The Ipcress File (film)
The Ipcress File | |
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Directed by | Sidney J. Furie |
Screenplay by |
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Based on | The IPCRESS File by Len Deighton |
Produced by | Harry Saltzman |
Starring | |
Cinematography | Otto Heller |
Edited by | Peter R. Hunt |
Music by | John Barry |
Production companies |
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Distributed by | Rank Film Distributors |
Release date |
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Running time | 109 minutes |
Country | United Kingdom |
Language | English |
Budget | $750,000 or £309,261[3][4] |
The Ipcress File is a 1965 British
This film and its sequels were a deliberately downbeat alternative to the hugely successful
Plot
A scientist called Radcliffe is kidnapped from a train and his security escort killed. Harry Palmer, a British Army sergeant with a record of insubordination and a criminal past, now working for a Ministry of Defence organisation, is summoned by his superior, Colonel Ross, and transferred to a section headed by Major Dalby. Ross suspects that Radcliffe's disappearance is connected to the fact that sixteen other top British scientists have inexplicably left their jobs at the peak of their careers. He threatens Dalby that his group will be abolished if Radcliffe cannot be recovered. Palmer is then introduced as a replacement for the dead security escort.
Afterwards, Dalby tells his agents that the main suspects are Eric Grantby and his chief of staff, codenamed "Housemartin", and orders the team to find out where they are at present. Palmer is also introduced to and befriends Jock Carswell. Using a Scotland Yard contact, Palmer locates Grantby but, when Palmer tries to stop Grantby getting away, he is attacked by Housemartin.
Housemartin is arrested later but, before he can be questioned, he is killed by men impersonating Palmer and Carswell. Suspecting that Radcliffe is being held in a certain disused factory, Palmer orders a search, but nothing is found except a piece of audiotape labelled "IPCRESS" that produces meaningless noise when played. Dalby then points out that the paper on which Grantby had written a false phone number is the programme for an upcoming military band concert. There Dalby and Palmer encounter Grantby and a deal is struck for Radcliffe's return.
The exchange goes as planned but, as they are leaving, Palmer shoots a man in the shadows who turns out to be a
Believing that he himself must have been the intended target, Palmer goes home to collect his belongings and there discovers the body of the second CIA agent. When he returns to the office, the IPCRESS file is missing from his desk. Ross had previously asked him to
On the train to Paris, Palmer is kidnapped and wakes up imprisoned in a cell apparently in
Palmer eventually fights his way out and discovers that he is really still in London. He phones Dalby, not knowing that Dalby is in Grantby's company at the time. Dalby uses the trigger phrase and gets Palmer to call Ross to the warehouse where he had been held. As Dalby and Ross arrive, Palmer holds them both at gunpoint. Dalby accuses Ross of killing Carswell; Ross tells Palmer that he had been suspicious of Dalby and was investigating him.
Dalby now uses the trigger phrase again and tells Palmer to "Shoot the traitor now". As Palmer wavers, his hand strikes against a piece of equipment and the pain reminds him of his conditioning. Dalby goes for his gun and Palmer shoots him.
Ross then remarks that, in choosing Palmer for the assignment, he had hoped that Palmer's tendency to insubordination would be useful. When Palmer reproaches Ross for endangering him, he is told that this is what he is paid for.
