162. Argo: How the CIA Made a Movie That Never Existed (Ep 3)

The Rest Is Classified

Goalhanger

History

4.4 • 2K Ratings

🗓️ 31 May 2026

⏱️ 46 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Tony Mendez has just landed in revolutionary Tehran. Now he must teach six terrified diplomats to be a Hollywood film crew… in 72 hours. Listen as David and Gordon reach the climax of their adventure into the true story behind Argo. ------------------- THE REST IS CLASSIFIED LIVE 2026 at The Rest Is Fest: Buy your tickets ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to see David and Gordon live on stage at London’s Southbank Centre on 4 September: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/the-rest-is-classified-live/⁠⁠⁠⁠ ------------------- Sign-up for our free newsletter where producer Becki takes you behind the scenes of the show: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://mailchi.mp/goalhanger.com/tric-free-newsletter-sign⁠-up⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ------------------- Join the Declassified Club to go deeper into the world of espionage with exclusive Q&As, interviews with top intelligence insiders, regular livestreams, ad-free listening, early access to episodes and live show tickets, and weekly deep dives into original spy stories. Members also get curated reading lists, special book discounts, prize draws, and access to our private chat community. Just go to ⁠⁠therestisclassified.com⁠ or join on Apple Podcasts. ------------------- Get a 10% discount on business PCs, printers and accessories using the code TRIC10. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://HP.com/CLASSIFIED⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more information. T&C's apply. ------------------- Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠therestisclassified@goalhanger.com⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@restisclassified⁠ Video Editor: Joe Pettit Social Producer: Emma Jackson Assistant Producer: Alfie Rowe Producer: Becki Hills Head of History: Dom Johnson Exec Producer: Tony Pastor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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0:00.0	For exclusive interviews, bonus episodes, ad-free listening, early access to series,
0:09.0	first look at live show tickets, a weekly newsletter, and discounted books,
0:13.1	join the Declassified Club at the rest is classified.com. The CIA man Tony Mendes has just landed in revolutionary Tehran.
0:29.5	Now he must teach six terrified diplomats to be a Hollywood film crew all in 72 hours.
0:37.5	Well, welcome to the rest is classified.
0:39.8	I'm Gordon Carrera.
0:40.9	And I'm David McCloskey.
0:42.2	And David, last time we talked about the cover.
0:45.8	Studio 6 productions on the old Columbia lot of Hollywood,
0:49.8	the Argo screenplay with its fantastic Middle East sci-fi mythology, the concept art, full-page ads in
0:57.8	variety, alias passports and documents, and President Carter approving the operation. So now all is
1:05.8	set for this great rescue in which the CIA play their own small role now as Tony Mendes
1:12.7	arrives to help out the Canadians on their rescue of the Americans bailing them out as
1:19.3	ever. I know you might have something to say about that, but wait, it's the early morning of January
1:23.4	25th, 1980. Tony Mendes, who is, I have to say, quite a heroic CIA officer and his partner,
1:30.0	Julio, also Ed, have just landed at the airport in Tehran, undercover as a production manager
1:36.7	and associate producer for Studio 6 productions, ready to scout locations for their new film
1:43.2	project, Argo.
1:44.9	And this is the moment where the plan is going to come into action, isn't it, David?
1:49.2	You know, before we get into the amazing weekend, it's really it's a weekend in which Tony
1:56.5	Mendez and Ed Johnson are on the ground in Tehran to bring the diplomats out.
2:03.7	I think we should acknowledge.
	...

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