191. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011) - Guest: Jeff Quest from The le Carré Cast and Spy Write

191. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011) - Guest: Jeff Quest from The le Carré Cast and Spy Write

Author: Scott Hardy & Cam Smith December 17, 2024 Duration: 1:50:00

Agents Scott and Cam, along with guest operative Jeff Quest of The le Carré Cast and Spy Write website, cut loose at the British Secret Intelligence Service Christmas party while decoding the 2011 adaptation of John le Carré's Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. 

Directed by Tomas Alfredson. Starring Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Tom Hardy, Mark Strong, Ciarán Hinds, Benedict Cumberbatch, David Dencik, Stephen Graham, Simon McBurney, Toby Jones, Kathy Burke and John Hurt.

Check out Jeff's writing over at Spy Write.

You can also listen to him on The le Carré Cast and Barbican Station - A Slough House Podcast, available everywhere. Make sure to check out Jeff's interview with Gary Oldman.

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Social media: @spyhards

View the NOC List and the Disavowed List at Letterboxd.com/spyhards

Podcast artwork by Hannah Hughes.

Theme music by Doug Astley.


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Every week, Scott Hardy and Cam Smith-operating under the aliases Agent Scott and Cam the Provocateur-dive deep into the shadowy world of espionage cinema on their show, SpyHards-A Spy Movie Podcast. This isn't just a surface-level review; they decode the tradecraft, the tropes, and the timeless appeal of classic spy films. You'll hear them analyze everything from the gritty realism of George Smiley and Jason Bourne to the over-the-top gadgetry of Derek Flint and the comedic antics of Austin Powers and Johnny English. The conversation spans legendary franchises like James Bond and Mission: Impossible to cult favorites such as Kingsman, The Man From U.N.C.L.E., and even Spy Kids. A running thread through this podcast is the quest to determine which films earn a spot on their prestigious N.O.C. List, essentially cementing their legacy within the spy genre canon. Blending film criticism with historical context and a genuine fan's enthusiasm, each episode feels like a debriefing with two friends who know far too much about secret agents. It’s a weekly mission for anyone who’s ever wondered about the cultural impact of a perfectly shaken martini or the mechanics of a hidden tape recorder.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

SpyHards - A Spy Movie Podcast
Podcast Episodes
178. Hitman: Agent 47 (2015) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:22:27
Agents Scott and Cam try to decide which genetically modified assassins they can and can't trust while taking on the 2015 video game adaptation reboot Hitman: Agent 47.Directed by Aleksander Bach. Starring Rupert Friend,…
177. The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare (2024) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:29:35
Agents Scott and Cam grab their bows and arrows and hit the high seas with Henry Cavill's crew while tackling the 2024 Guy Ritchie WWII action film The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare.Directed by Guy Ritchie. Starring…
Lana Wood on Diamonds Are Forever - SpyMaster Interview #80 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:32:05
Agents Scott and Cam welcome Diamonds Are Forever actress Lana Wood to the show to discuss her iconic work as Plenty O'Toole in the 1971 Las Vegas-set Bond adventure. She also shares stories about working on The Searcher…
Ashley E. Miller on X-Men: First Class - SpyMaster Interview #79 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01:24
Agents Scott and Cam welcome screenwriter and Inglorious Treksperts co-host Ashley E. Miller to the show to discuss his unforgettable experience co-writing the 2011 superhero prequel X-Men: First Class. He also shares in…
175. The Killer Elite (1975) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:32:39
Agents Scott and Cam rip around San Francisco with James Caan in a souped-up taxicab while decoding the 1975 Sam Peckinpah action drama The Killer Elite.Directed by Sam Peckinpah. Starring James Caan, Robert Duvall, Arth…
174. Berlin Correspondent (1942) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:17:49
Agents Scott and Cam take to the airwaves to transmit coded messages to the Allies while tackling the 1942 WWII espionage caper Berlin Correspondent. Directed by Eugene Forde. Starring Virginia Gilmore, Dana Andrews, Mon…
Lawrence Lasker on Sneakers - SpyMaster Interview #78 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:45
Agents Scott and Cam welcome screenwriter Lawrence Lasker to the show to reveal the secrets behind co-writing the 1992 spy comedy-thriller Sneakers. He also shares stories about creating 1983's WarGames and appearing in…
173. Sneakers (1992) - Guest: Simon Brew from Film Stories [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:41:16
Agents Scott and Cam, along with guest operative Simon Brew from Film Stories magazine and podcast, help Robert Redford and his gang use Scrabble tiles to unlock a criminal conspiracy while decoding the 1992 heist comedy…