Circulo de espias

Solid British stuff looking in great detail at the motives and characters that make up a spy ring. The detail is wholly believable and the film has a strong cast of British character actors, particularly here - Bernard Lee.

Robert Tronson, better known as a TV film director, helmed the production of RING OF SPIES, aka RING OF TREASON, which is a kind of British noir cautionary tale based on the Gordon Lonsdale spy case in the UK in the 1950s.

Of undeniable quality for a B flick, it is professionally done, solid Arthur Lavis cinematography, competent editing by Thelma Connell, and good acting by unusual lead Bernard Lee in the even more unlikely role of womanizer, tippler, and money-driven spy; Margaret Tyzack as the upstanding, fully compliant state functionary who gets corrupted by Lee, and falls in the web of espionage crime (needless to say, both Lee and Tyzack end up looking stupid and untrustworthy, soiling their good name forever; William Sylvester does well with his short part as the nefarious Gordon Lonsdale; and Thorley Walters portrays very effectively Commander Winters as the overseer of the sting operation that netted the ring of spies.

In that context, I particularly liked the deployment of police personnel and vehicles following the suspects, the way one accountant-like copper kept taking note of how much Houghton (Lee) spent on drinking alone, and sharp arithmetic calculations uncovering the fact that he and Tyzack simply did not earn enough to maintain such a lavish lifestyle.

Definitely worth watching both as dramatization of a real incident and something to learn from: careful what you wish for, it could change you and your life... and seldom, if ever, for the better. 7/10.

No need to repeat the background to the actual case that inspired this excellent spy thriller. Compared to the ludicrous heroics and wild SFX of Bond, Bourne or Mission Impossible, Ring Of Spies seems like a different planet. But this was an era when the West faced a different sort of opponent (even if the the three threat was exaggerated to one degree or another). Security breaches had occurred before Portland, and would feature again afterwards, but never had the shadow of the enemy spy felt so close to suburbia and the Home Counties. Although long forgotten now, perhaps only Profumo overtook Portland in terms of (the then) public conscious.

The cast are uniformly good, a real effort is made to dig out (but not condone) Bernard Lee's cash strapped wheeler dealer clerk, and his infatuated spinster girlfriend. William Slyvester excels as the smooth talking professional operating under a Soviet 'legend'. The action takes place in rustic pubs, cafes, drab offices and snack bars - there's no glamour or gadgets in this slow burner, Cold War thriller.

A British spy thriller; A story about a British navy clerk assigned to a top secret research facility where he is blackmailed into stealing vital secrets in exchange for cash. A film set during the height of the Cold War and based on true events of the Portland Spy Ring, where daily duels play out between Soviet intelligence and British counter-espionage. Tension is undermined by a docudrama style, though the playout of the espionage activities is absorbing. Bernard Lee performs well, but his character is not sympathetic, and his cohort, played by Margaret Tyzack, is also drawn to things venal without much struggle, so it ends up being a drawn-out morality tale.

Based on the true story of the Portland Spy Ring. Bernard Lee takes time off as M to play hard drinking loose cannon Harry Houghton. Sacked as an embassy attaché in Warsaw. He bids a drunken farewell to his girlfriend who works for the Russians.

Harry is posted at a secret a Royal Navy equipment testing facility at Portland. He is soon approached by secret Soviet intelligence to hand over documents to them with the veiled threat of blackmail. After all he used to drunkenly tell secrets to his girlfriend back in Warsaw.

Harry realises that to take the documents from the safe. He needs to seduce work colleague Elizabeth Gee as she has the keys. She nervously and reluctantly agrees.

Once they get used to the money paid by his handler Gordon Lonsdale (William Sylvester.) They enjoy the good life, not realising that they have attracted the attention of the authorities suspicious of traitors in their midst.

Lee plays Harry as a bluff chancer. A cynical drunk and not too bright. Margaret Tyzack makes more of an impression as Gee, seduced by the good life and greed.

The movie has a documentary setting but plays it too safe and straight.