The Ipcress File
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Movie Reviews of The Ipcress File
Movie Review: The Non-Glamorous, "Gourmet" Spy
Summary: 5 Stars
"The Ipcress File," is first in a series of three movies made from Len Deighton books, produced by Harry Saltsman, directed by Sidney J. Furie, and with a sound track by John Barry, all of them apparently taking breaks from their other, more famous spy series, the James Bond 007s. As one of Michael Caine's earlier films, it undoubtedly helped make him a star. However, as most people would say, he's the anti-Bond in this series, cockney accented before it was cool, wearing glasses and ill-fitting suits, living in a humdrum flat, and taking busses where he needs to go. Harry Palmer, Caine's character, further differs from 007 in that he's not a spy by choice; he just prefers it to going to jail for wartime fiddles in the not particularly glamorous, nor applauded, Quartermasters' Corps. And poor Harry, at least in this movie, never goes anywhere glamorous. No Caribbean island for him: it's all damp, cold England.
This movie finds Palmer seconded to a new, secret, domestic spying bureacracy, assigned to a puzzling case: important British scientists are disappearing, and coming back useless. His supervisors hope his rebellious streak, his non-organization man personality-- his sheer rudeness to his betters--may help him prevail where several others have failed.
It's a tightly plotted, entertaining movie, and takes a lot of flavor from its London setting. It's a particular favorite of mine, since I always thought the young Michael Caine to be quite a tasty dish. Supporting players are well-cast; however, not much has been seen of Sue Lloyd, Palmer's love interest before or since. (Not that many Bond girls have had outstanding careers, either.) Finally, for reasons unknown, the two CIA men important to the plot are made to virtually wear flashing red "Notice Me" signs: one, already noticeably black, also wears broken glasses mended with cellophane tape.
The movie is also remarkable as a snapshot of the mid 1960's, a time when England was still very much as it had always been, but was about to change, and London was about to start swinging. The smoke in the spies' office is so thick that, considering they also work in a dangerous trade, Her Majesty's Government is unlikely ever to have to give any of them pensions. Supervisors wear fine Savile Row suits, drive elite cars, and enjoy their private clubs. Military bands play in the parks. And yet, the Ipcress File, when we do actually see it, is a psychedelic light show that might accompany any of the new rock and roll bands.
When Ross, Palmer's ultimate supervisor, finds his employee pushing a cart in an American-style supermarket, he remarks that he does not care for this new American style of grocery-shopping, surely very different from the small, full-service grocery stores that were mainstays of British life. (Although it's doubtful that any Englishman of Ross's stature bought his own groceries at that time.) And Ross echoes the widely held view that Palmer is a gourmet cook: doesn't he buy fancy French canned mushrooms, labeled "Champignons," in preference to plain old fresh English ones. What a gourmet is our Palmer.
Movie Review: One of the great time capsules of the 1960's spy craze
Summary: 5 Stars
One of my all time favorite spy thrillers. Michael Caine stars as Harry Palmer, a theif who now works for MI5 and the very unpleasant Colonel Ross played by Guy Doleman. If your looking for the anti-Bond that dosen't have the world weariness and brooding, then you found your man.
The world of Palmer is down to earth; Spying is not depicted as fanastic as being a Double-O, most of your time is consumed by having to do mundane duties like filing out field reports. However nothing about this film is boring, it's colourful in the sense that you know danger and surprises every moment when Palmer is out the field and mistakes can be made like accidentally killing an American agent. The plot also has that down to earth atmosphere but still keeps one's interest, scientists have been kidnapped and returned but they seem not to function in their occupation because of brain washing. When Palmer is captured and attempted to be brain washed it's one of the films' great highlights, truly breaking down the hero always a good move because it means his vitcory would be all the greater.
Ironcially most of the Bond people are behind this film but not in the usual sense; Ken Adam's sets are in no way sci-fi or remotely fantastic in any sense, it's all very much contemporary 1960's. John Barry's score is still quite jazzy but it's a little more subtle, I can't articulate it but you know this is a Barry score for something in the vein of James Bond but not really Bond.
Micheal Caine has Harry Palmer is such a great anti-hero who has a light side to him. As I said before this isn't James Bond who dedicates himself to the secret service, he's only doing intelligence work because the alternative is two years behind bars in a military prison. He knows how to sweet talk the women and he's a bit of a dork, laughing at his own jokes for example. Also he's a great cook and I do believe that is a turn on for most females.
I haven't watched those two Palmer television films from the 90's but I think it's safe to say this is the best film out of the series. Anyone who loves James Bond and is looking for something fun and different should check this film out.
Movie Review: One Of The Best Espionage Films. And It's No Spoof.
