AllMovie

The BBC-produced An Englishman Abroad was first offered to American viewers October 27, 1984, as part of PBS's Great Performances series. Alan Bates stars as Guy Burgess, the infamous British diplomat who spied for the Russians in the 1950s. Alan Bennett's teleplay re-creates the 1958 chance meeting in Moscow between Burgess and English actress Coral Browne (playing herself). Though unrepentant concerning his traitorous activities, Burgess wistfully reveals to Ms. Browne that he longs to return to his native England. Mostly, he misses such niceties as British food, wine, conversation, gossip...and tailoring. An Englishman Abroad runs the gamut from cynicism to pathos in its all-too-brief 62 minutes.