Smiley's People - Differences Between the UK and US Series (Parts One and Two)
This post highlights the differences between the first two episodes of the US version of Smiley’s People and the UK version of the series. 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.
With Tinker Tailor the editors where turning a seven-part drama into six and increasing the running time of each episode to about 54 minutes. Here they are having to make significant cuts to every episode just to bring each one in at 54 minutes. They were not helped by the frame rate difference, which meant they had to cut material just to match the UK running time. Sadly, this version of Smiley’s People is missing a large amount of footage - to their credit Acorn, the producers of the US disc, have included the missing scenes as an extra that runs over an hour.
Even fans of the series would struggle to notice the very subtle editing of scenes in the US version of Tinker Tailor, but that’s not the case here. Many important scenes are missing or heavily reduced. Whenever anyone in the story is travelling anywhere you can be certain the opportunity to cut footage has not been missed!
On a positive note the episodes look far superior on the US Blu-ray release when compared to the UK DVD. Colours are more vibrant and detail more evident.
As with Tinker Tailor the Acorn Blu-ray release is not region locked and will play on UK Blu-ray players. However, it is worth being aware before you buy that a ‘feature’ of the disc is that once the initial copyright and studio logos appear, the disc stops playing! I was able to access the episodes by clicking on the ‘top menu’ button on one Blu-ray player and on another I had to manually select the episodes through a ‘title’ option. So, if you want to watch the US Blu-ray on a UK player you will almost certainly be able to play the episodes, but it might be a bit fiddly to access them.
Extras included on the US Blu-ray release are as follows:
- Deleted scenes (62 minutes) – nothing new for UK audiences
- Interview with John le Carré – the exact same interview appears on the US Blu-ray release of Tinker Tailor
- Production Notes – some interesting nuggets about the production here
- A four page ‘booklet’ featuring a glossary of main characters and terms
- John le Carré biography
Part One (54 mins, 32 secs)
Shortened scene
The conversation between Kirov and Ostrakova is cut down.
Shortened scene
The scene of Ostrakova at the embassy is truncated and music now plays over the following scene on the bus where she looks at the supposed photos of Alexandra.
Scene extension
At the end of the meeting between Ostrakova and Leipzig the scene extends as Ostrakova watches him out of the door and down the stairs.
Missing scene
The scene in the truck with Vladimir and Villem is missing entirely.
The scene where Ostrakova writes to Vladimir and posts the letter is missing entirely.
The scenes of Vladimir preparing to leave his flat are truncated.
Missing scene
The scene of Mostyn preparing the safe house is entirely missing.
We don’t see anything of Vladimir’s journey to the tin hut on Hampstead Heath – we do see him arrive at the hut though.
Shortened scene
The start of the scene where the police run through the contents of Vladimir’s pockets is missing.
A large part of the scene where Mostyn describes his calls with Vladimir to Smiley, Lacon and Strickland is missing – we join Mostyn’s story over half way through.
Missing scene
The episode ends with Smiley leaving the Hampstead Heath safe house and the door closing on him. His exit from the building and walk towards East Heath Road has been cut.
Part Two (54 mins, 35 secs)
Missing scene
When Smiley enters Vladimir’s flat his encounter with the amorous neighbour is missing.
Shortened scene
Smiley’s search of Vladimir’s flat has been truncated.
When in the taxi from Vladimir’s flat to Hampstead Heath we don’t see Smiley check the edges of Ostrakova’s letter.
Missing scene
A short scene of Ostrakova in hospital has been cut.
Smiley’s interaction with the passer by on Hampstead Heath has been cut.
The scene of Smiley walking to the newsagents in South End Green has been cut.
Smiley’s taxi journey to the Savoy has been truncated.
When Smiley visits Villem and Stella, the scene where he goes upstairs to talk to Villem and encourages him to come down has been cut.
Shortened scene
Smiley’s conversation with Villem and Stella has been cut down.
Missing scene
Smiley’s conversation with Stella on the doorstep has been entirely cut.
Shortened scene
Smiley’s conversation with Mikhel has been reduced.
Shortened scene
Smiley’s taxi journey to Bywater Street has been truncated.
Smiley’s preparations to expose the negative have been truncated.
Shortened scene
The scene between Smiley and Lacon at Bywater Street ends as Smiley sees him out of the door – we don’t see the extended conversation in the street.
Parts three and four are covered here.
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