The Ipcress File (1965)
Bond producer Harry Saltzman's gloomy, downbeat and more realistic take on the spy thriller stars Michael Caine as Harry Palmer the newly named spy from Len Deighton's classic Cold War thriller novel in which the protagonist went unnamed.
Although very good, the lack of action set pieces means it's a stunningly wordy attempt at the unglamorous side of the espionage genre and once again i found myself becoming confused with the goings on during it's third quarter although thankfully the finale brings everything together.
Caine is excellent as Palmer, a character more likely to cook a girl a tasty omelette than bed her and his humble working class, petty criminal background is as far away from Sean Connery's suave killer as you can get not to mention Palmer's public school educated spy masters Nigel Green and Guy Doleman too.
The Network Blu-ray looks and sounds superb. Notably they also filmed their own twenty minute interview with star Sir Michael Caine which is very refreshing. Beats interviews with extras and people you've never heard of other companies inflict on us.
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