Review of The Ipcress File (1965) by Kevin C — 04 Mar 2015

Before Jason Bourne and..... Before Harry Callahan and Popeye Doyle..there was Harry Palmer. Michael Caine made his first appearance as novelist Len Deighton's bespectacled British-spy Harry Palmer in the first of three movies based on this character,and "The Ipcress File" released in 1965 gave moviegoers an alternative to James Bond in director Sidney J, Furie brilliant espionage thriller that was one of the best of the "spy" genres that dominated the era.

Caine unravels a sinister plot to brainwash British scientists in which his own insubordinate nature is his best weapon But the plots themselves are the reason why this film was at the top it's genre and it was an alternative to the James Bond films and other espionage thrillers of the 1960's.

Shot and cut in brash,claustrophobic style,this thriller has a dash of 1940's hardboiled noir,while allowing Caine to flash enough suave to make the ladies squirm in their seats. Advertised as the thinking man's "Goldfinger","The Ipcress File" is regarded as a darker version with more violent and harsher overtones.