the albanian, the decoy, the mole
Added 7/17/2009
The good old days of deception and brainwashing. The zenith of the obscure and analytical secret services of the eastern block.
His name is Harry Palmer: he's cocky, defiant and effective. He thinks he has one mission; actually he has two.
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A Treat for Bond Purists
Added 1/20/2009
If you're a James Bond fanatic, you'll probably enjoy THE IPCRESS FILE. Not that there's any similarities between Ian Fleming's Bond and Len Deighton's nameless spy (given the name Harry Palmer during the filming by star Michael Caine), but rather that this tense and enjoyable thriller features the talents of at least five 007 alumni. There's co-producer Harry Saltzman, music composer extrodinaire John Barry, editor Peter Hunt, art director Ken Adam and production designer Peter Murton.
IPCRESS has all the elements of a good Hitchcock thriller, along with some of the suprise twists. John Barry delivers one of his best scores, and Michael Caine is joined by a superb supporitng cast, including Nigel Green, Gordon Jackson and Guy Doleman.
0 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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"Spy High"
Added 9/20/2008
Maurice Micklewhite (Michael Caine) has always been one of my favorite actors. I saw this 007 Era movie when it was first released and watched it again more recently. It is a FAB movie. It has lost nothing over time and can even be more appreciated today. Caine is very magnetic as the oh so sexy but slightly nerdy instrument of espionage. A great, suspenseful movie that is effective without all the 007 gimmicks.
0 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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Palmer, Harry Palmer...
Added 4/20/2007
1965's "The Ipcress File" is an extremely well executed dramatization of Len Deighton's excellent spy novel of the same name. In one of his earlier roles, Michael Caine stars as British secret agent Harry Palmer, working class spy but smarter and tougher than he looks.
Palmer is assigned to a mysterious case in which top British scientists disappear for a few days, then reappear having been brainwashed to uselessness. The only clue is a fragment of recording tape with the word "Ipcress." Whoever is kidnapping the scientists is prepared to kill to protect the process, as Palmer's colleagues discover. When Palmer gets too close to the secret, he too is kidnapped. Palmer will struggle for his freedom and his very sanity to complete his mission.
The movie borrows the crisp, snappy dialogue of the original novel, while Michael Caine nicely captures Harry Palmer's working class, anti-James Bond personna. While the plotline is perhaps deliberately opaque, the direction is crisp and the movie uses a variety of intriguing shooting angles to add to the suspense, which builds nicely to a surprise ending.
This movie is highly recommended to fans of Michael Caine and of Len Deighton, who will find this a dated but still very enjoyable film.
2 out of 3 people found this helpful.
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Pretty good... IPCRESS FILE
Added 2/20/2007
Michael Caine plays ex-con turned spy Harry Palmer in this very cool British spy thriller from the 1960s. His understated performance and the great and stylish directing of Sidney J. Furie really lift this movie several echelons above other films in the genre. Also, a nice score by John Barry (from 007 fame) adds to make this one of the classics of the time period. highly recommended, especially for michael caine fans.
1 out of 2 people found this helpful.
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the albanian, the decoy, the mole
Added 7/17/2009
The good old days of deception and brainwashing. The zenith of the obscure and analytical secret services of the eastern block.
His name is Harry Palmer: he's cocky, defiant and effective. He thinks he has one mission; actually he has two.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
A Treat for Bond Purists
Added 1/20/2009
If you're a James Bond fanatic, you'll probably enjoy THE IPCRESS FILE. Not that there's any similarities between Ian Fleming's Bond and Len Deighton's nameless spy (given the name Harry Palmer during the filming by star Michael Caine), but rather that this tense and enjoyable thriller features the talents of at least five 007 alumni. There's co-producer Harry Saltzman, music composer extrodinaire John Barry, editor Peter Hunt, art director Ken Adam and production designer Peter Murton.
IPCRESS has all the elements of a good Hitchcock thriller, along with some of the suprise twists. John Barry delivers one of his best scores, and Michael Caine is joined by a superb supporitng cast, including Nigel Green, Gordon Jackson and Guy Doleman.
0 out of 1 people found this helpful.
|
"Spy High"
Added 9/20/2008
Maurice Micklewhite (Michael Caine) has always been one of my favorite actors. I saw this 007 Era movie when it was first released and watched it again more recently. It is a FAB movie. It has lost nothing over time and can even be more appreciated today. Caine is very magnetic as the oh so sexy but slightly nerdy instrument of espionage. A great, suspenseful movie that is effective without all the 007 gimmicks.
0 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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