Les Gens de Smiley

Simon Langton was brought in to direct this mini-series after Sir Alec Guinness demanded a change of directors because the initially assigned director had a reputation for bullying actors and actresses.

When Smiley is talking to Connie Sachs, she mentions that Karla once had a mistress, upon which Smiley's eyes widen, and with an utterly surprised look, he asks "Who?" She then goes on to tell about how Karla also had a daughter from that relationship.

It's impossible that George Smiley, who spent most of his life gathering every bit of detail about Karla, and even wrote "The Karla papers" (according to Saul Enderby) wouldn't know about such a vital piece of information about his nemesis.

The opening titles feature a set of wooden planks, on which yellow chalk marks (the secret signal used by the spies) are scrawled.

Featured in The 35th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (1983)