Spies of Warsaw (2012)(DVD)

Well written, and acted.

The period between WWI and WWII has been explored countless times in movies in just about every genre from musicals to "The Grapes of Wrath."Seldom, however, has there been an effort to explore the darker side of international intrigue during those two decades. This is not to say there haven't been spy movies that focus on that period but many of them were over-the-top melodrama and those that weren't were often thinly disguised propaganda films."Spies of Warsaw" is neither. It is too stylish to be considered gritty but it admirably conveys the shadowy world of spy vs. spy at a period in the world's history when most of the populations of Europe and the Americas preferred not to think of the growing threat of fascism. Horrified by the industrial-strength slaughter of World War I, the majority of people on both continents wanted nothing more than "peace in our time" and were willing to sacrifice just about anything - including the sovereignty of small nations - to have it.There were some, however, who read the tea leaves and worked diligently to prepare their countries for what they were certain would be a war that would be even more horrific than WWI. "Spies of Warsaw" tells the story of French intelligence officer Colonel Jean-François Mercier, a hero of both the First World War and the all-but-ignored attempt by the fledgling Soviet Union to annex Poland. Mercier, a cavalry officer, fought with the Poles to beat back the Soviets and winds up being posted to Warsaw as a military attache. His real job, however, is to run the French embassy's intelligence network; a task he undertakes with ruthless efficiency. It is in the role that he meets the beautiful lawyer Anna Skarbek.David Tennant as Mercier and Janet Montgomery as Skarbek were nicely paired in this BBC mini-series. Tennant brought a degree of frustration and anxiety to his role of a spy that very few people listen to and Montgomery played Skarbek with what I thought was nice blend of coolness and courage. The supporting cast - especially Marcin Dorocinski as Polish Colonel Antoni Pakulski - did excellent work. The cinematography was well done - though some critics thought it "washed out" - and the costuming was excellent.The series suffered, however, from what I thought was a rushed resumption of the relationship between Mercier and Skarbek. Early in the series she is living with a Russian journalist who has escaped from the Soviet Union and now writes articles condemning the communists. Mercier meets her on a blind date to a diplomatic function and is captivated by her. They have an affair and at some point he tells her that she must break it off with the Russian. Mercier leaves Poland for Paris and when he returns he learns that the French ambassador in Warsaw has arranged to have the Russian deported to the USSR and an almost certain death. Anna breaks off her affair with Mercier as a result. A year later Mercier sees the Russian at a conference, learning then that he was not an anti-communist journalist but a Soviet spy. He sends word to Anna that her former lover is alive and in a dramatic scene Mercier and Skarbek reunite on the eve of the German invasion of Poland. As a viewer, I needed at least 10 more minutes of film to show how Anna took the news, how she processed it, and then came to her decision to reunite with Mercier.That criticism aside, I found this to be a well done production and well worth watching not just once but again and again.

Good acting and storyline

The Spies of Warsaw by Alan Furst,  The Spies of Warsaw: A Novel  does not represent the beginning of his Night Soldier sequence but it was my introduction to his particular fiction of espionage and the outbreak of World War II in Europe. While most would argue that both of these topics have been mined out it, is to Alan Furst's credit that he is found a unique take on these topics. Furst has us see these events as experienced by unlikely countries and unlikely people.I am an admirer of these books but I find them to be dreary and gray. The reader is too aware of the futility of the good works by his protagonists. It is for this reason that I have held off reading the most recent addition to his book cycle. That makes me a fan but something less than a total fan boy.It was with a sense of anticipation and trepidation that I come to the movie the Spies of Warsaw. Much of what I find in this movie is good. The folks at the BBC workshop have captured the generally gray sense of Alan Furst. Actors and actresses generally perform well. Costuming, Sets and history meet the high standard of the author. Somehow the completed whole is not equal to the various parts.David Tennant as Col. Jean François Mercier is a patriotic tightly focused professional threading the role of military attaché to a just barely prewar Poland while performing off the book functions gathering intelligence and operating spies. I cannot say that I had watched very much of David Tennant's Dr. Who but I kept expecting somebody to liven up the action by admitting that the Col. really was Dr. Who in French Army drag. This may have been my fault but I also think it reflects the general sense that this two episode set, drags.Without checking chapter for chapter my sense is that the two episodes pretty much reproduced virtually every episode in the original novel. Again my general sense is each scene captures the spirit of the original novel. But at the risk of being repetitious the production lacks spirit.Ultimately this is a production about very competent, very professional people going about difficult and dangerous tasks. What distinguishes the performers that we like is their awareness of things like loyalty and responsibility towards both country and subordinates. The bad guys are not terribly bad and as such the production has a certain subtlety in how it reproduces the period.The real struggle is not so much between our French Col. and the growing belligerence of Nazi Germany but rather his struggles with those of his superiors who either refuse to believe a new war is imminent or more critically may desire to align France with Nazi Germany. It is this second struggle that reinforces the uniqueness of Alan Furst's vision. It is because so many of the performers are acting out the roles of competent professionals that what should be a tense action movie becomes a flat recitation of events.Fans of Alan Furst may enjoy this initial film adaptation of one of his books. There may be enough here to warrant a second viewing. I can only recommend it to those who particularly want to see the novel the Spies of Warsaw played out as a movie.

