been a fool and a useful idiot all that time. John LeCarre thought that she was way too beautiful, and her persona and speech were too upper-class for this role, and wanted Rita Tushingham for the role. However, we are lucky that her great talent overrode all of those doubts.
@JuanMacready That is the most Stupid statement I have heard in Years- BUT, you have a right to your Opinion- this man was one of the Greatest Actors in the world-
You should it's good. LeCarre actually worked for the Security Service (MI5) and the Secret Intelligence Service (MI6), so he knows what he's talking about when it comes to spies.
@JuanMacready So what you're saying is that someone who is dead, copied someone else who is also dead and should therefore have died of lung cancer instead of a stroke (triggered by alcoholism and cirrhosis). So, what was the point of that?
How many takes I wonder ? To capture that vitriolic intensity . Can't imagine asking him : er....sorry, Richard....could we just try that again ? Brilliant .! I listened to BBC Radio version with Brian Cox . Good, but nowhere near this. Not just the voice but the face.
One of the funny things about this scene is that Burton was drinking so hard in those days that he couldn't remember his lines - he had cue cards pasted all over the inside of the car just out of sight of the camera.
Not true. He certainly isn’t reading in this scene but he does at the end of The Wild Geese when he confronts Matheson. Marlon Brando couldn’t be bothered to learn lines in Julius Caesar.
@JuanMacready So what you're saying is that someone who is dead, copied someone else who is also dead and should therefore have died of lung cancer instead of a stroke (triggered by alcoholism and cirrhosis). So, what was the point of that?
This is one of the most honest explanations of what spies are made of i've ever seen.
This is what I love about this book. He doesn't glamourize either side. he shows that both of them know the most important rule of any type of war - you do what you have to do if you want to win
This speech is from the bottom of a heart.
Oh hell, you can take just about any scene from this movie and it absolutely makes chills climb my spine.... And I read the book, the short, magnificent, brutal book before I saw the movie. And never have I seen an actor so deftly slide into a character role so convincingly, so completely. The book, all by itself, blew me away when I first read it. And today, whenever I think of the character of Leamas, it's not whatever mind's eye image I formed of him whenever I first read it that I see. It is, and forever shall be, Richard Burton in that devastating role.
could not be said better
Hear hear
Perfectly summed up. A devastating book that says everything it needs to about the Cold War in a tidy 200 pages or so. And the great director Martin Ritt perfectly captured the novel in this movie. Ritt said of Burton’s performance in this movie: something like “ i got the last good lay out of the old whore.”
forget James Bond -welcome to reality....
This film is just brutal. Absolute masterpiece.
How can anyone ever tire of watching Ricard Burton?
should have won the Oscar for this.
+JR9979 too good for a oscar a jewel beyond value for insiders.
Some hard truths the public don't like hearing when you consider
what won that year. Yes politics...
one of the two top scenes of the film. the other being burton's scene with werner discussing the west.
Claire Bloom & Richard Burton means perfection for me together. They filmed four movies together, and they are amazing as a couple in everyone of them.
Alexander The Great is my favorite, but omg. Richard really had something for Claire onscreen.
Fix the volume please. One of my favorite scenes of all time.
the best scene in the film. Thanks.
JUST LOVE THIS SCENE . WHAT DO YOU THINK SPIES ARE ? THE PRICKING OF THE JAMES BOND FANTASY .
An Incredible film with Great Acting and brilliant script!!!! One of my all time fave movies!!! Saw it first when I was very young!
I've been reading "the great game" by Frederick P. Hitz about the real life spy game & the myth. He says this scene/speach by Burton is one of the most accurate about all of it. Good book.
Goosebumps, Mr Burton's performance so real and smooth...
Claire Bloom, what a beauty.. and Burton was one of the best actors of the past century. Great film.
They had a long and passionate affair from 1951 to 1959, she admits he was the great love of her life. She details it all in her first book.
@@HolgerRuneFan Actually in her second book. She doesn't talk much about her private life in the first book.
Just the facts of life, ma'am. Thanks!
Best ever accent - Richard Burton.
The way he gets it off his chest to Liz, probably subconsciously he already know they are going to die pretty soon.
