Best Cold War Spy Films
So what are the best Cold War spy films? There are a ton that range from the silly (James Bond) to the sublime (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy). As I rewatched Casino Royal last week (probably by far the best Bond film yet - who’d have thought they could breath new life into a series older than I am) I was reminded of a lot of the films. Now to count, these have to be spy films set in the Cold War. So the recent Bond, Bourne or other films simply don’t count.
Tinker Tailer Soldier Spy. I’m risking a bit putting this on first since it’s been years since I saw it last. (Although it’s next up on my Amazon order with the coupons I have) But I remember it being a much, much lower key film with an outstanding performance by Alec Guiness.
Hopscotch Walter Matthau’s best film IMO. It’s a comedy in a way. But rather subversive and more serious in an odd way. I saw it again a few months back. It holds up well, which is more than you can say for a lot of films from the 70’s. (OK, technically 80’s, but it has much more of a 70’s vibe to it) Still pertinent in terms of the philosophy behind it. Basically the story of a CIA spy who’s had enough. He goes to publish his memoirs which would embarrass some higher ups who then send the CIA and FBI after him. Very well done.
North by Northwest OK, a bit hokey. It’s not his best film, but I still enjoy it a lot.
Charade An other hokey one. But I love this film. It’s one that a lot of women who might not like the genre will like given the female protagonist.
From Russia with Love I loved the old Sean Connery Bond films. But rewatching them again, they really are campy. Come on, Pussy Galore? This one is probably the best of the bunch though. Far more serious than the rest although there is a gratuitous girl fight between gypsy women that is a bit eye rolling.
Any others?
War Games?
Comment by Susan M — March 29, 2007 @ 10:17 pm
Would that really be a spy movie though?
I almost added The Hunt for Red October. It is nearly a spy movie. But I left it out because it doesn’t really focus on the spy issues as much.
An other one I almost added was The Day of the Jackal. It’s more about the French police trying to catch the (real life) Jackal. Interestingly the Jackal was the main villain in the Bourne Supremacy which is coming out this summer. I’m sure they’ll change the villain. Interestingly the Jackal actually was caught. This real life terrorist for hire set up tons of Hollywood cliches.
Comment by Clark — March 29, 2007 @ 10:25 pm
How about, “The Spy who came in from the Cold”?
Richard Burton does a great job in this one.
Comment by Kris Larsen — March 30, 2007 @ 1:43 am
Um, don’t forget Spies Like Us!
Comment by Rusty — March 30, 2007 @ 5:59 am
TTSS is a stunning piece of work.
Comment by Ronan — March 30, 2007 @ 6:27 am
How about Torn Curtain. Very, very underrated Hitchcock film.
I second “The Spy Who Came in from the Cold.”
Comment by Tim J — March 30, 2007 @ 6:51 am
Clark, how did “The Spy Who Came in from the Cold” not make it on you list? And how about “Dr. Stranglove: Or how I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb”?
Comment by John Mansfield — March 30, 2007 @ 7:51 am
Also, Charade isn’t Cold War.
Comment by John Mansfield — March 30, 2007 @ 7:53 am
Another vote for Spies Like Us.
And no, Charade shouldn’t count. It took place during the Cold War, but had nothing to do with it that I can recall. WWII money, lots of goofy French accents, at least one bad Texan accent, no goofy Russian accents.
Comment by Allison — March 30, 2007 @ 8:31 am
Do cartoons count? What about Boris and Natasha?
Comment by Allison — March 30, 2007 @ 8:33 am
How about “The Spy Who Loved Me”, “From Russia With Love”, “For Your Eyes Only”, hmmm, how many other James Bond films during the Cold War dealt with the Soviet Union?
I third Spies Like Us.
Hunt for Red October wasn’t necessarily a spy film, but more a military film.
The Bourne Identity would have been a good spy film if they kept with Robert Ludlum’s original plot.
Comment by Dan — March 30, 2007 @ 8:54 am
I was joking with War Games. It’s the only cold war movie I could think of.
“Shall we play a game?”
“Love to. How about Global Thermonuclear War.”
Wait, let’s play Tic Tac Toe.
Comment by Susan M — March 30, 2007 @ 8:54 am
North by Northwest is a great movie, but not really Cold War. James Mason was probably selling secrets to the Soviets, but that was so beside the point that it was never discussed. He could just as well have been working with that professor in The 39 Steps with the missing finger joint. The knifing in the UN building is not enough.
The Manchurian Candidate is one to consider.
Comment by John Mansfield — March 30, 2007 @ 9:12 am
Ah, I just remembered that one bit of dialogue between the chief counterspy and Cary Grant:
“War is hell, Mr. Thornhill, even if it’s just a cold one.” “If you fellows can’t lick the Vandamms of this world without asking girls like her to bed down with them, and fly away with them, and probably never come back, perhaps you ought to start learning how to lose a few cold wars.”
Comment by John Mansfield — March 30, 2007 @ 9:24 am
Dan,
You can always watch the Bourne Identity mini-series with Richard Chamberlain.
I own Day of the Jackal (the original one) and while it is a bit slow when compared to today’s films it is very interesting to watch an assassin patiently at work. I remember the book as being enjoyable as well.
Comment by a random John — March 30, 2007 @ 9:53 am
It takes place during the cold war. Admittedly it isn’t a Soviet/American spy bit. But I think it’s close enough to count.
I’ve never seen it. I never put on lists movies I’ve never seen. It just seems unfair. But I know it’s on a lot of similar lists.
What counts though is more the attitude and context. So I think it is part and parcel of that epoch of time.
Comment by Clark — March 30, 2007 @ 2:21 pm
I liked “Where Eagles Dare” - Clint Eastwood and Richard Burton.
OK, it’s a WWII film. But it is totally about spies and it was made during the Cold War. Right?
Comment by Seth R. — March 30, 2007 @ 3:51 pm
I think you’re forgetting the important, later film that Clint Eastwood did… Firefox
When it came out, I thought it was the coolest thing ever. It may not stand the test of time like some of the films you’ve listed but it was pretty neat for an eight year old.
Comment by benjamin bunny — April 6, 2007 @ 4:03 pm