I am a huge LEN DEIGHTON fan and have read everything he has written.
The films from his books (IPCRESS FILE,FUNERAL IN BERLIN and BILLION DOLLAR BRAIN are good) but when I saw this on tv I was not much impressed and cannot see it again cause it has never been repeated or released on dvd.
Was it really not very good?,it had a big budget but there was something souless about it.
http://users.esc.net.au/~xenon/3D/runme.html
in collectable movies last section
It was wonderful. I hope that some day Mr. Deighton will realize that just because he didn't like it he shouldn't keep those of us who did like it from being able to buy it. Yes, he wrote the story, but it was Holm who very much brought it to life. I read the book (admittedly it was after I had seen the dramatization) and thought the book paled in comparison--didn't have the LIFE that the wonderful Holm (yes, short though he is) gave it. Wonderful performance. And it hasn't lost a beat, even though the wall is down. I do have a dvdR of it, but would buy a good, clean, legitimate copy if one is ever produced. Money talks. Maybe some day he'll thaw and decide not to deny this series to its fans.
shareI know ITV1 has never repeated the series and maybe because it was not a bigger hit as the BBC's Tinker Tailor.
Its that man again!!
The problem was not a lack of popularity. As fraserpatty indicates, Len Deighton disliked the adaptation. He particularly thought Ian Holm was inappropriate for the role. As the rights owner, Deighton forbade any repeat broadcasts or DVD releases.
Having read all the books, I believe that Deighton is being petty. Sure, Holm is smaller than the character as depicted in the novels. But his performance is excellent, bringing Samson's character to life as well as anyone could have done.
Unhappily, it appears that fans of the show will have to wait until Deighton shuffles off this mortal coil. Then, perhaps, someone more open minded than he may finally make a professional DVD available.