TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY - DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE US SIX-PART SERIES AND THE UK SEVEN PART SERIES (PARTS 4-6)

This post highlights the differences between the US six-part version of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and the original UK version of the series. The comparison below looks at each of the last three US episodes and highlights the differences with the content of the UK series. If you want to see the differences for episodes 1-3 click here.

Although the timings of the US episodes are listed, it is not worth making any comparisons, as the US version runs much slower due to frame rate differences. 

Part Four (54 min, 23 secs)

Different recap

The recap combines the scene of Alleline warning Guillam with the scene of Smiley and Guillam talking in the car on their way to see Tarr.

Different episode ending

The episode ends as Sam Collins sees Smiley out saying ‘Mind how you go, George’. 

Part Five (54 mins, 16 secs)

Different recap

The recap combines the flashback scene of Sam Collins and Bill Haydon with the scene of Collins talking to Smiley.

Shortened scene

When Smiley and Prideaux are talking in the hotel room we see Prideaux go to the toilet to be sick but the rest of the scene in the hotel room is cut.

Shortened scene

When Smiley drops Prideaux back at the school the scene ends with Prideaux smashing the bottle and we don’t see Smiley drive away.

Scene altered

Music plays over the scene where Smiley walks down Fleet Street to meet Jerry Westerby.

New episode ending

The episode ends with Guillam leaving the Lexham Gardens safe house while Smiley waits behind the door.

Part Six (53 mins, 35 secs)

Different recap

The recap combines the scene of Prideaux and Smiley talking in the car with the scene of Smiley, Esterhase and Guillam at the safe house.

Shortened scene

When Ricki Tarr is on the boat, we don’t see him walking on the deck.

Missing scene

We don’t see an establishing shot of the Lock Garden safe house.

Missing scene

We don’t see the initial scene of Guillam in the safe house re-wiring the switch.

I'll do a similar comparison of the differences between the UK and US versions of Smiley's People in a future post.