Gary Oldman introduced his newest film, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy to a delegation from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association at the Venice Film Festival.

Gary Oldman talking with HFPA members

The British actor  portrays George Smiley, the lead character in John Le Carre’s 1974 cold war bestseller of the same title, a role previously played by Alec Guiness in a 1979 TV mini series. ” If somebody offers you the role of Hamlet you try to achieve the task without being intimidated by the great performances before you” Oldman explained to the HFPA members about his challenge to step into Alec Guiness’s giant footsteps. “And I saw this role exactly like that.“. He added enthusiastically: “The most rewarding response to me was how John Le Carre – who is a youthful 80 now – reacted when he saw the film. He was elated.” Marco Müller, festival director since 2004, welcomed the HFPA delegation to the Lido of Venice.

Gary Oldman

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, a Focus Film feature, was one of nine world premieres seen by HFPA members.   Among them:  George Clooney’s„The Ides of March, which opened the festival,  Abel Ferrara’s 4:44 Last Day on Earth,  David Cronenberg’s A Dangerous Method, William Friedkin’s Killer Joe and Cristina Comencini’s Quando La Notte. Madonna was also there to unveil her second directoral effort, W.E. MOSTRA Internazionale D’Arte Cinematografica, the official name of the festival, was founded 1932  and is considered the oldest film festival in the world.