The Deadly Affair

film by Lumet

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July 21, 2026

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"The Deadly Affair" is a 1966 spy drama directed by Sidney Lumet. The film is based on a novel by John le Carré and stars James Mason as a British secret agent. The plot centers on the agent's investigation into the suicide of a government official, while he simultaneously navigates his own marital issues. Lumet was known for his psychological dramas that explored themes of betrayal, corruption, and disillusionment, often eliciting strong performances from his cast.12

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John le Carré
…for the Dead (filmed as The Deadly Affair, 1966), was published. More a detective story than a spy story, it introduced the shrewd but self-effacing intelligence agent George Smiley, who became le Carré’s best-known character and was featured in several later works. Le Carré’s breakthrough came with his third novel,…
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…for the Dead (filmed as The Deadly Affair, 1966), was published. More a detective story than a spy story, it introduced the shrewd but self-effacing intelligence agent George Smiley, who became le Carré’s best-known character and was featured in several later works. Le Carré’s breakthrough came with his third novel,…
Read More