16 November 2009
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The Ipcress File

What's On
Coming up...

Showing:

BBC TWO, Tuesday July 31, 11.20pm

Synopsis:

(1965) Secret agent Harry Palmer exposes a double agent sabotaging the work of British scientists.

Read the full synopsis on BFI Screenonline.

Director:

Sidney J. Furie

Producer:

Harry Saltzman

Cast:

  • Michael Caine (Harry Palmer)
  • Nigel Green (Major Dalby)
  • Guy Doleman (Major H.L. Ross)
  • Sue Lloyd (Jean Courtney)
  • Gordon Jackson (Jock Carswell)
  • Aubrey Richards (Radcliffe)
  • Frank Gatliff (Bluejay)
  • Thomas Baptiste (Barney)
  • Oliver Macgreevy (Housemartin)


    • Full cast and credits on BFI Screenonline.

Analysis:

In November 1962, shortly after the release of Dr. No (1962), Len Deighton's spy novel The Ipcress File was published to enormous critical acclaim and brisk sales. Producers Harry Saltzman and Albert Broccoli approached Deighton to script the next Bond film From Russia with Love (1963). Although little of his work was used, Saltzman eventually decided to use Deighton's novel, and its sequels, as the basis for a new series of spy movies.

The Ipcress File was designed to be in direct contrast to the Bond adventures. The protagonist, named Harry Palmer in the film (the book's narrator is anonymous), wears spectacles, shops in a supermarket (still a novelty in 1965) and is a sergeant working off a two-year sentence for black market activities in Berlin.

Read the full analysis on BFI Screenonline.



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