Top-notch, iconic 60s spy thriller. The detached performances and weird, inventive direction produce a paranoid atmosphere a world away from the likes of 007, while the slow transition from blackly funny intrigue into darker, more disturbing areas is masterful.

Excellent circus flick. Worth watching as companion piece to Tinker Talior Soldier Spy. Caine is believable as a reluctant agent with an insatiable curiosity. The Ken Adam design is as sublime as it is economic. One of the best espionage movies ever made. Not a spy film.

The name's Palmer, 'arry Palmer.

Brilliant.

Gradually runs out of steam on the plot front, but the direction and cinematography are fresh, inventive and really interesting to watch. It feels like Haywire, if Haywire had more plot and a better lead performance.

Γεμάτη ειρωνεία αντιπρόταση στη smoothness του James Bond. Κάπως παρωχημένο αλλά διατηρεί ακόμα το ενδιαφέρον του θεατή. Βοηθάει βέβαια ο Michael Caine αλλά και το πιο ρεαλιστικό - σε σχέση με τον Bond - όμως πάντα φλεγματικό στήσιμο του πρωταγωνιστή.

48/100

Starts off okay, deadpan and cold, but the direction is bizarre, all canted angles and low angle shots, giving a sense of claustrophobia that the narrative doesn't really emulate. Things start to fall apart once the ridiculous mindwashing scenes start, and by the end you realize just how hollow the whole thing is.

So much goodness. The anti-Bond, so to speak, portraying the life of a spy through bureaucracy, paperwork, meetings, a fistfight, more paperwork, double-crosses and politics. Fantastic storytelling to keep us in the loop of the convoluted events that are happening, and a steady direction capturing the paranoia with inventive camera angles, transitions and editing.

It will make an excellent companion-piece not only to Bond-pictures, but also to a film of the same kin, TINKER TAILER SOLDIER SPY, with its calm and detached performances, combined with the slow, but captivating development.

Who says the English aren't stylish?

Review forthcoming..

"So much better than most James Bond films, this is a great 1960s spy movie, with a very young Michael Caine."

I blogged about THE IPCRESS FILE this week:

http://tederick.tumblr.com/post/36590687083/the-watchedathon-week-2-the-girl-duck-you-sucker

A bona-fide British classic that reminds you just how good Michael Caine can be on a good day. The quintessential cold-war espionage thriller: code-names, grey suits, microfilm, double agents... brilliant stuff that in 47 years doesn't feel like it's aged a day.

National stereotyping is terrifically done, where the role of American agents is essentially being suspicious and getting in the way, while the British are both heroes and villans.

An almost perfect anti-Bond, the modestly dressed, bespectacled secret-agent Harry Palmer seduces women by being a great cook rather than having a textbook of cheesy one-liners. Truly an everyman hero.