Fictional Spy's (Not Bond) portrayed in Film or TV
UnderwaterBattle007
Posts: 284MI6 Agent
Ok so this is the first thread I've started, and the reason is I'm recovering from serious spinal surgery. So with plenty of time on my hands I decided to work my way through other Spy stuff depicted in feature films, and British TV. I've done a search and couldn't find anything.
First up I watched 10 seasons of the BBC spy series "Spooks" plus the feature film "For The Greater Good".
I have to say I enjoyed this series immensely, and Peter Firth who plays Sir Harry Pearce I felt could easily have portrayed M in the Bond films. The story lines of which there are many sometimes are "borrowed" from 007. The betting against the market from Casino Royale was the most prominent to feature. However I noted that virtually all of the plot of Skyfall featured in the first six seasons. So MI5 mainframe being hacked, the abandonment of a favourite agent and his revenge against the service. Even the retreating to an old dilapidated building and making improvised weapons for an attack is featured. My rating for this program is 8/10 and those that haven't seen it, should.
Next up the five Harry Palmer films featuring Michael Caine. So "The Ipcress File", "Funeral In Berlin", "Billion Dollar Brain", "Bullet To Beijing", and "Midnight In St Petersburg"
The first two films are brilliant featuring many Bond behind the scenes regulars. Harry Saltzman, Sid Caine and John Barry's music, to name but three, there are many. These films are of a standing of "From Russia With Love" and are true gritty based in reality Spy films set in the Cold War. The third film "Billion Dollar Brain" is the nearest to Bond film with large baddies lair etc. However I find Ken Russels directing irritating and the music bizarre. I enjoyed the film but it's not on a par of the first two. So the first two score 10/10 each and the third maybe a 7/10.
The final two films are made for tv efforts and although they have some interesting moments in them they have a B movie feel for them so maybe 5/10 for both.
Next I have just finished watching the British spy called Johnny Worricker a BBC TV three film production. "Page 8", "Turks and Caicos" and "Salting The Battlefield". This I really enjoyed and although it's TV Drama it has some really good actors in it, notably Ralph Fiennes who plays the Prime Minister of the UK, in a manner similar to how he has played M in the Bond series, I can't fault this series so 10/10.
Next up I watching Fox's Deep State with Mark Strong as the retired MI5 agent. Only one episode has been aired but it is really good so far.
Next up from my dvd collection another BBC drama called "Secret State" with Gabriel Bryne who plays the Prime Minister.
First up I watched 10 seasons of the BBC spy series "Spooks" plus the feature film "For The Greater Good".
I have to say I enjoyed this series immensely, and Peter Firth who plays Sir Harry Pearce I felt could easily have portrayed M in the Bond films. The story lines of which there are many sometimes are "borrowed" from 007. The betting against the market from Casino Royale was the most prominent to feature. However I noted that virtually all of the plot of Skyfall featured in the first six seasons. So MI5 mainframe being hacked, the abandonment of a favourite agent and his revenge against the service. Even the retreating to an old dilapidated building and making improvised weapons for an attack is featured. My rating for this program is 8/10 and those that haven't seen it, should.
Next up the five Harry Palmer films featuring Michael Caine. So "The Ipcress File", "Funeral In Berlin", "Billion Dollar Brain", "Bullet To Beijing", and "Midnight In St Petersburg"
The first two films are brilliant featuring many Bond behind the scenes regulars. Harry Saltzman, Sid Caine and John Barry's music, to name but three, there are many. These films are of a standing of "From Russia With Love" and are true gritty based in reality Spy films set in the Cold War. The third film "Billion Dollar Brain" is the nearest to Bond film with large baddies lair etc. However I find Ken Russels directing irritating and the music bizarre. I enjoyed the film but it's not on a par of the first two. So the first two score 10/10 each and the third maybe a 7/10.
The final two films are made for tv efforts and although they have some interesting moments in them they have a B movie feel for them so maybe 5/10 for both.
Next I have just finished watching the British spy called Johnny Worricker a BBC TV three film production. "Page 8", "Turks and Caicos" and "Salting The Battlefield". This I really enjoyed and although it's TV Drama it has some really good actors in it, notably Ralph Fiennes who plays the Prime Minister of the UK, in a manner similar to how he has played M in the Bond series, I can't fault this series so 10/10.
Next up I watching Fox's Deep State with Mark Strong as the retired MI5 agent. Only one episode has been aired but it is really good so far.
Next up from my dvd collection another BBC drama called "Secret State" with Gabriel Bryne who plays the Prime Minister.
FRWl, CR, OHMSS, TSWLM, SF, GF, TLD, LTK, TND, FYEO, OP,TWINE, GE, LALD, TB, SPECTRE, DN, YOLT, TMWTGG, QOS, MR, DAF, DAD, AVTAK, NTTD.
"Do you expect me to talk? "No Mister Bond I expect you to die"
"Do you expect me to talk? "No Mister Bond I expect you to die"
Comments
Anyone?
I love Burn Notice. Yes, it's a bit silly at times but I enjoyed all 7 seasons immensely and they're just about due a rewatch
A very good series - believable performances and greats story lines. Need to find some time to start the latest series.
I thoroughly enjoyed the very believable storyline.
A web of deceit, cover up featuring the death of the Prime Minister in a plane crash, an explosion at a chemical plant called Scarrow, the appointment of a new Prime Minister played by Gabriel Bryne.
There's plenty of plot in this series involving the banks, drone strikes, an alcoholic ex MI5 agent, and the murky world of MI5, MI6 and GCHQ.
This is definitely a 10/10 series and well worth watching.
"Do you expect me to talk? "No Mister Bond I expect you to die"
'Just because nobody complains doesn't mean all parachutes are perfect.'- Benny Hill (1924-1992)
Certainly not fictional https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Stephenson
" I don't listen to hip hop!"
As I've just discovered from reading The Man With the Golden Typewriter, Ian Fleming was a friend of "Little Bill" Stephenson dating back to Fleming's time in Naval Intelligence. Fleming would make sure to visit if he was in the states - despite being some years older than Fleming, Stephenson outlived him by many years, making the grand old age of 92.
His wartime training camp, Camp X, is supposed to have been in Oshawa Ontario. Everybody insists nobody knows precisely which farmer's field it was, even 75 years later. It's probably been paved over by suburban sprawl by now, Oshawa is the eastern edge of Toronto's outer suburbs.
hmm, Wikipedia says there is a park called Intrepid Park, and a plaque "in the vicinity" of where Camp X actually was. And Google Maps shows Intrepid Park along the border with Whitby, along the lake shore.
I shall have to investigate this "park".
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EDIT: if you play with Streetview, you can see the sign for Intrepid Park at the northernmost driveway, and just to the south of that is a large-ish monument with four flags and a plaque that cannot be read. There is a LCBO just up the block, in case you want to have a martini picnic on your visit to the Spy Camp.
DOUBLE EDIT: Wikipedia has a clear photo of the plaque.