The Ipcress File (1965) directed by Sidney J. Furie

[Lord Emsworth]

Having read a few books by Len Deighton this year, including The Ipcress File, I was keen to revisit the film

In terms of the book, The Ipcress File (1962) was Len Deighton's first novel and I believe he was trying to provide a more realistic depiction of spying than Ian Fleming's Bond books, which he complained were too implausible. He succeeded, and how. It's bleak and cynical, and - most notably - is rooted in the day to day bureaucracy of running a department which makes it much richer and more interesting than my inaccurate classification. It is, in short, the anti-Bond. Len Deighton nailed the life of the spy, especially the loneliness and suspicion. His descriptions of London are spot on, and really evocative. Factor in his imaginative use of words, his emphasis on bureaucracy, his preoccupation with class and hierachy, and it's no wonder that he is held in such high esteem.

It's a confusing plot however the pleasure is in the writing. As I knew the rough story I was able to focus on the writing and the detail which is where the pleasure of this novel really lies. Here's one minor example to illustrate the interesting and perceptive style....

Murray had not liked the peacetime army and it was understandable, there was no place in it for a man with a paperback edition of Kierkegaard in his pocket. The Sergeants tried to talk like officers and the officers like gentlemen, he said. The mess was full of men who would sit in a cinema all the weekend and come back with stories about house parties on the river.

With all the confusing plot of the novel in my head, sort of, I rewatched the film and it really is a much simpler version of the story and probably strips out half of the book. I was actually quite disappointed by just how straightforward the film is by comparison. That said, and you doubtless already know, on its own terms it's a classic of 60s British cinema. Everything works perfectly. Caine is perfect as Harry Palmer  and whilst undeniably rooted in the 60s it is also curiously timeless.

Did I mention the incredible John Barry soundtrack? I have now. It's got to be a contender for greatest film soundtrack of all time. Certainly greatest score.

Top triv....

Newspaper cuttings shown in Palmer's kitchen are actually cookery articles written for The Observer by Len Deighton, an accomplished cook, and in a scene where Palmer prepares a meal, the hands in close-up are really Len Deighton's.

So, what's your take on this iconic film?

Overrated? Underrated?

What do you like about it?

[Villain]

Having read the book (sorry, blatant Beatles lyric there!) and watched the film countless times I can only agree with every word of your post Lord E, it's an absolute classic and one of those rare films which doesn't have any unnecessary flesh on it anywhere. The clowning glory is John Barry's beautifully judged score, which conjures up the cold war era all by itself. I have it on in the car quite often (along with JB's other masterpiece 'The Persuaders' theme) and never tire of it. The views of London as it was in 1965 are all part of the film's bleak charm, plus we have a rare glimpse of steam train operation at Marylebone, just a year or so before the last steam hauled service departed from there for Rugby and beyond, I love the voice of the station announcer in the opening sequence. The casting is spot on, Who else but Michael Caine could pull of the sly cocky humour of Harry Palmer, and both Guy Doleman and Nigel Green are perfectly cast, as are the supporting roles from Gordon Jackson, Sue Lloyd etc.

Pretty much the perfect British film  .


Villain 

[Lord Emsworth]

Thanks Villain - yes, I totally agree, the perfect British film

Have you read any of the other Palmer books?

The Ipcress File (1962)
Horse Under Water (1963)
Funeral in Berlin (1964)
The Billion Dollar Brain (1966)
An Expensive Place to Die (1967)
Spy Story (1974)
Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Spy (1976)

I've only read Horse Under Water so far which I enjoyed, but can see why it never got made into a film.

I've also read the first three Bernard Samson books by Deighton - there are nine in total plus a prequel

Incredibly I don't think I have ever seen the film adaptation of....

Funeral in Berlin

...so will be putting that right next year once I've read the book and the I can also fully appeciate...

Del Boy's excellent post on the film and now and then photos

[Three Litre]

They're making a TV series of this, on ITV!

Which not a lot of people know.

[Deleted]

Brilliant film! Just bought it the other day so I can watch it on my phone!

GC

[Palmer]

Feb 6, 2022 18:17:30 GMT Three Litre said:

They're making a TV series of this, on ITV!

Which not a lot of people know.

Oh goodness no (please say it's not so)...!!

[Three Litre]

Feb 21, 2022 13:20:30 GMT Palmer said:

Feb 6, 2022 18:17:30 GMT Three Litre said:

They're making a TV series of this, on ITV!

Which not a lot of people know.

Oh goodness no (please say it's not so)...!!

I've seen the trailers on TV, starts next month.

[Dirty Epic]

Feb 21, 2022 19:07:18 GMT Three Litre said:

Feb 21, 2022 13:20:30 GMT Palmer said:

Oh goodness no (please say it's not so)...!!

I've seen the trailers on TV, starts next month.

Hope they don't mess it up, seems totally different to the film from the trailers.

[Arthur Pringle]

The actor playing Harry Palmer, Joe Cole, is about a year older than Caine was in 1965, except he looks like a 14 year old boy dressed up in a suit, Joe 90 sprang to mind. We've noted many times that most people seemed to look at least ten years older in the past, Caine as Palmer looked like he'd lived a bit.

I was watching 'Call The Midwife' the other day & was struck by how it completely fails to evoke the period it's set in. They may pay attention to clothes, decor & the exteriors but what counts in the end is the period atmosphere, does it 'feel' right? I don't think it's ever possible to achieve this with digital video, it is flat, glossy & has no character, the sound too is all wrong.

The director of photography on 'The Ipcress File', Otto Heller, he'd been photographing films since 1918. Then there's John Barry's score. I can't see why any fan of the film would want to watch a 2022 tv remake, so that leaves everyone else & they'd be better off watching Sidney Furie's film.

[Del Boy]

Feb 19, 2022 19:02:17 GMT @getcarter said:

Brilliant film! Just bought it the other day so I can watch it on my phone!

GC

Mirror it ont telly GC  

I think I'll have a butchers at the telly version. It can't be a total hash up can it ? 
The trailer looks very good. 

As for the books, I shall keep an eye out for them as I would love to read them.  Quite a lot around for a couple of quid in paperback. Haven't seen a set of them mind.