The Spy Who Came In from the Cold (1965): Cast, Box Office & Plot
The Spy Who Came In from the Cold is a 1965 drama thriller directed by Martin Ritt, starring Geoffrey Keen as British Sentry (Sgt.) at Checkpoint Charlie (uncredited), Richard Burton and Cyril Cusack. It runs 1 hour 52 minutes and earned $529 worldwide.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 52m (112 min)
- Director
- Martin Ritt
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Salem Films Limited
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Spy Who Came In from the Cold About?
The premise of The Spy Who Came In from the Cold without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
In the tense atmosphere of the 1960s Cold War, seasoned British intelligence officer Alec Leamas rejects the chance to retire and instead undertakes a dangerous final assignment, knowing it may be his last, as he navigates betrayal and high‑stakes espionage.
The Spy Who Came In from the Cold Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- based on novel
- espionage
- east germany
- cold war
- british intelligence
- british agent
- double agent
- spy
- iron curtain
- berlin germany
- counter espionage
- berlin wall
+38 more Show fewer
- library
- checkpoint charlie
- whiskey
- london england
- cynicism
- strip club
- grocery store
- double cross
- communism
- atheism
- doomed love
- amsterdam netherlands
- escape from jail
- rainstorm
- beach
- profanity
- employment agency
- job interview
- assault
- restaurant
- gay slur
- airport
- customs
- defection
- debriefing
- jewish
- nazi
- confession
- framed
- searchlight
- shot in the back
- alcoholic
- briton abroad
- alcoholic drink
- drink
- spy thriller
- pistol whipped
- downbeat ending
The Spy Who Came In from the Cold Cast & Characters
Geoffrey Keen leads the cast as British Sentry (Sgt.) at Checkpoint Charlie (uncredited), with Richard Burton as Alec Leamas and Cyril Cusack as Control. Directed by Martin Ritt; 37 actors are credited in all.
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Director Martin Ritt
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Geoffrey Keen as British Sentry (Sgt.) at Checkpoint Charlie (uncredited) -
Richard Burton as Alec Leamas -
Cyril Cusack as Control -
Claire Bloom as Nan Perry
Also Starring in The Spy Who Came In from the Cold
· 33 more- Niall MacGinnis German Checkpoint Guard
- George Voskovec East German Defense Attorney
- Steve Plytas East German Judge
- Scot Finch German Guide
- Sam Wanamaker Peters
- Oskar Werner Fiedler
- Peter van Eyck Hans-Dieter Mundt
- Michael Hordern Ashe
- Bernard Lee Patmore
- Walter Gotell Holten (uncredited)
- Esmond Knight Old Judge
- Richard Marner Vopo Captain
- Michael Ripper Lofthouse - Library Assistant (uncredited)
- Warren Mitchell Mr. Zanfrello
- Robert Hardy Dick Carlton
- David Bauer Young Judge (uncredited)
Show all 37 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Rupert Davies George Smiley
- Richard Shaw Guard (uncredited)
- Philip Madoc Young German Officer (uncredited)
- Tom Stern CIA Agent
- Graham Armitage Pawson (uncredited)
- John Quentin Pawson (uncredited)
- George Mikell German Checkpoint Guard
- Richard Caldicot Mr. Pitt - Employment Officer (uncredited)
- Nancy Nevinson Mrs. Zanfrello - Grocery Customer (uncredited)
- Beatrix Lehmann Tribunal President
- Anne Blake Miss Crail
- Terry Yorke Karl Riemeck (uncredited)
- Henk Molenberg Dutch Customs Officer (uncredited)
- Katherine Keeton Pussywillow Club Stripper (uncredited)
- Marianne Deeming Frau Floerdke (uncredited)
- Edward Harvey Man in Shop (uncredited)
- Michael Rittermann Security Officer (uncredited)
More from Martin Ritt
More films directed by Martin Ritt, best-rated first: Sounder, Hombre, Norma Rae and Hud.
