What are the top spy movies that are based on a true story. Using spies and spying on the opposite country became part of the cold war game. Oct 14, 2015 but the story is so cinematic that its hard to believe that bridge of spies is based on a true story, even though it involves actual historical events. Bridge of spies is an incredible story of espionage, struggle and one mans commitment to the edict and justice for all. Steven spielbergs truestory cold war procedural, bridge of spies, has a wintry chill.
A dramatic thriller set against the backdrop of a series of historic events, bridge of spies tells the story of james donovan tom hanks, a brooklyn lawyer who finds himself thrust into. Not only is bridge of spies now in theaters based on a fascinating reallife story, but its also a steven spielberg movie and this is a guy who knows a thing or two about telling captivating stories that feed your brain and warm your heart no one tackles fascinating reallife stories quite like spielberg, and in the spirit of lincoln a wartime movie that was more about the power of. Any doubt that steven spielberg is our latterday frank capra and tom hanks his jimmy stewart can be put to rest. Nov 24, 2015 steven spielbergs new movie, bridge of spies, which opens in uk cinemas this week, is based on a reallife incident during the cold war. Set during the cold war, the film tells the story of lawyer james b. Interestingly enough, spielberg learned that bridge wasnt the first stab at dramatizing donovans. Based on a true story, the film follows an obscure new york lawyer, james. But the story is so cinematic that its hard to believe that bridge of spies is based on a true story, even though it involves actual historical events.
Interestingly enough, spielberg learned that bridge wasnt the first stab at dramatizing donovans story for the big screen. Bridge of spies begins with the claim inspired by true events, which has taken over from based on a true story as an even less committal assertion of realism in. Mark rylance, left, and tom hanks appear in a scene from bridge of spies. Movies like bridge of spies if you like bridge of spies you are looking for realistic, suspense and serious movies about with espionage, cold war, cia, spy, lawyer, pilot and rescue themes of drama, history and thriller genre shot in germany or india. Three years after his lincoln became a critical and commercial hit, legendary director steven spielberg is back to tell another story of american history with his latest film, bridge of spies. A dramatic thriller set against the backdrop of a series of historic events, the film tells the story of james donovan tom hanks, a brooklyn lawyer who finds himself thrust into the center of the cold war when the cia sends him on the nearimpossible task to negotiate the release of a captured american u2 pilot. Tis the season of serious, grownup movies, like the latest tom hanks dramafest bridge of spies. The reallife donovan was hired by the us government to defend russian spy rudolf abel mark rylance. It stars tom hanks as attorney james donovan, a man who first defended an. Steven spielbergs new film bridge of spies dramatizes an incredible spy exchange that took place at the height of the cold war.
Rudolf abel before and after his arrest in new york in 1957. An audiobook version was subsequently published by isis publishing, being read by jonathan keeble. I spy dramatic licence under bridge of spies film the. Steven spielbergs movie captures the essence of the cold war in the tale of a. Few facts apart, most of the movie depicts the incident as it took place. Spy movies based on true stories that are reasonably close to the known facts munich 2005 spielberg israeli assassination of munich terrorists fair game 2010 starring sean penn about valerie plame and joe wilson case breach 2007 rober. In bridge of spies, spielbergs cold war is deliberately dull. Jun 07, 2015 check out our bridge of spies featurette of steven spielberg and tom hanks discussing the true story of james donovan. Bridge of spies tells the story of james donovan, a brooklyn lawyer who finds himself thrust into the center of the cold war when the cia sends him on the nearimpossible task to negotiate the release of a captured american u2 pilot.
A dramatic thriller set against the backdrop of a series of historic events, bridge of spies tells the story of james donovan hanks, a brooklyn lawyer who finds. Mar 18, 2015 three years after his lincoln became a critical and commercial hit, legendary director steven spielberg is back to tell another story of american history with his latest film, bridge of spies. Steven spielbergs new movie, bridge of spies, which opens in uk cinemas this week, is based on a reallife incident during the cold war. But the reallife incident it portraysthe shoot down of a. It is different from the movie in many ways because i am pretty sure that the. I spy dramatic licence under bridge of spies film the guardian. It stars tom hanks as james donovan and mark rylance as rudolph abel. The true story behind jim donovans defence of a soviet spy in an american court. Tom hanks and jimmy fallon perform bridge of spies kid theaterwatch. An audiobook version was subsequently published by isis publishing, being read by. Bridge of spies finds new life in hollywoods classic cold war espionage thriller formula, thanks to reliably outstanding work from steven spielberg and tom hanks. A dramatic thriller set against the backdrop of a series of historic events, the film tells the story of james donovan tom hanks, a brooklyn lawyer who finds himself thrust into the center of the cold war when the cia sends him on the nearimpossible task to negotiate the release of a captured.
The film is actually based in part on the book strangers on a bridge by james b. In bridge of spies, spielbergs cold war is deliberately. Steven spielbergs true story cold war procedural, bridge of spies, has a wintry chill. Bridge of spies is a thrilling true story of espionage and superpower diplomacy at one of the tensest moments of the cold war, centered around a prisoner exchange in berlin in 1962.
For those of you not familiar with the movie, bridge of spies is about the true story of new york city lawyer, james donovan, and his defense in u. Jan 29, 2012 spy movies based on true stories that are reasonably close to the known facts munich 2005 spielberg israeli assassination of munich terrorists fair game 2010 starring sean penn about valerie plame and joe wilson case breach 2007 rober. Bridge of spies is the true story of three extraordinary characters whose fate helped to define the conflicts and lethal undercurrents of. New york lawyer james donovan, his client soviet spy rudolf ivanovich abel, and.
