Palestinian intelligence says she’s loyal to their cause. Israeli counterintelligence says she’s “bright, creative, underused, romantic and a liar.” Diane Keaton stars as Charlie, a repertory actress and Palestinian sympathizer who plays the role of — and for — her life when she’s thrust onto the center stage of international espionage. Klaus Kinski and Yorgo Voyagis co-star as shrewd Israeli operatives who plot to use Charlie as bait to capture an elusive Palestinian terrorist (Sami Frey). Director George Roy Hill masterfully arranges the pieces of this cloak-and-dagger puzzle based on John le Carre’s bestseller into a dazzling thriller racing full tilt through London, Munich, Athens, Jerusalem and Beirut. March to the enthralling beat of The Little Drummer Girl.

For thoughts on The Little Drummer Girl, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:

[youtube https://youtu.be/-wxlFGYzfB8?si=daX9-oda4-GTgy4R&t=2440]

Video Quality

The Little Drummer Girl gets a strong upgrade on Blu-Ray courtesy of Warner Archive with a new 1080p transfer. This covert drama captures the natural nuances of the locales with the aid of natural film grain free of any egregious compression artifacts or other such digital anomalies. There are facets of the production design that are on full display for the first time on home entertainment. There are some dynamic colors featured in the environments that lift up the film quite miraculously. This disc represents the shooting locations with a degree of clarity and nuance that is irresistible. Skin tones are natural and consistent, and the presentation offers impeccable black levels free from crush. Warner Archive has treated this one with the level of respect it deserves.

Audio Quality

Warner Archive gives this Blu-Ray a DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio mix that captures the sonic ambitions of this narrative without fail. Dialogue remains planted in the center channel with environmental sounds translated properly in the dual mono mix. Some dynamic environmental effects within the locale add some texture to this adventure. The score from Dave Grusin sounds fantastic as it nails every element with unwavering fidelity. This audio presentation could not be executed better as the material comes to life as intended. You have to respect the care put forth with this one. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided on this disc.

Special Features

Original Theatrical Trailer: The nearly two-minute trailer is provided here.

Final Thoughts

The Little Drummer Girl is shockingly relevant as the characters get caught up in conflicts that rage just as ferociously as ever. The film is less concerned about taking either side too resolutely, but instead getting you caught in the mind of our burdened main character. As with any John le Carre adaptation, the material is very dense and somewhat cold, but when it connects, it connects quite effectively. Diane Keaton does a nice job in a role that seems somewhat underwritten from a character motivation standpoint. The film is a bit unwieldy, but it is worth a watch for the performances and craft alone. Warner Archive has released a Blu-Ray featuring an excellent A/V presentation and barely anything in the way of special features. If you are a fan of the performers or the source material, you should give it a shot. Recommended

The Little Drummer Girl can be purchased directly through MovieZyng or various other online retailers.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Warner Archive has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.