Spying the best le Carré adaptations

David John Moore Cornwell made a name for himself -- like he needed another one -- in the 1960s when he went from being a spy (with the British intelligence agencies MI5 and MI6) to spy novelist. Writing under the name John le Carré, he became one of the best espionage authors of all time -- but his tales, and the films made from them, are unlike those "007" capers.

Le Carré's take on spying is more haunting than high-tech, as is evident from the first dark, intriguing scenes of "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy," a new feature film starring Gary Oldman and Colin Firth, now playing at Long Island theaters.

For more than 40 years his plots -- of the Cold War, Mideast, Latin America and today's corporate-controlled landscape -- have leaped from page to screen. Here are five of the best.

THE SPY WHO CAME IN FROM THE COLD (1965)

Richard Burton stars as Alec Leamas, a demoted West Berlin intelligence chief who may -- or may not -- be defecting to East Germany. Vintage Cold War chills.

THE LITTLE DRUMMER GIRL (1984)

Diane Keaton plays Charlie, an actress recruited by the Israelis to infiltrate Palestinian terrorists and uncover a bomber in Germany. Mixed reviews, fun locales -- London, Munich, Mykonos, Beirut.

THE RUSSIA HOUSE (1990)

Some critics panned this post-Glasnost tale of a boozy publisher (Sean Connery), wary Russian (Michelle Pfeiffer) and a manuscript revealing Soviet nuclear secrets, but most praised the stars' complex performances.

THE TAILOR OF PANAMA (2001)

Le Carré co-wrote this screenplay about a washed-up MI6 spy (Pierce Brosnan) exiled to Panama. He encounters a tailor selling government secrets (Geoffrey Rush), the tailor's alluring wife (Jamie Lee Curtis) and a wee Daniel Radcliffe (pre-Harry Potter, in his film debut).

THE CONSTANT GARDENER (2005)

Inspired by real events, the film follows a meek, low-level diplomat (Ralph Fiennes) ensnared in corporate cover-ups and Kenyan strife as he investigates the murder of his activist wife (Rachel Weisz). Four Oscar nominations (Weisz won for best supporting actress), plus "The Good Wife's" Archie Panjabi with a key to the puzzle.