17 replies to this topic

[INTREPID]

The Ipcress File, the original Harry Palmer movie was on last night. It was the first time I'd seen the film from start to finish. It was super. I'm at once reminded of some excellent episodes of the Prisoner, and apprehensive about the other Michael Caine/Harry Palmer films. They look inconsistent. Still, there's always Get Carter.

[Mona Lovesit]

I have been wanting to get this on DVD for a little while now - I have the other 2 (Caine) Palmer movies.

Could not be bothered with the two Jason Connery ones, though.

Great score by John Barry. The best of the 3, by far.

[marktmurphy]

I prefer Funeral in Berlin- a better plot and it makes sense. Ipcress is a more impressive film, but the camerawork and impenetrable plot make it less fun. Billion Dollar Brain is good fun and very stylish. The scores in all three are good.

[spynovelfan]

I haven't seen the two that came decades later, but haven't heard anything to make me want to, either.

Of the main three, yes, I think FUNERAL IN BERLIN is the most enjoyable. IPCRESS rather relies on that twist, doesn't it? BERLIN is much more of a Bond film, I think - unsurprising, perhaps, as Guy Hamilton directed it. There's a scene where Palmer gets stopped at the airport that could easily have been done with Connery as Bond. I don't really see Palmer and Bond as opposites, on film or in the books. I think Deighton and Fleming were very similar writers in some ways.

BILLION DOLLAR BRAIN is very uneven, but still has some great stuff in it. It feels the most 'Cold War' of the three, probably because of the abundance of snow and ice. The villain is into battle role-playing, much like THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS and ROLE OF HONOUR.

[marktmurphy]

I don't really see Palmer and Bond as opposites, on film or in the books. I think Deighton and Fleming were very similar writers in some ways.

Completely agree- Palmer was supposed to be the unglamourous antidote to Bond, but Ipcress is a very stylish film, which rather gives it a 'glamour of grit' feel. Palmer and Bond play on very similar angles but just from slightly different degrees.

If Palmer films had kept being made they would have turned into Bond pretty quickly- 'Brain' has a Bond title sequence, girl, villain and lair, for heavens sake!

[TortillaFactory]

Ipcress File remains my favorite spy film - I think it's remarkably well put-together, and by far the best of the Harry Palmer series. Still haven't been able to find it on DVD in Region 1.

About Palmer vs. Bond - Bond is bourgeois and Palmer is working-class, but I think they have similar values, and Bond would probably hang out with Palmer - not sure if Palmer would take to Bond, though.

[INTREPID]

BILLION DOLLAR BRAIN is very uneven, but still has some great stuff in it. It feels the most 'Cold War' of the three, probably because of the abundance of snow and ice. The villain is into battle role-playing, much like THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS and ROLE OF HONOUR.

By that logic, you could say Ice Station Zebra is a great Cold War movie, and I might disagree with you on that But just to be safe, then just as with TIF I should see all of ISZ first. I've only seen about half.

[spynovelfan]

Well, it has other elements in it that are Cold War, too. But the snowy landscapes do, I think, give it more of that atmosphere.

[marktmurphy]

Well it's got loads of Russians in it for a start! That's a bit more cold war than the Albert Hall!

[spynovelfan]

Something I think Fleming and Deighton had in common was their love of and understanding of other cultures. Fleming had his two volumes of THRILLING CITIES, and Deighton compiled two very similar books, LONDON DOSSIER and CONTINENTAL DOSSIER (both of which I highly recommend if you want to dip into some great Sixties travel writing).

I think there's a good article to be written on Fleming and Deighton.

[Napoleon Solo]

The Ipcress File, the original Harry Palmer movie was on last night.  It was the first time I'd seen the film from start to finish.  It was super.  I'm at once reminded of some excellent episodes of the Prisoner, and apprehensive about the other Michael Caine/Harry Palmer films.  They look inconsistent.  Still, there's always Get Carter.

An interesting reaction, given the film was produced by Harry Saltzman, with contributions by John Barry, Ken Adam and Peter Hunt.

[terminus]

Funeral In Berlin is a Palmer movie, right ? I just didn't like that, it was trying to be cool and gritty but it was just boring. The Bond movies of the same period have style and wonder -

[Napoleon Solo]

Funeral In Berlin is a Palmer movie, right ? I just didn't like that, it was trying to be cool and gritty but it was just boring. The Bond movies of the same period have style and wonder -

It is a Palmer movie and was directed by Guy Hamilton.

[Bond Bug]

Harry P***er: an anti-hero who wears glasses and is involved in thrilling adventure. Where did J K Rowling get her inspiration?

[INTREPID]

One thing that really struck me as different was obviously the cinematography. It's not filmed as an exciting spy movie (way to shoot yourself in the foot) but at least it leaves you wanting more, leaves something to the imagination.

When Palmer fights with Housemartin, first of all he deals with him quite well (although he gets away.) But the fight scene is filmed from about a hundred feet away, and totally silently as if we are passersby watching a fight without really understanding what is going on.

I guess the 007 alternative would be a soundtracked fight like the one in TND with a catwalk over a huge whirring newspaper machine, lots of camera angles and guns going off. The scene from Ipcress is a lot more real, and a lot more mysterious. But a lot less attention-getting

[marktmurphy]

I really wish they had also filmed HORSE UNDER WATER too

I tried reading that when I heard it would've been the forth. God, I've never been so bored by a book.

[Solex Agitator]

THE IPCRESS FILE is one of my most favorite films of all time. It is extremely well-crafted and rooted in plausibile espionage. It is witty, urbane, moody, sexy, and a lot of fun. John Barry's score, while somewhat limited with its variation on a them ad nauseum, is one of his finest. Caine is masterful and really makes the dialogue snap. The camera work and editing is masterful and somewhat Wellesian. This IS London as it was. I cannot praise this film more highly.

[TheSaint]

Caught it on TCM the other day. Dry but, enjoyable. Love the score by Barry. Will have to track the cd down. I've seen Funeral in Berlin, Bullet to Beijing, & Midnight in St.Petersberg. I still have to watch Billion Dollar Brain.