A 'Tinker's' murmer

Helmer Tomas Alfredson began the 12 ,. 7 preem of Focus Features' "Mess Tailor Soldier Spy" in the Arclight by singing a Swedish version of "Happy Birthday" to producer Robyn Slovo. After getting a warm round of applause, Alfredson told everyone else he wished they'd understand his film, according to John le Carre's dense espionage novel. The afterparty in the Chateau Marmont found stars Gary Oldman, Colin Firth and Mark Strong interacting with well-wishers. Alfredon mused concerning the pic's protag, George Smiley, being "so complicated to have an actor to complete, because Smiley does not speak for 16 or 17 minutes at first, and ultimately, he boosts his voice slightly." On certain takes, Oldman's Smiley was a little lacking-keyed. "Tomas would request me to visit just a little bigger sometimes, because things i was doing am small it wasn't signing up," remembered the thesp. "He'd request me to glance at Colin and I'd say, 'I did,' and he'd say, 'Can you turn it into a tiny bit bigger because we did not quite view it.A Through the finish, we conveyed telepathically." n Contact Shaun Sneider at shaun.sneider@variety.com