Review of The Ipcress File (1965) by Art S — 04 Mar 2015

The word "Ipcress" is the key to the movie and not really a Macguffin at all (as it might first seem to be when newly minted spy comes across it in an abandoned warehouse). As with all spy thrillers (and I was in the mood for a good one), the plot here has many twists and even the different British spy agencies can't seem to trust each other.

Young Michael Caine (seeming more and more a contradiction in terms these days) is full of Cockney insubordination and an eye on the birds. This could be a parallel universe to the Bond series with a more realistic bent - until the Manchurian Candidate-styled conclusion (which takes things to a definite psychedelic place).

So, in the end, it's not quite the grey world of Le Carré but rather a bit of adventure for the lads (and lasses).