MovieChat Forums > The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (1965) Discussion > "You don't know what's on the desk."

"You don't know what's on the desk."

posted 8 years ago by balthazar_bee
4 replies | jump to latest

"Paper."

Possibly my favourite line-reading in the history of film -- one word, and furthermore Burton's off-screen at the time.

While it's not hard to understand why so many people have difficulty making sense of the mechanics of the plot, for me, this film succeeds because the character of Leamas is so damned compelling. He is every inch the embittered, used-up, past-his-shelf-life operative -- part noir antihero, part conflicted cog, part soothsayer.

It's just the perfect marriage of character and actor; his face, as is, does most of the work.

I don't think it hurts that Burton, apart from a handful of film roles (including this one), was in very much the same position as his character -- being put to dubious use in vehicles not worth his time and expertise; he was also feeling the effects of years of hard drinking, and cynical about filmmaking (spycraft).

So, although I love everything about this movie, it would continue to work for me if it all came down to the cinematography and Burton's performance.

[–] rogueforte 8 years ago

An excellent point about Burton's face, and as evidence, there are two close-ups that prove it. The first is when Peters leaves the room after telling Leamas that he can't leave the East, and Burton is starring out of the window as the wind stirs the bare tree branches.

The second, and even better, is when Mundt walks past him at the end of the trial when Fiedler is discredited. Mundt gives him a condescending look as he walks past and the look on Burton's face as the realization of what's really happened dawns on him is nothing short of amazing.

[–] rfischer-4 8 years ago

To add to these excellent observations, Mundt's swagger as he walks past Leamas has to be the most self-satisfying, self-indulgent, arrogant swagger in all film history.

[–] JacintoCupboard 8 years ago

That scene is worth another look. Peter van Eyck does more than swagger. There is pity in there, but it might easily be mistaken for contempt. And Burton's response is priceless: confusion, realisation...even hope. We as an audience don't know it yet, but these two characters are allies. Mundt already knows he has to get Leamas out. Leamas at last cottons on.

This is the best wordless exchange between two characters in a film I can think of.

[–] rogueforte 8 years ago

Oh, yeah, Van Eyck does an absolutely tremendous job as Mundt as he passes Leamas, wordlessly telling him with nothing more than a condescending look and body language, "Figured it out, yet, dumbass?".