Ah, you've picked another of my favourite TV series from way back. There's a sequel
Smiley's People, based on the novel. You'd probably like that too. I quite enjoyed the Gary Oldman rehash, but quite honestly I did choke on my Moscow Mule when
the Guardian review said that Oldman "eclipsed" Guinness. All I can think to say in response is "bollocks". I agree with you completely. The film borrows style, mannerisms, you-name-it, liberally from the earlier TV series.
Talking of borrowing, it was interesting to discover that John le Carre "borrowed" rather more than is usually considered polite from
the Darkroom of Damacles by Dutch author Willem Frederik Hermans for his own novel
the Spy Who Came in from the Cold. This was le Carre's second spy novel featuring Smiley and
the Circus.