#The ipcress file spy movies movie
In fact, if a spy movie truly wanted to stand out during the sixties, its best strategy was to become the polar opposite of a Bond film and showcase the world of espionage in a rather downbeat and unglamorous fashion.
Read the Secret File of technical information and quotes from The IPCRESS File (Film).During the 1960s, the James Bond films became a pop culture phenomenon, so of course, the rest of the decade would be flooded with spy flicks which were copycats and cheap ripoffs. That said, this is a wonderful film, every part the spy film, thriller and mystery that it is. It’s a decent number for one character, except that Palmer was and continues to be compared to James Bond, who has been played by multiple actors and whose films are still being made. It went up against James Bond, but in the history of cinema, the Harry Palmer films only number five.
One of the more interesting things about this movie that was revolutionary for the 60’s in cinema was the introduction of a male lead who could cook and was happy to do so and who knew his way around a grocery store. Now in the book The IPCRESS File, the main character is not named, but for the movie, they pulled from a conversation the main character has which was, “Hello, Harry.” “Now, my name isn’t Harry, but in this business it’s hard to remember whether it ever had been.” Palmer and Courtney are pawns, but whose pawns are they? I won’t spoil the film, but it’s a master spy thriller mystery on par with the book, although only thematically. Meanwhile, Palmer and one of his colleague finds out what IPCRESS stands for: Induction of Psycho-neuroses by Conditioned Reflex under str ESS.įrom here on out, it’s a guessing game of who’s playing who. Palmer eventually makes his mark and a deal is done, but the goods turn out to be damaged. Palmer and Carswell discover the meaning of IPCRESS He ends up in a fight with the mark’s bodyguard and before the fighting begins in earnest, Palmer takes off his glasses. After that, it’s on to another briefing where Palmer was the only one to come close to accomplishing the goal, albeit close but no cigar. This kind of dull thing isn’t something Bond is usually caught doing, but the film they set out to make was primarily based upon Len Deighton’s book and secondarily built upon the premise that Harry Palmer is not James Bond.įrom there, it’s on to the case where Palmer finds his mark and loses him. Palmer’s response is simple: “It may be Dalby’s way of doing things, but it isn’t mine.”įrom there, Palmer, in the the rain, parks his car and pays the parking meter. Palmer asks one of his colleagues what a Form L101 is, and it’s a field report that needs to be completed after every job. Harry Palmer is more interested in Courtney than the BriefingĪfter the briefing, Alice, the secretary for the outfit, shows Palmer his desk and explains the paperwork, making an emphasis on Form L101. The assignments are handed out in the briefing, but Palmer is more interested in the lovely lady in the room, Courtney. It is then that Dalby explains the man he is replacing was shot that morning. While walking to the briefing, Palmer asks if the man he’s replacing will show him the ropes. “Good that last quality might be useful,” retorts Dalby. “Yes, that’s a pretty fair appraisal, sir” replies Palmer. Insubordinate, insolent, a trickster, perhaps with criminal tendencies.” Some have for good reason, but the motivation for others is not so clear.ĭuring their meeting, Ross calls Palmer “a little insubordinate, but a good man.” With that Ross exits and Palmer goes in to meet with Dalby.ĭalby says, “It isn’t usual to read a B-107 to its subject, but I’m going to put you straight. Ross speaks with Dalby about “brain drain,” as it appears many government scientists have been leaving their posts at the peak of their careers. The dry wit in this scene is very well written and makes Palmer appear as a misfit which, of course, he is.
They start by discussing Palmer’s B-107 (a report), which Ross says makes “lovely reading,” before they get on to his transfer to Major Dalby’s outfit. Harry Palmer talking to Colonel Ross in The IPCRESS File
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