The Spy Who Came In from the Cold Plot Summary
What happens in The Spy Who Came In from the Cold from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
West Berlin’s MI6 outpost, led by Alec Leamas [Richard Burton], has suffered from reduced effectiveness after the death of one of its operatives. He is recalled to London shortly after the event and is seemingly drummed out of the agency. In reality, a carefully staged transformation of Leamas has been arranged by Control [Cyril Cusack], the agency’s chief. Appearing to be depressed, embittered and alcoholic, Leamas takes work as an assistant at a local library. There he begins a relationship with Nan Perry [Claire Bloom], a young and idealistic member of the British Communist Party. Leamas spends most of his small salary on alcohol, leaving him constantly low on funds. He drunkenly assaults a shopkeeper who refuses him credit and is briefly jailed.
Full summary
The whole story of The Spy Who Came In from the Cold, scene by scene
The Spy Who Came In from the Cold Box Office
The Spy Who Came In from the Cold grossed $529 worldwide.
Worldwide gross
$529
- International
- $529
The Spy Who Came In from the Cold Trailers & Videos
4 videos: 3 trailers and 1 featurette.
- Trailer The Spy Who Came in from the Cold ≣ 1965 ≣ Trailer
- Trailer THE SPY WHO CAME IN FROM THE COLD Trailer [1965] 4K
- Featurette John le Carré - Where Alec Leamas Came From - The Spy Who Came in From the Cold
How Well Do You Know The Spy Who Came In from the Cold?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Which actor portrayed Alec Leamas?
Cars in The Spy Who Came In from the Cold
55 cars on screen, including the 1963 Moskvitch 403 IE and the 1965 AEC Routemaster.
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1963 Moskvitch 403 IE Important role -
1965 AEC Routemaster Minor role -
1960 Austin FX4 Minor role -
1960 Austin FX4 Minor role
The Spy Who Came In from the Cold Also Known As
26 alternative titles, including “El espía que surgió del frío” and “A kem aki a hidegbol jott”.
- Also known as
-
- El espía que surgió del frío
- A kem aki a hidegbol jott
- Spionen som kom in från kylan
- Шпијун који је дошао са хладноће
- La spia che venne dal freddo
- Шпијун који се склонио у заветрину
- Spionen som kom inn fra kulden
- Der Spion, der aus der Kälte kam
- 柏林谍影
- L'Espion qui venait du froid
- המרגל שחזר מן הכפור
- A kém, aki a hidegből jött
+14 more Show fewer
- Шпион, пришедший с холода
- O Espião que Veio do Frio
- 寒い国から帰ったスパイ
- Шпионинът, който дойде от студа
- 추운 곳에서 온 스파이
- Utanç Duvarında Casusluk
- Spionen der kom ind fra kulden
- Szpieg, który przyszedł z zimnej strefy
- Špión, který přišel z chladu
- Ο Κατάσκοπος που Γύρισε απ' το Κρύο
- Alto espionaje
- جاسوسی که از سردسیر آمد
- O Espião Que Saiu do Frio
- 柏林諜影
Seen The Spy Who Came In from the Cold?
Movies Like The Spy Who Came In from the Cold
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including A Spy Among Friends, The Defector and Spies.
The Spy Who Came In from the Cold FAQ: Cast & Box Office
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office and post-credit scenes of The Spy Who Came In from the Cold, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Spy Who Came In from the Cold?
The Spy Who Came In from the Cold runs 1 hour 52 minutes (112 minutes).
When was The Spy Who Came In from the Cold released?
The Spy Who Came In from the Cold was released on December 16, 1965.
Who directed The Spy Who Came In from the Cold?
The Spy Who Came In from the Cold was directed by Martin Ritt.
More films by Martin Ritt Who is in the cast of The Spy Who Came In from the Cold?
The Spy Who Came In from the Cold stars Geoffrey Keen as British Sentry (Sgt.) at Checkpoint Charlie (uncredited), Richard Burton as Alec Leamas and Cyril Cusack as Control, among 37 credited actors.
How much did The Spy Who Came In from the Cold make at the box office?
The Spy Who Came In from the Cold grossed $529 worldwide.
Does The Spy Who Came In from the Cold have a post-credit scene?
No. The Spy Who Came In from the Cold has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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