The Looking Glass War (film)
| The Looking Glass War | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Frank Pierson |
| Produced by |
John Box (producer) M.J. Frankovich (executive producer) William Kirby (associate producer) |
| Written by |
John le Carré (novel The Looking Glass War) Frank Pierson |
| Starring |
Christopher Jones Pia Degermark Ralph Richardson |
| Music by | Angela Morley |
| Cinematography | Austin Dempster |
| Edited by | Willy Kemplen |
Production company |
Frankovich Productions |
| Distributed by | Columbia Pictures |
Release dates |
September 1969 (UK) February 4, 1970 (USA) |
Running time | 108 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language |
English German |
The Looking Glass War is a 1969 British film released by Columbia Pictures directed by Frank Pierson based on the 1965 novel by John le Carre.
Plot summary
Polish defector Leiser (Christopher Jones) is offered a chance at UK citizenship by MI6 - but only if he agrees to undertake a highly dangerous espionage mission behind the "iron curtain" in East Germany. Leiser's role is to replace an MI6 agent who has already been murdered, and gather photographic intelligence on a covert East German rocket system - in violation of international agreements. However, the mission goes wrong from the start when, shortly after arriving in East Germany, Leiser is forced to murder a lorry driver for rejecting his homosexual advances. Leiser's objective is further undermined when he falls in love with an East German woman looking for a way out of the country.
Cast
- Christopher Jones as Leiser
- Pia Degermark as The Girl
- Ralph Richardson as LeClerc
- Paul Rogers as Haldane
- Anthony Hopkins as John Avery
- Susan George as Susan
- Ray McAnally as Undersecretary of State
- Robert Urquhart as Johnson
- Anna Massey as Avery's Wife
- Vivian Pickles as Mrs. King
- Maxine Audley as Mrs. LeClerc
- Cyril Shaps as East German Detective
- Michael Robbins as Truck Driver
- Timothy West as Taylor
- Frederick Jaeger as The Pilot
- Peter Swanwick as Finnish Policeman
- Paul Maxwell as CIA Man
- Guy Deghy as Fritsche
- Ernest Walder as Radio Engineer
- Patrick Wright as East German Policeman (VoPo)
- Sylva Langova as East German Woman
- David Scheur as Russian Officer
- Allan McClelland as Doctor
- Angela Down as Chelsea Girl
- Robert Wilde as English Policeman
- Nicholas Stewart as German Boy
- Linda Hedger as Taylor's Child
- Russell Lewis as Avery's Child
