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Binding: DVD
Format: NTSC
Editorial Review:
Amazon.com:
This moody BBC 2003 dramatization of the most notorious debacle in the history of the British Secret Service raises the specter of the treachery of Philby, Burgess, MacLean, and Blunt for a generation of viewers who can only imagine the shockwaves generated by their duplicity. Inevitably the story suffers from the basically repellent quality of its raw material. Determinedly nonjudgmental, it frequently stumbles along a precarious path between romantic eulogy and fact-based fable of the perils of idealism. For all the handsome casting, the characters have little charm to compensate for their deeds. Their motivations are sketched only vaguely. Even in moments of personal vulnerability, however poignant the performances, sympathy is at a premium. But it has its high points as an atmospheric soap opera: the recreation of a period that stretches from the radical aspects of 1930s university life at Cambridge to cold war London, dipping into the Spanish Civil War and the Washington diplomatic circle en route, is vivid. The acting, too, is fine. Tom Hollander's rampantly dissolute Burgess verges constantly on parody. But Toby Stephens (Philby), Samuel West (a frosty Blunt), and Rupert Penry-Jones (an emotionally wrung-out MacLean) work wonders with Peter Moffat's insubstantial script. --Piers Ford
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating: - ESPIONAGE, YET HISTORICAL
I am a fan of British movies, especially BBC's period movies. This is a historical movie, that exposed the "spying" of these Cambridge students, without England's and USA's knowing, until the harm was done. Very good actors, Toby, Tom, Rupert and Samuel. I recommend this movie to those who loves a little suspense and some comedy. College life in Cambridge at that time was exposed too. I just love to watch British movies, incomparable to American (typically brutal, mind boggling, & senseless ... Read More
Rating:  - Spytime
Philby, Burgess, MacLean, Blunt.
The four names associated with one of the most embarrassing episodes in Western politics. Moles burrowed deeply within the political mechanisms of Great Britain and the British Secret Service.
This BBC mini-series dramatization captures the life and times of the spies through the 1930s to the Cold War. The tone is sympathetic - idealists waging war against fascism, but get snarled the web of a bigger game - but the programs capture the period ... Read More
Rating: - History, Facts and Fiction
Video was well done from Cambridge to the final exposure. Actors were superb and believable especially Toby Stephens and Tom Hollander. The one problem I had was with the spies never aging in a period of 20+ years. Even the porter at Cambridge aged when A. Blount returned looking as young as when he left. It was important for me to have the trailer with the actual video of A. Blount admission. I read Spycatcher by P. Wright after seeing this video; I'm amazed how much the British were able to accomplish ... Read More
Rating: - Cambridge Spies
Brilliant! Leave it to the English to weave intrigue, romance, mystery & adventure with good solid drama. Not to mention a little bit of history. Casting on this movie coud not have been better and all the actors gave marvolous performances. If you likes Tinker, Taylor, Soldier, spy---you will like this one!
Rating: - Upper Class Revolutionaries
This fine BBC docudrama depicts the lives of the four Cambridge spies from their university days, when they were recruited to do espionage work for the Soviet Union, through the defections of two of the four some twenty years later. Kim Philby, Anthony Blunt, Guy Burgess, and Donald Maclean were members of Britain's upper class elite. From prominent, well connected families, they were educated at some of the best public schools and then Cambridge University. Their minds were as brilliant as their pedigrees, ... Read More
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