New york lawyer james donovan, his client soviet spy rudolf ivanovich abel, and american u2 pilot francis gary powers were the key players in a cold war historical drama. Bridge of spies is a rousing celebration of an everyman empowered by americas cando spirit of justice and decency, in this case doing nothing less than saving the world. Nov 27, 2015 culture film features bridge of spies. The colors are gray and green, the skin tones pale as frozen fish and the film stock fuzzed and snowy. A dramatic thriller set against the backdrop of a series of historic events, bridge of spies tells the story of james donovan tom hanks, a brooklyn lawyer who finds himself thrust into the center of the cold war when the cia sends him on a near impossible mission to negotiate the release of a captured american u2 pilot. Bridge of spies is the true story of a man defending freedom and democracy from enemies within.
Both sides used spies to aid finding out of what the other was doing faster and easier. The new movie bridge of spies is based on a true story. A true story of the cold war is a 2010 nonfiction book by giles whittell. Bridge of spies takes place in the past but speaks to. He does so first by defending a spy hiding among us, and then by trying to help that spy return home. Check out our bridge of spies featurette of steven spielberg and tom hanks discussing the true story of james donovan. The film has received critical acclaim, but does it use.
Bridge of spies is a 2015 historical drama legal thriller film directed and coproduced by steven spielberg, written by matt charman, ethan and joel coen and stars tom hanks, mark rylance, amy. New york lawyer james donovan, his client soviet spy rudolf ivanovich abel, and american u2 pilot francis gary powers were the key players. His full name is ivan alexandrovich schischkin and he was the second secretary of the soviet embassy. Steven spielbergs new movie, bridge of spies, opened to a lukewarm weekend, ranking number three at the box office. In the film, when challenged about granting abel the same constitutional rights as american citizens donovan referred to a supreme court case. During those months, donovan worked with the department of justice to set up the prisoner exchange. During the cold war, an american lawyer is recruited to defend an arrested soviet spy in court, and then help the cia facilitate an exchange of the spy for the soviet captured american u2 spy plane pilot, francis gary powers.
Bridge of spies, the coldwar epic directed by steven spielberg, contends for six academy awards sunday, including best picture. Pryor was released to his parents at checkpoint charlie, the most wellknown cold war crossing point through the berlin wall that divided west berlin and east berlin. The true story behind bridge of spies reveals that it took several months of negotiating before james donovan was sent to meet face to face with the second secretary of the soviet embassy, ivan schischkin, in east germany. Steven spielbergs movie captures the essence of the cold war in the tale of a man whose legend was so encompassing, u. Donovan, a lawyer involved with the prisoner exchanges and played. Not only is bridge of spies now in theaters based on a fascinating reallife story, but its also a steven spielberg movie and this is a guy who knows a thing or two about telling captivating stories that feed your brain and warm your heart. Bridge of spies is a 2015 historical drama film directed and coproduced by steven spielberg, written by matt charman and the coen brothers, and starring tom hanks, mark rylance, amy ryan, and alan alda. Bridge of spies well, the boss isnt always right but hes always the boss. Willie fisher, alias rudolf abel, was a soviet spy in the finest traditions of the bolshevik illegals named in comparison to legals, who had diplomatic cover as. View all showtimes for the movie bridge of spies playing in theatres in. The names, places and incident are all reality based.
Gary powers, the american u2 pilot who was captured when his plane was shot down. Bridge of spies the movie bridge of spies which is based on a true story is in the period of cold war, and about espionage. Set during the midst of the cold war, it is based on the true story of u. A dramatic thriller set against the backdrop of a series of historic events, bridge of spies tells the story of james donovan hanks, a. Like in the bridge of spies movie, the americans and soviets exchanged prisoners at berlins glienicke bridge and checkpoint charlie on february 10, 1962. It was directed by steven spielberg from a screenplay by matt charman and the coen brothers. The book documents prisoner exchanges between the united states and the soviet union of their spies during the cold war. Jan 14, 2016 a dramatic thriller set against the backdrop of a series of historic events, bridge of spies tells the story of james donovan tom hanks, a brooklyn lawyer who finds himself thrust into the. Bridge of spies is the true story of three extraordinary characters william fisher, alias rudolf abel, a british born kgb agent arrested by the fbi in new york city and jailed as a soviet superspy for trying to steal americas most precious nuclear secrets. Oct 14, 2015 tis the season of serious, grownup movies, like the latest tom hanks dramafest bridge of spies. Watch the movie trailer for bridge of spies coming out oct. Oct 16, 2015 the new movie bridge of spies is based on a true story.
Bridge of spies takes place in the past but speaks to today time. The true story of bridge of spies as steven spielbergs bridge of spies, starring tom hanks, hits theaters today, were taking a look at the thrilling reallife events and. The bridge of spies true story reveals that the ivan schischkin character, who donovan meets with when he crosses the berlin wall into east germany, is indeed based on a real person. Bridge of spies 2015 rotten tomatoes movie trailers. Bridge of spies begins with the claim inspired by true events, which has taken over from based on a true story as an even less committal. Bridge of spies is a cold war spy movie based on the true story of an exchange of american and soviet spies. The true story behind the u2 shootdown in bridge of spies.