The Conversation (1974)

Intricate and personal dramatization of the real-life story of one of history’s most successful spies, Kim Philby.  Intertwining narratives tell the tale of how Philby came to defect to the USSR in 1969 as well as the effects it had on British and American intelligence thereafter.  Truly one of the most intense spy stories we have covered on this cast.  Find where to watch here. Due to the VERY complex nature of the tradecraft in this series we will be covering it over two episodes of our podcast.  Here is our analysis of episodes 1-3.  Next month we will continue with our analysis of episodes 4-6, which concludes the series.     Music is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ‘Ice Cold’ by Audionautix Artist: http://audionautix.com/ ‘Enter the Party’ by Kevin MacLeod Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100240 Artist: http://incompetech.com/

Darkly comic Netflix television series follows a young CIA lawyer who manages to get completely in over his head in his first week at the agency.  The CIA here is portrayed as being more obsessed with plausible deniability than operational effectiveness.  Find where to watch here. Our next topic will be the miniseries A Spy Among Friends.  Intricate drama centered on the career of Kim Philby, possibly history’s most successful spy.  Find where to watch here. Music is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ‘Ice Cold’ by Audionautix Artist: http://audionautix.com/ ‘Enter the Party’ by Kevin MacLeod Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100240 Artist: http://incompetech.com/

Timothy Dalton steps into the role of James Bond in the first film to try to ‘ground’ the story in somewhat more topical, post-Cold War scenarios.  No volcano-dwelling supervillain here, rather a Columbian drug cartel headed by Robert Davi.  A shockingly young Benicio del Toro provides the role of the Heavy.  Find where to watch here. Our next topic will be the first season of The Recruit (2022).  Dark comedy about a CIA lawyer who gets in way over his head in a CIA that is portrayed as being more obsessed with plausible deniability than operational effectiveness.  Find where to watch here. Suggestions?  Comments?  Get nerdy about spy stuff with us at:    https://www.facebook.com/spieslikeuspodcast/ https://twitter.com/spies_likeus https://www.spieslikeus.net/contact Music is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ‘Ice Cold’ by Audionautix Artist: http://audionautix.com/ ‘Enter the Party’ by Kevin MacLeod Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100240 Artist: http://incompetech.com/

We’re adding a low budget B-movie to our collection of spy stories this time.  This made-for-tv production is admirable for how high it aims in terms of futurism, but falls flat in terms of tradecraft.  Director Colin Budds explains how he tried to thread the needle between an ambitious script and a restrictive budget and time frame in a special Bonus interview HERE.  At the time of recording, the only place to watch the film Max Knight Ultra Spy is here.    Our next topic will be the TV series The Recruit, Season One.  A semi-comedic look at the CIA as a nest of office intrigue where everyone’s #1 job is to cover their ass.Available to watch for free on YouTube here. Suggestions?  Comments?  Get nerdy about spy stuff with us at:    https://www.facebook.com/spieslikeuspodcast/ https://twitter.com/spies_likeus https://www.spieslikeus.net/contact Music is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ‘Ice Cold’ by Audionautix Artist: http://audionautix.com/ ‘Enter the Party’ by Kevin MacLeod Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100240 Artist: http://incompetech.com/

Guy Ritchie directs a reboot prequel of the TV series that rode the crest of the action spy mania of the 1960’s.  The film is also set in the 1960’s with Henry Cavill and Armie Hammer reimagining the iconic roles of Napoleon Solo and Ilya Kuryakin.  Alicia Vikander also stars as arguably a reimagining of The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.  Find out where to stream it here. We have previously discussed the TV series, find those episodes here:  Part 1  Part 2 Our next topic will be Max Knight: Ultra Spy (2000).  Australian B-movie featuring tons of cyberpunk flair and not a lot of actual spying.  Available to watch for free on YouTube here. Suggestions?  Comments?  Get nerdy about spy stuff with us at:    https://www.facebook.com/spieslikeuspodcast/ https://twitter.com/spies_likeus https://www.spieslikeus.net/contact Music is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ‘Ice Cold’ by Audionautix Artist: http://audionautix.com/ ‘Enter the Party’ by Kevin MacLeod Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100240 Artist: http://incompetech.com/

Marlene Dietrich stars as an Austrian prostitute recruited to spy on Russian agents during World War I.  This film can be streamed here. Our next topic will be The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (2015).  Modern reimagining of the 1960’s TV series.  Find out where to watch it here. We have previously discussed the TV series, find those episodes here:  Part 1  Part 2 Suggestions?  Comments?  Get nerdy about spy stuff with us at:    https://www.facebook.com/spieslikeuspodcast/ https://twitter.com/spies_likeus https://www.spieslikeus.net/contact Music is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ‘Ice Cold’ by Audionautix Artist: http://audionautix.com/ ‘Enter the Party’ by Kevin MacLeod Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100240 Artist: http://incompetech.com/

Keira Knightley portrays Katherine Gunn, the British spy who risked everything to expose illegal intelligence operations in the leadup to the invasion of Iraq in 2003.  Find out where you can watch it at:  https://reelgood.com/movie/official-secrets-2019 Suggestions?  Comments?  Get nerdy about spy stuff with us at:    https://www.facebook.com/spieslikeuspodcast/ https://twitter.com/spies_likeus https://www.spieslikeus.net/contact Music is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ‘Ice Cold’ by Audionautix Artist: http://audionautix.com/ ‘Enter the Party’ by Kevin MacLeod Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100240 Artist: http://incompetech.com/

The first film based on one of John Le Carre’s many international bestselling novels.  Richard Burton stars as a British intelligence officer who fakes his discharge from the service in drunken, disillusioned disgrace in order to draw the attention of Eastern German agents.  One of the most famous and influential spy films of all time.  Our next topic will be Official Secrets (2019).  Keira Knightley portrays Katherine Gunn, the British spy who risked everything to expose illegal intelligence operations in the leadup to the invasion of Iraq in 2003.  Find out where you can watch it at:  https://reelgood.com/movie/official-secrets-2019 Suggestions?  Comments?  Get nerdy about spy stuff with us at:    https://www.facebook.com/spieslikeuspodcast/ https://twitter.com/spies_likeus https://www.spieslikeus.net/contact Music is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ‘Ice Cold’ by Audionautix Artist: http://audionautix.com/ ‘Enter the Party’ by Kevin MacLeod Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100240 Artist: http://incompetech.com/

Adam Driver and Annette Bening star in this highly critical evaluation of the CIA’s methodology in their prosecution of the ‘War on Terror’.  More of a political drama than a straight up spy story.  Based on true events.  Also known as ‘The Report’, also known as ‘The Torture Report’.   Our next subject will be The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (1965), based on John Le Carre’s international bestselling novel.  One of the most famous and influential spy films of all time.  Give us your suggestions and comments at: https://www.facebook.com/spieslikeuspodcast/ https://twitter.com/spies_likeus https://www.spieslikeus.net/contact Music is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ‘Ice Cold’ by Audionautix Artist: http://audionautix.com/ ‘Enter the Party’ by Kevin MacLeod Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100240 Artist: http://incompetech.com/

Jessica Chastain spearheads an ensemble cast in this representation of the CIA’s hunt for, and eventual assassination of, Osama Bin Laden.   Our next topic will be The Report, a highly critical evaluation of the CIA’s methodology in their prosecution of the ‘War on Terror’.  Give us your suggestions and comments at: https://www.spieslikeus.net/contact Music is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ‘Ice Cold’ by Audionautix Artist: http://audionautix.com/ ‘Enter the Party’ by Kevin MacLeod Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100240 Artist: http://incompetech.com/