WHEN GOOD LADS BETRAYED THE WEST.Byline: David Kronke TV Critic COMMUNISM, they believed, was the only way to combat fascism. Exploiting connections, they entrenched en·trench also in·trench v. en·trenched, en·trench·ing, en·trench·es v.tr. 1. To provide with a trench, especially for the purpose of fortifying or defending. 2. themselves in some of England's most prestigious positions. By the Cold War, they were committed spies betraying their country, unable or unwilling to find a way out: Due to their efforts, the Soviet Union tested an atom bomb years before America expected it to develop the technology. ``Cambridge Spies,'' a five-part drama debuting this evening on BBC America, offers a bracing and reasonably intelligent account of idealism gone rudderlessly awry. It's based on the true story of four friends at Cambridge University who were recruited early and found out far too late, distinctly different men whose deeds scandalized England and changed the course of history. Toby Stephens (Maggie Smith's son) stars as Kim Philby, the most ardent and intelligent of the quartet, as well as its requisite womanizer wom·an·ize v. woman·ized, woman·iz·ing, woman·iz·es v.intr. To pursue women lecherously. v.tr. To give female characteristics to; feminize. : Virtually every episode has him cozying up to a different woman. Though initially considered too gung-ho to be an effective spy, his career was the most varied and successful. Posing as a right-wing journalist, he failed to assassinate as·sas·si·nate tr.v. as·sas·si·nat·ed, as·sas·si·nat·ing, as·sas·si·nates 1. To murder (a prominent person) by surprise attack, as for political reasons. 2. the despot Franco in Spain, yet he headed counter-intelligence in England's Secret Intelligence Service and trekked to Washington, D.C., to become the liaison between England's MI6 and the CIA CIA: see Central Intelligence Agency. (1) (Confidentiality Integrity Authentication) The three important concerns with regards to information security. Encryption is used to provide confidentiality (privacy, secrecy). . Tom Hollander (``Gosford Park'') assumes the flashiest role, as Guy Burgess, a flamboyant, fearless and wittily erudite er·u·dite adj. Characterized by erudition; learned. See Synonyms at learned. [Middle English erudit, from Latin man with a ravenous thirst for both alcohol and gay men. He worked for both the BBC BBC in full British Broadcasting Corp. Publicly financed broadcasting system in Britain. A private company at its founding in 1922, it was replaced by a public corporation under royal charter in 1927. and MI5, England's Security Service, leaving feckless feck·less adj. 1. Lacking purpose or vitality; feeble or ineffective. 2. Careless and irresponsible. [Scots feck, effect (alteration of effect) + -less. bon mots strewn strew tr.v. strewed, strewn or strewed, strew·ing, strews 1. To spread here and there; scatter: strewing flowers down the aisle. 2. in his wake. Samuel West (Prunella pru·nel·la also pru·nelle n. A strong heavy fabric of worsted twill, used chiefly for shoe uppers, clerical robes, and academic gowns. Scales' son) portrays Anthony Blunt, whose blood ties to the Royal Family place him in Buckingham Palace, where he hears Queen Mary's assessment of Hitler: ``Never trust a man with a bad mustache.'' Rupert Penry-Jones plays Donald Maclean, who, while stationed in Paris, married an American (Anna Louise Plowman) - she later married Philby (though not during the course of this series) - and passed on the damning atomic secrets, but was also the first of the quartet to be rooted out. ``Cambridge Spies'' traces the men's various peregrinations, delineating both their motivations and their misgivings, admiring their brilliance and lamenting their misguidedness. It's scarcely the stuff of an Ian Fleming novel, but it's absorbing drama nonetheless. David Kronke, (818) 713-3638 david.kronke(at)dailynews.com CAMBRIDGE SPIES - Three stars What: Based on the true story of four university friends who become England's most notorious spies. Where: BBC America. When: First of five episodes airs 7 and 11 tonight; episodes 2 through 5 air on successive Saturdays, through Nov. 22. In a nutshell: Intelligent, fascinating drama. CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Toby Stephens, left, and Tom Hollander play agents for the Soviet Union in ``Cambridge Spies'' on BBC America. |
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