The IPCRESS File is a spy thriller based on Len Deighton’s book of the same name, and is the film that propelled Michael Caine into the realms of international stardom. Oh, and it’s a pretty good film, too...
Harry Palmer, "Insubordinate. Insolent. A trickster. Perhaps with criminal tendencies", is a secret service man who has a hate-hate relationship with his boss, Ross, and is transferred to another unit headed by Major Dalby. Their first assignment is to crack the case of disappearing British scientists – are they being kidnapped? Defecting to the other side? Bribed for some reason? When one comes back, apparently fine but with no memory of his scientific endeavours, the case looks to be more than meets the eye...
With Michael Caine in sparkling form as Harry Palmer, the antithesis to James Bond, and some other superb performances including Guy Doleman as Colonel Ross, Gordon Jackson as Palmer’s colleague Carswell and Sue Lloyd as seductive colleague Jean Courtney (who may well be spying on Palmer for his old boss), the acting is mostly top notch here. Nigel Green was also good as Major Dalby, and his inter-office sparring with Ross is always good viewing. Frank Gatliff is quite creepy as “Bluejay”, the main bad guy, but he’s certainly no Blofeld.
Len Deighton’s excellent debut novel was adapted for the silver screen by Bill Canaway and James Doran. They’ve done a very good job in some ways – transferring some of the best dry humour and capturing the paranoid atmosphere, as well as highlighting the interdepartmental tensions and suspicious attitudes of the British and American interlligence services towards each other. About 90% of the mood of the book is captured; however, only about 40% of the plot is left intact. This is a much shorter, simpler story although it needs 109 minutes to tell it. Perhaps the book couldn’t quite be done justice in a single film, but it still left me a little disappointed in that regard.
Other changes are mainly in terms of when the characters are introduced – Jean Courtney, for instance, is introduced much earlier and her role is a little different to in the book. A lot of characters aren’t really explored at all – in particular the dour Secretary Alice (played here by Freda Bamford) hardly gets any screen time. Still, the excellent direction by Sidney Furie (including spectacularly effective use of some very unusual camera angles) and John Barry’s music score (which is one of the finest ever composed) lend great atmosphere and ensure that this is something of an aesthetic masterpiece. At times lack of attention to detail detract from the realism a bit – in particular in one scene it’s pouring down with rain outside and the car wipers are on full, but... there’s no water on the windscreen! Fortunately such moments were rare.
Overall The IPCRESS File is a more than competent spy thriller with some excellent aspects (again, John Barry’s music score deserves special mention), but doesn’t quite reach excellence. As an interpretation of the book it was good, but not brilliant, due to the skimping of detail in terms of plot and characters. Still, a jolly good movie and well worth anyone’s time.
Other Information
Year of release: 1965
Studio: Rank Organisation
Quotes
Palmer: The fellow whose job I'm taking, will he show me the ropes?
Major Dalby: Maybe - if you're in touch with the spirit world.
Palmer: I beg your pardon?
Major Dalby: He was shot this morning.
-----------------
Palmer: The next time you use CC1 authority, just you make sure you have it!
Palmer: You know, it's funny... If Radcliffe had been here, I'd have been... a hero.
Major Dalby: He wasn't. And you're not.
-----------------
Major Dalby: The Americans have put a tail on Palmer.
Colonel Ross: How very tiresome of them.
-----------------
Inspector Keightley: That little blonde bird you was with the other evening...
Palmer: Rita?
Inspector Keightley: That's it. What's her phone number?
Palmer: You dirty old man!
Inspector Keightley: Well, you scratch my back and I'll scratch hers.
Palmer: You ought to be locked up!
Inspector Keightley: I know.
PriceTool.com periodically updates pricing and product information from third-party sources,
so some information may be slightly out-of-date. You should confirm all information before relying on it.
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
