John Le Carre's A Murder of Quality (1991)

Famed British spy novelist John Le Carré wrote the screenplay for A Murder of Quality, adapting it from his novel of the same name. Former Intelligence agent George Smiley investigates a murder within an elite British school. Storyline takes aim at the British class system. Stars British character actor Denholm Elliot (Noises Off), Glenda Jackson (Salomé’s Last Dance) and a young Christian Bale (Little Women, American Psycho).

A Movie for a Rainy Afternoon

Having the George Smiley movies played by Alec Giuness,
I looked forward to A Murder Of Quality.Unfortunately
eventhough I like Denholm Elliot,this was not one of
his best performances.I just couldn't believe that he
had the brains to solve anything,let alone a complicated
murder such as this.I do admit that if I hadn't seen
Alec Guiness play the part first,I might have been more
disposed to Elliot's performance.
As usual,Glenda Jackson is her brilliant self.
I never tire of seeing Joss Ackland,who is completely
believable as the snotty wanna be uppercrust Britisher.
Read the other reviews for a plot synopsis.

Being a MEGA fan of Glenda Jackson,it really ticked me
off that the picture they used of her in the biography
section of this dvd is actually a picture of the actress
Diane Fletcher( House of Cards)who played Shane Hecht in
this movie.Look for a scene with Diane playing squash,
and you will see that she is wearing a white shirt and
a bandana in her hair and it is this that they used as
a picture of Glenda Jackson.Pretty sad when a studio
doesn't recognize a two time oscar winning actress. July 21, 2008

Murder Most Civilized...

Denholme Elliot does an understated but solid turn as John Le Carre's quintessential master spy George Smiley in this excellent made-for-TV version of "A Murder of Quality."

George Smiley is asked by a wartime colleague to visit the wife of a teacher at Carne, an exclusive English Prep School. The wife, who does not fit into the existing social set, fears for her life. By the time Smiley arrives, she has been murdered. The balance of the movie is Smiley's patient unpeeling of the complicated and most uncivilized lives of the faculity and students of Carne. In the end, and with the assistance of an often baffled local police chief, Smiley cleverly unmasks the killer.

Denholme Elliot lacks the world-weary qualities and understated ruthlessness of Alec Guiness's later portrayal of George Smiley; this is George Smiley at an earlier, less cynical, and more sociable stage of his career in espionage. Elliot is surrounded by a very solid cast that include Academy Award-winner Glenda Jackson and veteran British actor Joss Ackland. A young Christian Bale (Batman Begins) features as one of the students. Le Carre's novel was hard to follow in the original; this film version will challenge viewers to pay close attention to the storyline. The end result will be entertaining and worthwhile. May 27, 2007

Elliot's Smiley is still good

I feared that watching a George Smiley film without Alec Guinness might be disappointing, but Denholm Elliot won my heart immediately. He doesn't have the impressive presence of Guiness and is less fascinating to watch, but his version of Smiley is equally as endearing. Denholm's Smiley is even more self-deprecating that Guinness' which gives an interesting tone to the drama. All the other actors are first rate and the production is BBC quality--excellent. I found the story to be interesting but not fascinating, hence the lack of the fifth star. It doesn't approach "Tinker Tailor..." Still it's well worth watching. May 19, 2007

A must for John le Carre fans

This is a good adaptation of the book, but Denholm Elliott, though a fine actor, is no Alec Guinness when it comes to playing George Smiley. If you can get over the fact the Alec Guinness is not George Smiley, this is a good murder mysterywith a good plat and fine acting. It was interesting to see Glenda Jackson in a movie that is dated just a few years before she became a member of parliament. January 9, 2007

what's going on?

a totally no-big-deal murder case. what we saw was bunch of brainless chain-smoking detectives pollute the crime scene; a very basic storyline that would have involved the sabbatical g. smiley.
a very lame story adapted into a lame and boring movie, wasted a lot money and talents. typical bbc for pbs viewers who adore british stuff no matter what. but fair is fair, good is good, bad is bad, and this is a very bad movie, unless, of course, you don't mind to waste couple of hours to evolve and maintain in a couch potato status. September 15, 2006

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