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

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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
205. A Southern Yankee (1948) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:24:48
Agents Scott and Cam put on fancy dresses and crawl into a doghouse while taking on the 1948 Red Skelton Civil War spy comedy A Southern Yankee.Directed by Edward Sedgwick. Starring Red Skelton, Brian Donlevy, Arlene Dah…
Richard Wenk on The Equalizer Trilogy - SpyMaster Interview #97 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:41:13
Agents Scott and Cam welcome screenwriter Richard Wenk to the show to reveal the secrets behind creating The Equalizer trilogy. He also shares stories about writing The Mechanic remake, The Protégé, and more!Become a Spy…
204. The Equalizer (2014) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:32:35
Agents Scott and Cam clock in for a very bloody shift at Home Mart while tackling the 2014 Denzel Washington action-thriller The Equalizer.Directed by Antoine Fuqua. Starring Denzel Washington, Marton Csokas, Chloë Grace…
203. Target (1985) - Guest: Scott McCrea, author of Targets West [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:51:14
Agents Scott and Cam, along with guest operative Scott McCrea, author of Targets West, learn about the importance of tradecraft in father/son bonding while decoding the 1985 Gene Hackman & Matt Dillon spy drama Target.Di…
202. Back in Action (2025) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:27:48
Agents Scott and Cam push it real good with Jamie Foxx and Cameron Diaz while tackling the 2025 spy action-comedy Back in Action.Directed by Seth Gordon. Starring Jamie Foxx, Cameron Diaz, Kyle Chandler, Glenn Close, McK…
Shane Black on The Long Kiss Goodnight - SpyMaster Interview #96 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:18:57
Agents Scott and Cam welcome writer/director Shane Black to the show to reveal the secrets behind writing the 1996 spy action film The Long Kiss Goodnight. He also shares stories about working on The Hunt for Red October…
Black Bag DECLASSIFIED - Guest: Hannah Hughes [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:27
Agent Scott and guest operative Hannah Hughes introduce a little espionage into their relationship while serving up a DECLASSIFIED review of the new Steven Soderbergh spy caper Black Bag.Directed by Steven Soderbergh. St…
201. The Spy in the Green Hat (1967) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:29:06
Agents Scott and Cam become groomsmen at a chaotic Italian shotgun wedding while decoding the fifth Man from U.N.C.L.E. film The Spy in the Green Hat.Directed by Joseph Sargent. Starring Robert Vaughn, David McCallum, Ja…