Ipcress File (1965) directed by Sidney J. Furie.The film, from Len Deightons spy novel, was designed to be in direct contrast to the Bond adventures, although Harry Saltzman ended up employing much of the same production staff, including production designer Ken Adam, editor Peter Hunt and composer John Barry. Superficially, there are many similarities, even to the extent of beginning the film with a dramatic pre-credit sequence. Like Bond, the hero is clearly his own man, has a taste for fine foods and is popular with women, and even carries a non-standard-issue weapon. But the similarities end there. Harry Palmer wears spectacles, shops in a supermarket (still a novelty in 1965) and is a sergeant working off a two-year sentence for black market activities in Berlin. The story set in 1960s swinging London. Harry Palmer becomes a government intelligence agent to avoid an army court-martial, his latest assignment is to investigate a scientific brain drain along with agent Dalby (Nigel Green). Their mission is to locate the kidnappers of missing doctor Radcliffe (Aubrey Richards), make a deal with them for the return of their latest victim and a valuable file in his possession. Harry bargains for the scientists return but discovers the man has been brain washed; the spy agency wants their ransom money back and wishes to know the identity of the kidnappers. Harry continues on the trail and then discovers one of his bosses is a double agent. Nigel Green and Gordon Jackson lend authentic support; Sue Lloyd is the woman seduced by Harry's kitchen skills. Although he had already played a supporting role in Zulu (Cy Enfield, 1964) and had appeared in a few other films, Michael Caine's career really took off with his starring role in Ipcress. He would reprise the role of Harry Palmer in two interesting though inferior sequels, Funeral in Berlin (d. Guy Hamilton, 1966) and Billion Dollar Brain (d. Ken Russell, 1967). Trivia Palmer is the first action hero to wear glasses ...
Ipcress File (1965) directed by Sidney J. Furie.The film, from Len Deightons spy novel, was designed...
