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The Ipcress File (1965) Certificate PG

The Ipcress File
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Rated 3.5 stars
Average rating
(73%)
 
Starring: Michael Caine | Nigel Green | Guy Doleman | Sue Lloyd
Director: Sidney J. Furie
Studio: NETWORK
Run time: 103 mins
Genres: Thriller
Languages: English
Released: (unknown)
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Unfortunately this title is currently unavailable for rental. We apologise for any inconvenience that this may cause.

A tense Len Deighton spy thriller which changed the face of 'special agent' movies. A number of British scientists are leaving Britain. When one such scientist disappears altogether, Harry Palmer, a former army sergeant, is assigned the task of finding him. Palmer discovers that a mysterious force within the security services is at work and he must identify the double agent.

Rating of 4 stars out of 5
Radio Times

Len Deighton's first spy novel had everything except a name for its off-the-peg hero, so producer Harry Saltzman decided on Harry Palmer and cast the virtually unknown Michael Caine in this adaptation. Designed as a counterpart to the Bond movies, which Saltzman also co-produced, the story uncovers KGB operatives in the British Secret Service and enables Caine to talk Bermondsey, wear glasses and cook his own meals, things that Sean Connery would never do. Instead of the Orient Express, it's the Central Line. It's cunning, calculated and still works, thanks to some droll humour, John Barry's marvellously twangy score, Sidney J Furie's energetic direction and spot-on performances by Guy Doleman and Nigel Green as bowler-hatted spooks. The flashy camerawork, though once highly praised, now seems rather irksome.

Rating of 2 stars out of 5
Halliwell's Film Guide

The attempt to present a low-key James Bond (glasses, good at cookery, supermarket shopper) is frustrated by flashy direction and a confused plot. It did herald a new genre though the whole ambiance is now sadly dated, like an old copy of The Sunday Ti

Highest rated reviews

4 out of 4 people found the following review helpful:

Rated 5 stars
FILED BUT NEVER FORGOTTEN

A Customer from Rosslare, 7th November, 2003

Welcome to Len Deighton's world. A world of postwar begining to swing London, spies, raincoats, and Whitehall Inteligence interdepartmental jostling, with small but effective hand guns and not a bit of CGI or gadgetry in site. But it is what is not there that makes these films and the Ipcress File intriguing. They may hardly be thrilling any more but they carry a black'n'white mystery now that produces real suspense. In the end the technology on dispaly and it's iccumbent horrors have now been done better and sadly to death. But it is the completeness and originality of these characters and their sad lives which enages, the lineage to Dirty Harry and Mr McQueen setting San Fran to rights on frozen food in Bullit so clear. Truth is Michael Caine, did most of it first and not many people know that...

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*** May contain spoilers ***


Rated 3 stars
Solid conspiracy File

A Customer from Dundee, 4th December, 2008

Came in a free newspaper pack with Brief Encounter, and I can say, this one was much more interesting... if a little standard. Michael Cane looking rather young as a roguish special investigator, who finds himself uncovering brainwashing technology and a deep seeded conspiracy. It has twists, but nothing too drastic, you can see when the plot shifts the gears and sends you down the wrong tracks to make the twist at the end more compelling. Not a bad film, goes at a steady pace of intrigue and has a satisfying conclusion.

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Rated 3 stars
Better than bond.

FilmyC from from Runcorn, 6th December, 2007

To me being better than Bond isn't saying much. I never really got it. The silly plots, daft names, gadgets, explosions and all that jazz. It just seems like style over substance. Now Harry Palmer and the Ipcress File is plenty of style and plenty of substance. Believable characters, a realistic plot, brilliant camera work where you actually feel like you are spying on the protaganists and an iconic score make this film, so much more than Moore. I really enjoyed this, despite Caine's wooden performance.

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Rated 5 stars
the ipcress file

ricky from , 13th November, 2007

very good spy thriller enjoyed the mystery

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Most recent reviews

0 out of 1 people found the following review helpful:

Rated 0 stars
STOP SENDING ME FEATURE DISKS!

andrew Keeling from Spalding, 15th December, 2007

THIS IS NOT A FILM! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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