The first, and perhaps best novel by John Le Carre, and movie based on it. ย It stars Richard Burton in the lead role in an incredible performance. It is the quintessential cold war spy movie. ย It is the anti-James Bond film. ย Instead, it is film noire realism of what being a double-agent in a divided Berlin at the height of the cold war was like,ย written by a spy who had been there. ย The dividing line between us and themย is difficult to determine. ย This movie starts quietly and gradually tightens the spring until the final scene. ย It ย packs a real punch, and is not soon forgotten.