The Spy Who Came In From The Cold

Richard Burton heads a great cast in this film noir classic.

25: Burton exits prison, Nan, his new girlfriend from the library greets him and invites him to dinner. A new character observes Nan get on a bus. He then introduces himself to Burton in the park. Eventually, this new character begins Burton's journey to being a fake paid defector. The birth of something new.

45: In East Germany, Richard Burton is driven to a beach house where he's pumped for info; he expects to be well paid for his defection to the Communists. His attempt to destroy Mundt begins. Now that I'm aware.

60: Burton with Fiedler, a man who hates and believes well known spy named Mundt is actually a double agent. Burton gives info about Mundt and repeatedly tells Fiedler Mundt couldn't be a double agent. We know what Burton is up to (at least at this point we think we do); by denying something he appears more believable to Fiedler. It's clear that Fiedler believes Mundt must be prosecuted and begins a trial. There's no going back now.

-45: Fiedler and Burton talk about money. Burton signs papers to get money. Fiedler tries to reward Burton and offers to provide him with a woman. Burton declines and Fiedler mentions Nan, the librarian. Burton indicates Nan means nothing to him but we can tell from the look on Burton's face Nan means a lot to him. In the next scene we discover that Nan intends to travel to East Germany. Discovery.

-25: Fiedler argues that Mundt is a double agent, Mundt's lawyer presents his case that Mundt is being unjustly accused. Nan arrives and her testimony about George Smiley, a known British agent, visiting her and telling her that Burton is a friend of Smiley ruins Fiedler's case and seems to be a death sentence against Burton. Eventually, we learn that Mundt really is a double agent (!) and during their escape Nan is shot in the back while trying to scale the wall to West Germany. Instead of going back, Burton decides to stay and be shot to be with Nan in death. A powerful ending to an excellent film noir classic. The final turning point.