Her Majesty’s Secret Service: Spy vs. Spy (James Bond vs. George Smiley)

They were some of Her Majesty’s most formidable weapons against spies. They could not be more different, but they were united with a common purpose. James Bond is the dashing, debonair spy swilling his martinis (shaken not stirred) and driving an Aston Martin. George Smiley is technically retired from the “Circus” (British Secret Service). Smiley resembles a bespeckled bureaucrat and lives an apparently quiet existence in an unhappy marriage.

What Smiley lacks in dash and panache, he makes up for with sheer brilliance.

Both heroes have their start on the page and have successfully transitioned to the screen. In the case of James Bond it has been on the big screen,Smiley has both been a mini series on television as well as a big screen adaptation.

James Bond,started off as the elegant and enigmatic creation of Ian Fleming. Fleming actually worked for British Naval intelligence in World War II and based much of Bond’s adventures on his own experiences. The first Bond book was Casino Royale http://alpha2.suffolk.lib.ny.us/record=b1451369~S50 published in 1953. The character of Bond was based on various people that Fleming had known while serving as well as some personal preference with Fleming. Fleming would go on to pen a total of 14 Bond adventures, two of which were published posthumously.

After Fleming’s death Bond’s literary adventures continued with John Gardner writing the series. Check out No Deals Mr. Bond http://alpha2.suffolk.lib.ny.us/record=b1504807~S50 to see Gardner’s portrayal of Fleming’s iconic hero. After Gardner retired, Raymond Benson became the official writer of Bond’s adventures, penning such volumes as The Man with the Red Tattoo http://alpha2.suffolk.lib.ny.us/record=b3232772~S50 and Zero Minus Ten http://alpha2.suffolk.lib.ny.us/record=b2377817~S50  Writer Sebastian Faulks was chosen to write a new volume Devil May Care http://alpha2.suffolk.lib.ny.us/record=b4010031~S50 to commemorate what would have been the 100th birthday of Ian Fleming. Well known mystery/thriller author Jeffery Deaver also wrote a single Bond novel, Carte Blanche 007 http://alpha2.suffolk.lib.ny.us/record=b4358301~S50 Some of Bond’s adventures may have been penned by other writers, he is Flemings creation through and through.

James Bond has starred in a grand total of 25 films with seven actors(David Niven is not usually counted, but he was Bond for a single film) playing the role: Sean Connery, David Niven, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, and Daniel Craig. Check out the various actors in some of their most iconic Bond films:

Dr. No- Sean Connery http://alpha2.suffolk.lib.ny.us/record=b2987881~S50

Casino Royale (the first adaptation)- David Niven

http://alpha2.suffolk.lib.ny.us/record=b3292200~S84

On Her Majesty’s Secret Service- George Lazenby

http://alpha2.suffolk.lib.ny.us/record=b2991950~S84

For Your Eyes Only http://alpha2.suffolk.lib.ny.us/record=b4100756~S50- Roger Moore.

Moore made the most Bond films out of any actor,who has portrayed him so far with a grand total of seven Bond films.

Licence to Kill http://alpha2.suffolk.lib.ny.us/record=b2923349~S50- Timothy Dalton

Die Another Day http://alpha2.suffolk.lib.ny.us/record=b3352981~S50- Pierce Brosnan

Skyfall http://alpha2.suffolk.lib.ny.us/record=b4605341~S50- Daniel Craig

While James Bond’s setting represents the more glamourous side of the espionage game; George Smiley’s world is far more realistic and down to Earth. Spying is a complex endeavor that involves research and interoffice politics like any other job. What George Smiley lacks in panache, he more than makes up with a brilliant analytical mind. Smiley’s Cold War world is a complex landscape of shifting loyalties where no one can truly be trusted.

Like Ian Fleming, John Le Carre (aka David John Moore Cornwell) actually worked for MI-5 (Britain’s equivalent of the FBI) and later transferred to MI-6 (the British version of the CIA). He left the intelligence services in 1964 to write full time.

Le Carre’s first cinematic adaptation would come with The Spy Who Came in from the Cold starring Richard Burton http://alpha2.suffolk.lib.ny.us/record=b4086053~S50 based on the novel of the same title: http://alpha2.suffolk.lib.ny.us/record=b4634044~S50

It would be with Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy the first book of the “Karla Trilogy” http://alpha2.suffolk.lib.ny.us/record=b4380615~S50 that Le Carre would truly make his mark on American audiences. The book was made into a mini series and broadcast on PBS. Sir Alec Guinness was George Smiley and according to interviews with LeCarre Guinness’ portrayal exactly matched his vision of Smiley. The Honorable Schoolboy http://alpha2.suffolk.lib.ny.us/record=b1677883~S84 is actually the second book in the “Karla Trilogy” as the series would come to be named. It has never, however been turned into film. The final book in the series Smiley’s People http://alpha2.suffolk.lib.ny.us/record=b1251256~S50 was also adapated for the small screen http://alpha2.suffolk.lib.ny.us/record=b3328155~S50 Sir Alec Guinness returned as Smiley in 1981 which completed the series. In the feature film adaptation Gary Oldman took on the role of Smiley http://alpha2.suffolk.lib.ny.us/record=b4490930~S50

The books are brilliantly written complex masterpieces. The films are as well done and well cast. They are smart and atmospheric and completely compelling. While Bond is all flash and dash with clever catch phrases, Smiley is more cerebral, but the stakes are just as high. Bond has dastardly villains to defeat, but Smiley has to discover a mole at the highest levels of the British Secret Service. The supporting cast includes Ian Richardson, and Bernard Hepton, both well respected British actors.