A Murder of Quality. Poster of the 1991 movie and cover of the 1962 book
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A Murder of Quality
John le Carré, 1962
movie vs book
Gavin Millar, 1991

George Smiley, at the request of his old wartime colleague Ailsa Brimley, investigates the murder of Stella Rode. Upon investigating, Smiley learns of many secrets that were kept by the victim, and one being that Terence Fielding, a house master at Carne, was being blackmailed by her due to past homosexual activities.


Our Kind of Traitor. Poster of the 2016 movie and cover of the 2010 book
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Our Kind of Traitor
John le Carré, 2010
movie vs book
Susanna White, 2016

In a money laundering scheme, the Prince – head of the Russian Mafia – creates a new bank in London and has its financial oligarchs sign over their accounts to him. They bond over drinks and tennis before Dima invites the MacKendricks to his daughter’s birthday, where Dima gives Perry a USB drive linking corrupt British politicians and businessmen to the Russian mafia.


The Russia House. Poster of the 1990 movie and cover of the 1989 book
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The Russia House
John le Carré, 1989
movie vs book
Fred Schepisi, 1990

Bartholomew Barley Scott-Blair, the head of a British publishing firm, arrives in Moscow on business. At a writers’ retreat near Peredelkino, he speaks of an end to tensions with the West, heard by the mysterious Dante, who demands for Barley to promise to do the right thing if the opportunity arises.


The Tailor of Panama. Poster of the 2001 movie and cover of the 1996 book
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The Tailor of Panama
John le Carré, 1996
movie vs book
John Boorman, 2001

Andy Osnard is an MI6 spy reassigned to Panama after having an affair in Madrid with the foreign minister’s mistress. His superior warns him of the corruption present in Panama, but Osnard views that as an opportunity. Consulting a list of British citizens residing in Panama, he meets Harry Pendel, the tailor to many of Panama’s elite, including the President.


The Little Drummer Girl. Poster of the 1984 movie and cover of the 1983 book
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The Little Drummer Girl
John le Carré, 1983
movie vs book
George Roy Hill, 1984

Set in Europe and the Middle East, the plot follows the Mossad’s clandestine attempt to flush out a PLO bomber named Khalil. To neutralize Khalil, they first kidnap his brother who is on a lecture tour, speaking to audiences in a ski mask about the profound suffering and losses of Palestine under military occupation.


The Looking Glass War. Poster of the 1970 movie and cover of the 1965 book
VS3
The Looking Glass War
John le Carré, 1965
movie vs book
Frank Pierson, 1970

Polish defector Leiser is offered a chance of 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 to gather photographic intelligence on a covert East German rocket system.