Scope Note:

Fictional work depicting spies and secret agents seeking to uncover or maintain secrets from each other and for one country or for the benefit of another. Living a masquerade, spies are usually cynical, amoral, deceitful, alienated, and ready to betray another person or cause, although these are often seen as merely the means to achieve a patriotic goal. Although the secrets often have a military application, the setting can be either during wartime or in the Cold War. Feature examples: DR. NO (with Adaptation); FIVE FINGERS (with War); FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT (with War); FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE (with Adaptation); THE HOUSE ON 92ND STREET (with War); JOURNEY INTO FEAR (with Adaptation); MATA HARI (with Historical); MINISTRY OF FEAR (with War); NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN (with Adaptation); NORTH BY NORTHWEST; NOTORIOUS; SABOTEUR; SECRET AGENT (with Adaptation); THE SPY WHO CAME IN FROM THE COLD (with Adaptation); THE STRANGER; THE THIRTY-NINE STEPS (with Adaptation); TRUE LIES. TV examples: THE AVENGERS; GET SMART (with Parody); I SPY; THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E.; MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE; REILLY--ACE OF SPIES (with Historical); THE SANDBAGGERS; SMILEY'S PEOPLE (with Adaptation); TINKER, TAILOR, SOLDIER, SPY (with Adaptation).

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