"Game, Set, and Match" (1988) TV series

User Rating:

8.3/10   

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

3 October 1988 (UK)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

An adaption of Len Deghton's trilogy, "Berlin Game," "Mexico Set," "London Match." Bernard Samson, Played by Ian Holm...

Plot Keywords:

Spy | Based On Novel

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Ian Holm	...	Bernard Samson (13 episodes, 1988)
Michael Culver	...	Dicky Cruyer (13 episodes, 1988)
Anthony Bate	...	Bret Renssalaer (11 episodes, 1988)
Michael Degen	...	Werner Volkmann (10 episodes, 1988)
Frederick Treves	...	Frank Harrington (9 episodes, 1988)
Mel Martin	...	Fiona Samson (8 episodes, 1988)
Amanda Donohoe	...	Gloria Kent (8 episodes, 1988)
Brigitte Karner	...	Zena Volkmann (6 episodes, 1988)

Runtime:

60 min (12 episodes)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Company:

Granada Television

Trivia:

Despite winning awards and being acclaimed by the critics in the UK it was a ratings disaster.

As Good as It Gets

Others have done an excellent job summarising this fine mini-series, so I won't bother going into details. I did want to mention that, on a BBS devoted to Len Deighton's work, it was mentioned (although not independently verified) that it was indeed Deighton who kept the series from going to tape (or any other subsequent medium) because of his displeasure with its realisation (stupid temperamental writers!).

It was only by chance that I learned about the series the morning of the day the first episode was to air (unlike one of the other reviewers, I knew Ian Holm very well, first from Alien, and I just happened to notice his picture in the paper in an article previewing the series). I had the foresight to tape it, but missed getting the post-first-episode interview with Ian Holm (tape ran out), which I kick myself for to this very day.

I'm sure I'm not alone in stating that this series NEEDS to be on DVD, but until Deighton dies, this probably won't happen (and I am completely mystified as to what it was he objected to - the series brought every one of the characters to vivid, realistic life, was incredibly (though not slavishly) true to the books, and so enthralled me that I went out and bought all of Deighton's spy novels, even though I'd never read one before). Until then, those of us with tapes will continue to set aside 13 hours every year or so to enjoy this incredibly well-produced, well-acted, and well-told story, hoping each year as the tapes slowly corrode that Deighton will have a change (or massive infarction) of heart and let us have this series in all its glory on DVD...