If you're expecting BANG POW EXPLODEY 007 then go watch a James Bond movie. Bond is great for what it is, and I love a good Bond film. This isn't that kind of spy story and if you are looking for that with this film you're barking up the wrong tree. This is plot and character driven, bittersweet, gritty and realistic. Beautifully photographed on location, this is what life was like in that era for people in the world of covert ops. Intriguing and romantic, it holds true to canon. "But the book was better" you say? Well, isn't that always the case?David Tennant never disappoints. Leave Doctor Who out of this, it's nowhere near it, nor is his character. Mr. Tennant has shown yet again his range and depth - his acting is quite liquid and one can see so much going on behind his eyes it's almost like reading his thoughts.It was brilliantly cast and directed, taut in tone with wonderful dialog and pace. The score only adds to the dark mood and was wonderfully written and executed. The costumes were well-researched and replicated. So much love has gone into the little details of this film and it shows. This is what quality television looks like. As stated, this isn't James Bond. James Bond is, at the end of the day, as much fantasy as action story. This isn't that. It is, at the end of the day, about human nature, just as all the best stories are.Without spoiling, I'll say the ending was a bittersweet definition of the word verisimilitude. Spies of Warsaw is a spy story for the thinking person.

I'm currently re-reading Alan Furst's novels (all of which I'd thoroughly recommend to any new readers unacquainted with his work) and for some reason I'd been unaware of the original TV dramatization and this DVD. As other viewers have mentioned it's often difficult to compress a complex novel into nigh on three hours screen time but this is a worthy attempt and captures the essence of the original source.. It is quite old fashioned in the filmic style and all the better for it - no unnecessary whizz bang effects just solid performances from all the cast (that much under rated actor Anton Lesser deserves special mention) and a story well told. The steam locomotive warranted a mention in the end credits ! All in all well worth the purchase price and will bear repeat viewings.

I totally agree with Harry and his review. The photography and soundtrack make this production which I enjoyed on transmission and again on dvd. As a linguist I have no problem with multilingual productions and once location and nationality is established accents are not necessary and can detract and drag a production into comedy "Allo Allo" style. It is always refreshing when an actor breaks from his or her type casting. David Tennant gives a superbly convincing performance. I am now reading the book which I also recommend.

The build-up to WWII; the frustration of the WWI hero & French diplomat in Poland, Col. Jean Francois Mercier as his information that Germany is gearing up for war is foolishly ignored. The Nazis are planning something and he intends to proveto the French government the they are testing the ablilty of their tanks to travel the Maginot line through the Black Forest. The film travels between Warsaw, Paris, Czecheslovakia, Germany and the Austrian border. There is the excitement of kidnapping, a love affair, Russian spies and David Tennant. How can it miss? Also starring Janet Montgomery as Anna, The League of Nations lawyer.I enjoy watching WWII movies. This one is different in that is ends when the "non-aggression" pact begins between Russia and Germany. There is so much suspense, I don't want to ruin it for anyone's enjoyment.

Interesting film on the previous years of the second world war. The film captures de interest of the spectator and the Polish atmosphere is well given.

Missed this when broadcast by the BBC. But is a proper grown up drama. Tennant is good value as usual and he’s backed up with a good supporting cast.