Cast
- Michael Caine as Harry Palmer
- Guy Doleman as Colonel Ross
- Nigel Green as Major Dalby
- Sue Lloyd as Jean Courtney
- Gordon Jackson as Jock Carswell
- Aubrey Richards as Dr. Radcliffe
- Frank Gatliff as Eric Grantby (Bluejay)
- Thomas Baptiste as Barney
- Oliver MacGreevy as Housemartin
- Freda Bamford as Alice
- Pauline Winter as Charlady
- Anthony Blackshaw as Edwards
- Barry Raymond as Gray
- David Glover as Chilcott-Oakes
- Stanley Meadows as Inspector Keightley
- Peter Ashmore as Sir Robert
- Michael Murray as Raid Inspector
- Anthony Baird as Raid Sergeant
- Tony Caunter as O.N.I. man
- Douglas Blackwell as Murray
- Glynn Edwards as Police Station Sergeant
Production
Development
Deighton was hired to write a screenplay for the James Bond film From Russia with Love, but later was let go because of a lack of progress. However, Deighton's brief involvement with Eon Productions led him to sell the film rights to his Harry Palmer novels to the Bond series co-producer Harry Saltzman, who had previously been known for producing "kitchen-sink realist" dramas.[5][6] Among other crew members who worked on The Ipcress File and had also worked on the Bond films up to that point were the production designer Ken Adam, the film editor Peter Hunt and the film score composer John Barry.[7]
Harry Saltzman gave Jimmy Sangster a copy of the novel to read. Sangster enjoyed the book and was eager to adapt the novel, suggesting Michael Caine to play the main role and Sidney J. Furie as director. However, Saltzman would not commit to the timeframe that Sangster insisted upon.[8]
Sangster embellished Deighton's protagonist by removing the ambiguity of the novel. There it is only in Chapter 5[clarification needed] that Palmer remarks, "My name isn't Harry, but in this business it's hard to remember whether it ever had been". But from the opening scenes of the film, Sangster's screenplay identifies Caine's character clearly as someone who cares little for authority, who indulges in quick repartee and has an interest in good food. Newspaper cuttings shown in Palmer's kitchen are actually cookery articles written for The Observer by Deighton, who was an accomplished cook himself.[9][10] For a scene where Palmer prepares a meal, Deighton attempted to teach Caine how to crack an egg with one hand, which Caine could not manage. As a result, the hands in close-up are really Deighton's.[11]
Filming
Saltzman wanted The Ipcress File to be an ironic and downbeat alternative to the portrayal of espionage in
The film was made at
Sound
John Barry, who had worked on all of the Bond films up to this time, composed the music score for the soundtrack. As opposed to the electric guitar which carried the melody in the "James Bond Theme", Barry made prominent use of a cimbalom.[15] The complex electronic sound effect of the brain-washing process was conceived by sound engineer Norman Wanstall and created by the BBC Radiophonic Workshop.[16]
Reception
When the film premiered at the
Subsequently, the film has come to be recognised as a classic. The Ipcress File is included on the British Film Institute's BFI 100, a list of 100 of the best British films of the 20th century, at No. 59.[18] The review website Rotten Tomatoes sampled 31 critics resulting in an aggregate rating of 98%.[19]
The film won the
Screenwriters Bill Canaway and James Doran received a 1966
Sequels
There were two immediate sequels starring Harry Palmer: Funeral in Berlin (1966) and Billion Dollar Brain (1967). Decades later Michael Caine returned to the character in Harry Alan Towers's Bullet to Beijing (1995) and Midnight in Saint Petersburg (1996).
See also
Notes
- ^ Lionel Davidson, Johanna Harwood, Lukas Heller and Ken Hughes made uncredited contributions to the screenplay.[1]
References
- BFI. 26 July 2016. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
- ^ a b The Times, 18 March 1965, page 9: Film review of The Ipcress File.
- ^ James Chapman (2014) The Trouble with Harry: The Difficult Relationship of Harry Saltzman and Film Finances, Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television, 34:1, 43-71, p 63 DOI: 10.1080/01439685.2014.879001
- ^ Chapman, J. (2022). The Money Behind the Screen: A History of British Film Finance, 1945-1985. Edinburgh University Press p 360 gives the figure at £304,978.
- ^ )
- ^ "BFI Screenonline: Ipcress File, The (1965)". www.screenonline.org.uk. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
- ^ a b Angelini, Sergio. "Ipcress File, The (1965)". Screenonline. British Film Institute. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
- ISBN 9781887664134.
- ISBN 9780007305872.
- ^ Deighton, Len (1965). Len Deighton's Cookstrip Cook Book (1st ed.). B. Geis Associates.
- ^ a b Lewis, Paul (1 August 2014). "The Ipcress File Blu-ray review". Rewind. DVDCompare. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
- ^ a b "The Ipcress File: tracking down the locations for the Michael Caine spy classic". BFI. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
- Guardian News and Media. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
- Guardian News and Media. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
- ^ "John Leach – obituary". The Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group. 11 July 2014. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
- ^ James Bond Radio (13 June 2014). "Norman Wanstall Interview – Podcast #015". James Bond Radio. Retrieved 4 August 2014.
- Penske Business Media. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
- ^ "The BFI 100". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 1 July 2008. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
- Fandango Media. Retrieved 30 June 2019.
- ^ "Helpful Information". British Film Designers Guild. Archived from the original on 13 May 2008. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
External links
- The Ipcress File at the British Film Institute
- The Ipcress File at the BFI's Screenonline
- The Ipcress File at IMDb
- The Ipcress File at AllMovie
- The Ipcress File at Rotten Tomatoes
- The Ipcress File – Photos
- Kees Stam's Harry Palmer movie site and filming locations
- The Deighton Dossier
- The Ipcress File Blu-ray review