Palmer... Harry Palmer...
Discussion
Anyone into these films/books at all? I've just finished watching The Ipcress File, Funeral In Berlin and Billion Dollar Brain on DVD after I snapped them up over Christmas and they're brilliant.
In fact, I'd go so far as to say they're cooler than most of the Bond films. Made in the '60s by the same Salzman/Broccoli partnership, yet somehow much more realistic, understated, in a word cooler than the Bond films, probably because there are no big explosions or stupid gadgets, but it's still all part of that ice-cool '60s world of European intrigue. And Salzman & Broccoli knew when to pull the plug on them, rather than replacing Michael Caine with some other actor and watching as the stories got progressively more outlandish. They did a fourth film, Bullet To Beijing, in the '90s, which is actually quite good but I can't find it on DVD anywhere.
If you're into your '60s Bond films and want to see what MI5 were getting up to at the same time, check them out. The Ipcress File is being shown at some cinemas on a limited re-release this year, and a remastered version of the film is out on DVD later this month.
I fancy digging out the Len Deighton books now - anyone know if there were any other books in the Harry Palmer series?
In fact, I'd go so far as to say they're cooler than most of the Bond films. Made in the '60s by the same Salzman/Broccoli partnership, yet somehow much more realistic, understated, in a word cooler than the Bond films, probably because there are no big explosions or stupid gadgets, but it's still all part of that ice-cool '60s world of European intrigue. And Salzman & Broccoli knew when to pull the plug on them, rather than replacing Michael Caine with some other actor and watching as the stories got progressively more outlandish. They did a fourth film, Bullet To Beijing, in the '90s, which is actually quite good but I can't find it on DVD anywhere.
If you're into your '60s Bond films and want to see what MI5 were getting up to at the same time, check them out. The Ipcress File is being shown at some cinemas on a limited re-release this year, and a remastered version of the film is out on DVD later this month.
I fancy digging out the Len Deighton books now - anyone know if there were any other books in the Harry Palmer series?
The films are great, though they started with the best one and went slowly downhill from there. Very different to the books, particularly Ipcress File.
A couple of years ago I found a brilliant website all about the films, with stories about the productions and pictures of locations. Can't find the URL now - anyone else seen it?
A couple of years ago I found a brilliant website all about the films, with stories about the productions and pictures of locations. Can't find the URL now - anyone else seen it?
I thought they were all pretty good (although the 'invasion' scene at the end of Billion Dollar Brain clearly stretched the effects budget but never mind). I think one of the best things about them is that they haven't dated too badly - OK so they're clearly '60s, but The Ipcress File is no less rivetting than a feature-length episode of Spooks.
The only obvious bit of 'production' that shows is that the cars are all Fords - Zephyrs in the first one, Taunuses in the second and a Mustang and Cortina in the third. Never mind - they're still ice cool. I think part of the appeal is that it's easier to imagine yourself as Harry Palmer than James Bond.
The only obvious bit of 'production' that shows is that the cars are all Fords - Zephyrs in the first one, Taunuses in the second and a Mustang and Cortina in the third. Never mind - they're still ice cool. I think part of the appeal is that it's easier to imagine yourself as Harry Palmer than James Bond.
ettore said:
I`m pretty sure that they were originally intended as a direct and earthy counter to all the contemporary bond-bollox. They are good films and Caine is at his best in them.
Where did you get the DVD - is it some form of boxed set?
You can get the original films (no extras other than the trailer, mono soundtrack, refreshed picture) for about £5.99 from HMV. However, a digitally remastered, stereo-soundtracked version of The Ipcress File is accompanying the film's re-release, and will no doubt be £15.
No, they don't do a boxed set - you have to hunt them out individually, but you can bet your bottom (billion) dollar that they'll do the others in the original trilogy and release them in a box set at an exorbitant price, no doubt.
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