MovieChat Forums > The Little Drummer Girl (1984) Discussion > Why This Movie Hasn't Gotten More Love

Why This Movie Hasn't Gotten More Love

posted 18 years ago by Tova
6 replies | jump to latest

I've seen this movie so many times and love it. Yes, it's dated but it's a decent adaptation of a John Le Carré novel, which I also read. People have said that Diane Keaton was too old for the role, but I found her portrayal of the leftwing, slightly looney fringe character of Charley effective. And Klaus Kinski, so un Jewish looking, totally convinced me he was an Israeli agent. The understated Khalil, no one knowing who he was, just excellent. This film was never released in DVD so I had to find, with much difficulty, an unused VHS copy for my collection.

[–] solongthanks 18 years ago

I also love this movie, I first watched it when I was a kid and my father insisted I watch it to better understand the complexities of *terrorism*. And wouldn't now be an interesting time time for it to get more attention? Perhaps with the success of The Constant Garderner, there might be an interest in releasing it on dvd. Do you have any idea why it hasn't been put out yet?

[–] mtroubin 18 years ago

I love the book, it's one of my Le Carre's favorites, among "Russia house" and "Perfect spy".
But, unfortunately I never seen this movie :(

I hope it will be released on DVD some day and it will be possible to purchase it from Russia.

[–] diger_jantzen 18 years ago

It's going to be released very soon (June, I think) on DVD in Germany. Unfortunately it is going to be released by a very cheap German DVD-label. That's why I'm afraid it will be released in Full-Frame 3/4-format, and not in the original aspect ratio stuff which I believe to be 9/16. Also, I'm pretty sure there will only be the German synchron version on it, and not the original English version. That's a pity especially because Klaus Kinski did not do his own dubbing for the German version, so I do have get the English version to hear his actual voice.
I'm still praying the label will make up their mind and make a decent release, but I don't have much hope.
This film deserves much more attention, especially today. George Roy Hill was a genius. He made "The Sting", he made "Butch Cassidy", and although this one is not one of his masterpieces, it is still a very good movie.

[–] Liightspeed 18 years ago

With respect, I couldn't disagree more with the previous posts here. In fact, of all the fine novels that have been severely bastardised over the years into an abomination of a movie that insults the original story and its creator I'd say this one sits firmly at the top of the tree.

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] 18 years ago

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