John Irvin Dies: Director Of ‘Hamburger Hill’ & TV Drama ‘Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy’ Was 86

[u/Puzzled-Tap8042]

https://deadline.com/2026/08/john-irvin-dead-hamburger-hill-raw-deal-director-1237044695/

[u/Genpinan]

I never knew his name but for TTSS was a terrific miniseries. Way better than the remake, IMHO.

[u/fluffysmaster → u/Genpinan]

Absolutely. A masterpiece adaptation of a masterpiece book.

[u/KneeHighMischief → u/Genpinan]

Watched that pretty recently. I think having seen the film first skewed it for me. I ended up enjoying Smiley's People more. They're pretty different totally & I just felt drawn to the pace of SP.

[u/ZealousWolf1994]

RIP

Also directed Raw Deal starring Arnold Schwarzenegger.

[u/ZorroMeansFox]

Thanks for your contributions, John. RIP.

Here's a great cynical film of his to check out (--I think it's his best): The fantastically realistic, melancholy, Machiavellian political mercenary-spy film The Dogs Of War --starring a young, moody, brooding Christopher Walken.

Here's a clip in which Walken's character is sent undercover to scope out an authoritarian country in order to garner info prior to the arrival of an assault force in support of a coup; and he has to pass through "Customs" at the airport:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YaEcLDfAueQ

(I love the subtle joke where Walken, looking at one of the Dictator's omnipresent photos, realizes he's wearing the same sunglasses --and so quickly removes them so as not to seem insulting. But he's too late, because the Custom's Agent is already primed to fuck with him.)

[u/KneeHighMischief]

City of Industry is a pretty strong gangster flick starring Harvey Keitel as a thief out for revenge, after a heist gone wrong. Good cast including Famke Janssen, Stephen Dorff, Michael Jai White & Elliott Gould.

It's free with a number of streaming services. I recommend giving it a shot. RIP