Spies are just like us..not superheroes..but small people that need something to brighten their rotten little lives..that's what it means
f in the chat for Fidler, too smart for this world.
Most memorable scene in the film or any other film.
excellent movie, Mr Burton one of the best
Outstanding movie and all the actors
Burton has a great Monolgue in this one!
great movie
„Why did Mundt, let me go...?“ 😢 Oh, the how brutal the fate
I can think of no other actor who could convey in a character such genuine deep-seated disaffected anger and contempt for all those around him. Watch Richard Burton in the courtroom scene in "The Medusa Touch" as a further example. Or his portrail in "Night of the Iguana". And as for "Whose Afraid of Virgina Woolf?"...well I rest my case.
A few million bodies on that path..
Happy 91st to Claire Bloom. They originally considered Rita Tushingham due to her working class cred, but Bloom did a good job. Also Richard wanted Liz for the part, but he didn't have casting control, though he did get his friends in other roles in the film. Burt Lancaster was originally considered as a possible actor for it too.
this is the real spy story,not the bond films.great acting,story,film.cheers all.
What do you think spies are....drunkards, queers, henpecked husbands....Great scene from my favorite spy movie!
This is the best scene though ‘there’s a few million bodies on that path’ how big does a cause have to be before you kill your friends?
This is probably more what James Bond (007) is really like.
Telling it like it is, naked and exposed.
Burton's best performance.
By far
Como hemos sufrido todos con la historia qué subyace en este film.firme y sufrido desde la primera escena
Oskar Werner stole the show..:)
Leamus is a gray man. Air Hostesses can't classify him by age, accent, occupation.
It's ironic that this movie actually passes the Bechdel Test.
BRUTAL
Sorry but the audio on this is way too low to appreciate it
What a soliloquy. Forget Spy v Spy in Mad Magazine. Mad Magazine lampooned this film.
Claire Bloom's face (reaction} along with the magnificent acting by the great Richard Burton is what makes this scene so remarkable. She is extremely beautiful, and her realization of the truth makes her face look scared, disappointed, and distraught. She finally to her horror realizes that she has been a fool and a useful idiot all that time.
John LeCarre thought that she was way too beautiful, and her persona and speech were too upper-class for this role, and wanted Rita Tushingham for the role. However, we are lucky that her great talent overrode all of those doubts.
You cut off the scene too soon.
@JuanMacready That is the most Stupid statement I have heard in Years-
BUT, you have a right to your Opinion-
this man was one of the Greatest Actors in the world-
Burton forever Leamas in the same way that Guinness is forever Smiley. No remakes of either masterpiece willever be necessary...
i agree,!!
oh ya shouldabeena classic.ya great ya f
Just watched this again on TV,they cut part of this speech mentioning drunkards and queers, spoilt the importance and impact of what he was saying.
anybody read the book? thinking about picking it up
I highly recommend it. Don't neglect to look at all the other leCarre novels as well.
You should it's good. LeCarre actually worked for the Security Service (MI5) and the Secret Intelligence Service (MI6), so he knows what he's talking about when it comes to spies.
I've read some of it, there's a lot more detail than the film.
@JuanMacready
So what you're saying is that someone who is dead, copied someone else who is also dead and should therefore have died of lung cancer instead of a stroke (triggered by alcoholism and cirrhosis).
So, what was the point of that?
How many takes I wonder ? To capture that vitriolic intensity .
Can't imagine asking him : er....sorry, Richard....could we just try that again ?
Brilliant .! I listened to BBC Radio version with Brian Cox . Good, but nowhere
near this. Not just the voice but the face.
But he did not see the next part coming.
One of the funny things about this scene is that Burton was drinking so hard in those days that he couldn't remember his lines - he had cue cards pasted all over the inside of the car just out of sight of the camera.
Not true. He certainly isn’t reading in this scene but he does at the end of The Wild Geese when he confronts Matheson. Marlon Brando couldn’t be bothered to learn lines in Julius Caesar.
That's Marlon Brando idiot.
that was for the movie "1984"
@JuanMacready
So what you're saying is that someone who is dead, copied someone else who is also dead and should therefore have died of lung cancer instead of a stroke (triggered by alcoholism and cirrhosis).
So, what was the point of that?