Summary: 5 Stars
"Let's see," says Major Dalby, head of the Counter-Intelligence Bureau, as he reads Sergeant Harry Palmer's personnel file. "'Insubordinate. Insolent. A trickster. Perhaps with criminal tendencies.' Well, that last one may just be put to good use."
Harry Palmer (Michael Caine) has been sent to Dalby (Nigel Green) by Col. H. L. Ross (Guy Doleman) of Britain's Ministry of Defense. Scientists have gone missing, and the few who have shown up later seem to have been brain washed. They are no longer useful. Dalby's unit is charged with finding out what's going on. And Harry Palmer, like it or not, who loves to cook and loves the birds, who wears glasses, who is not impressed with authority, who can be a bit unreliable when he chooses to be, and who actually is a pretty good spy, is assigned to help break the case. Eventually he does, but not without a lot of pain and a fair amount of violence. Palmer can take it, but he can dish it out as well. He also has a shrewd, analytical mind. He's willing to gamble and sometimes he's off the mark. And all the while he has to deal with the bullying, condescending Dalby, "a passed-over major," as well as Col. Ross, who drips condescension like an ice cube on a hot day. Harry Palmer doesn't have it easy.
I think this is one of the better espionage movies made. It's not a spoof, like the Bond movies. Harry Palmer, based on the Len Deighton character (to whom Deighton never gave a name), as played by Caine is immensely likable because he takes the measure of the stuffed shirts and is amused by their pretensions. The character also works because as the story proceeds you realize that Palmer knows his job. The two secondary actors, Green and Doleman, bring a lot of depth to their roles and a lot of interest to the movie. Their attitudes are so imperviously superior it would be amusing except that they both wield quite a bit of power.
This is a movie that I can watch many times and still enjoy for its style and story-telling prowess. Furie throws in some directorial flourishes common then that now seem a bit dated, but that's a minor quibble for a well made and well acted movie. The DVD transfer is just fine.
Movie Review: Len Deighton's Spy with No Name = Harry Palmer
Summary: 5 Stars
Len Deighton's first novel presents the micro-detail workings of a nameless espionage agent's workaday world. The protagonist is as far removed from the glamour world of James Bond as you can get -- in fact, it's the polar opposite. The film IS a departure from Deighton's novel but what is here works well.
The entire cast is very good. The story moves along at a leisurely but good pace. The cinematography takes on a persona of its own that bears well under repeated viewing. John Barry's score is one of his best and quite different in tone from his Bond scores. Production values are top notch. And it's quite surprizing when you realize this film's producer is Harry Saltzman -- one of the co-producers of the Bond series! In fact, Saltzman brought along some of the Bond crew to work on "The Ipcress File".
This is Michael Caine's first starring role in film. Saltzman tapped Caine after seeing his excellent perfomance in "Zulu". Caine does a yeoman job of portraying the novel's spy with no name as Harry Palmer, complete with deadpan, wry humor.
On DVD, the film is presented in its intended original aspect ratio of 2.35:1. The image looks quite good. The sound is the original clear mono. There is commentary by director Sidney J. Furie and editor Peter Hunt. Anchor Bay is to be congratulated for making this film available on disc. Which brings us to a sore subject
"The Ipcress File" is currently out of print in the US. The film is lated to be screened in Washington, DC. Maybe there's some renewed interest in the film which might lead to a remastered edition on DVD? Who knows who owns the copyright? ITM, try vising your local library or rental outlet to see this film.
IMHO, it's an excellent film -- filled with believable characters and situations and enough plot twists to keep you wondering what the heck's going on. A keeper.
Movie Review: Outstanding British espionage thriller
Summary: 5 Stars
Michael Caine stars as reluctant, unregulated British secret agent Harry Palmer, a role which propelled him to stardom in "The Ipcress File". Filmed in the midst of the cold war and in competition with the popular James Bond series, this movie, the first of the Harry Palmer trilogy, has far more plausiblity.
Palmer, an ex-thief, food and music connoisseur and still a sergeant in the British army is transfered by his superior, intelligence agent Col. Ross played by Guy Doleman. His new boss Maj. Dalby played by the excellent authoritative South African star Nigel Green, assigns him to a sensitive mission. British scientists have been abducted, only to reappear soon thereafter with all their technical knowledge brainwashed from their memory.
Caine is put on the tail of suspected mastermind Dr. Grantby, a man with Albanian connections played by Frank Gatliff. He and his mates soon find an audio tape entitled Ipcress which seems to hold a key for the brainwashing scheme. Soon agents surrounding Caine begin getting killed and he is captured and also subjected to the Ipcress treatment. Apparently there is a double agent within the British service but who is it?
Michael Caine's low key and minimalistic portrayal of Palmer established a cool professional air envisioned by author Len Deighton, whose novel provided the basis for this film. Producer Harry Saltzman burned the candle at both ends, having produced nine of the James Bond flicks as well as the Harry Palmer trilogy.