The Ipcress File

1965

Action / Drama / Thriller

14
Rotten Tomatoes Critics - Certified Fresh 97% · 32 reviews
Rotten Tomatoes Audience - Upright 85% · 5K ratings
IMDb Rating 7.2/10 10 18945 18.9K

england espionage spy cold war james bond spoof swinging 60s

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Plot summary

Sly and dry intelligence agent Harry Palmer is tasked with investigating British Intelligence security, and is soon enmeshed in a world of double-dealing, kidnap and murder when he finds a traitor operating at the heart of the secret service.

Director

Sidney J. Furie Photo
Sidney J. Furie

Top cast

Michael Caine Photo
Michael Caine as Harry Palmer
Gordon Jackson Photo
Gordon Jackson as Jock Carswell
Oliver MacGreevy Photo
Oliver MacGreevy as Housemartin
Nigel Green Photo
Nigel Green as Major Dalby
720p.BLU 1080p.BLU
988.56 MB
1280*544
English 2.0
NR
Subtitles us  
24 fps
1 hr 47 min
Seeds 9
1.98 GB
1920*816
English 5.1
NR
Subtitles us  
24 fps
1 hr 47 min
Seeds 19

Movie Reviews

Reviewed by Hey_Sweden 8 / 10

A superior spy thriller.

This adaptation of the Len Deighton novel gave a big boost to the career of Sir Michael Caine, who stars as a reluctant secret agent named Harry Palmer. Palmer is brought on board a particularly strange case. A fair number of Western scientists are being kidnapped, then reappearing days later, brainwashed and completely useless. Palmer, a calm, unflappable, unemotional type, is also known for being insubordinate, insolent, and larcenous. He tends to think that he was selected for this mission because he's seen as expendable.In sharp contrast to the James Bond films of the time, there are few major action set pieces here; as directed by the Canadian-born Sidney J. Furie, this is played much more low-key. But it can boast a respectable amount of suspense & atmosphere (especially during the sinister finale), and is fundamentally a solid story related in an entertaining manner. It's extremely well shot in Techniscope by Otto Heller, with especially good use of Dutch angles and camera placement. (Indeed, some of the shots take on a voyeuristic quality.). The score by John Barry is very memorable.Caine is absolutely perfect in the lead: his Palmer is a relatable, average-Joe type of guy who feels outclassed by his superiors. And he's surrounded by top British talent: Nigel Green, Guy Doleman, Sue Lloyd, Gordon Jackson (a particular favorite of this viewer, playing the cheery "Jock" Carswell), Frank Gatliff, Aubrey Richards, Stanley Meadows, etc.Although some of you may be able to figure out some of the developments, the twists that this yarn delivers are still quite entertaining. Overall, this sizes up as one of the best offerings in this genre, and it would lead to the sequels "Funeral in Berlin" & "Billion Dollar Brain", and, decades later, the follow-ups "Bullet to Beijing" & "Midnight in St. Petersburg".Eight out of 10.
Reviewed by l_rawjalaurence 7 / 10

Atmospherically Shot Cold War Thriller

THE IPCRESS FILE covers familiar territory of a Cold War spy thriller; it contains an incomprehensible plot, a fair share of untrustworthy characters, and a subject (The Ipcress File) which is never satisfactorily explained. Suffice to say that Harry Palmer (Michael Caine) discovers the cause of all the trouble, but only after a considerable degree of suffering at the hands of a torturer (Frank Gatliff).What makes Sidney J. Furie's film so memorable is its shooting-style (photography by Otto Heller). It makes use of the basic shot- reverse shot sequence, but every frame is partially obscured by an object, or person placed close to the camera; we seldom see the characters' faces in full profile. This strategy helps to create an atmosphere of menace, where nothing is quite as it seems, and every mission suggested to Harry by his two bosses Dalby (Nigel Green) and Ross (Guy Doleman) appears to have ulterior motives behind it that Palmer remains blissfully unaware of. Palmer himself retains his integrity throughout, even if he perceives himself as something of a rebel within the Secret Service.THE IPCRESS FILE is a direct antithesis of the Bond canon of films, also popular at the time of release. It is set in a grimy, rain- sodden London full of gray buildings and dark interior; no exotic locations for this spy. The most colorful aspect of the mise-en- scene are the big old-fashioned Routemaster buses that drive up and down familiar streets - Piccadilly, Whitehall, Oxford Street. Palmer himself lives in a shabby apartment; his one concession to the so-called 'Swinging Sixties' spirit is an ability to cook, but no one, not least his colleague Jean (Sue Lloyd) seems especially interested. The film inevitably incorporates some of the sexist attitudes of the time - for Palmer all women are "birds," and they do not become actively involved in any espionage activity. The film is a very masculinist piece, with legions of actors dressed in long coats, trilby hats and dark suits. Palmer himself has a good sartorial sense, but even he adopts the same uniform, especially when in pursuit of the enemy.Michael Caine, in a pre-ALFIE role, shows all the cockiness characteristic of his youthful period, when he really believed he could challenge the status quo. Whether he succeeds or not is very much open to debate.
Reviewed by grantss 7 / 10

Intriguing espionage drama

Intriguing espionage drama, based on the Len Deighton novel.

Decent, reasonably complex, plot. Not 100% watertight, but the holes aren't big.

Solid direction by Sidney J Furie. Movie moves along at a decent pace and he builds the tension well. Does miss a few beats though. Some scenes are quite flat and almost pointless.

Good final few scenes which make it all worthwhile and bring everything together.

Good performance by Michael Caine in the lead role. Not your average spy - he is almost the anti-James Bond. Resourceful, but slovenly and, well, human. Seemed much more like a real agent would be than James Bond.

Good support from Nigel Green and Guy Doleman.

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