The Ipcress File poster & wallpaper
Get movie widget Recommend it Add to Favorites

Michael Caine, Nigel Green, Guy Doleman, Sue Lloyd, Gordon Jackson ... see more see more... , Aubrey Richards , Frank Gatliff , Thomas Baptiste , Oliver MacGreevy , Freda Bamford , Pauline Winter , Stanley Meadows , Peter Ashmore , Glynn Edwards , Douglas Blackwell , David Glover , Paul Chapman , Anthony Baird , Michael Murray , Richard Burrell , Tony Caunter , Max Faulkner

Michael Caine made his first appearance as novelist Len Deighton's bespectacled British-spy Harry Palmer in The Ipcress File. Palmer has no real love of espionage, but he doesn't really know any other... read more read more... life. With studied insolence, he takes on the case of locating missing doctor Radcliffe (Aubrey Richards), who has in his possession a valuable file that would prove injurious to the Free World should it fall in the wrong hands. The government also fears that Radcliffe will be brainwashed by the enemy, as has happened to two previous British scientists. While Palmer is off doing everyone else's dirty work, his superior, Nigel Green, is making a deal with duplicitous information "broker" Frank Gatliff to win Radcliffe's release. The price for this would seem to be Palmer, who is captured by the enemy and subjected to a grueling brainwashing session. Palmer escapes, whereupon he confronts a traitor in his midst in the climactic exchange of gunfire. Advertised as "The Thinking Man's Goldfinger, The Ipcress File offered a far more realistic view of the morally ambivalent world of espionage than did the like-vintage James Bond films. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Flixster Users

83% liked it

5,807 ratings

Critics

100% liked it

23 critics

Unrated, 1 hr. 48 min.

Directed by: Sidney J. Furie

Release Date: January 1, 1965

Invite friends to see

Stats: 359 reviews

report incorrect info

Photos

The Ipcress File The Ipcress File Sue Lloyd and Michael Caine The Ipcress File The Ipcress File The Ipcress File The Ipcress File The Ipcress File The Ipcress File Michael as Harry Palmer The Ipcress File The Ipcress File The Ipcress File The Ipcress File The Ipcress File The Ipcress File The Ipcress File Poster for ipcress file
Upload a Photo | View All The Ipcress File Photos

Your Rating


clear rating

Flixster Reviews (359)

  • rayman0071
    April 26, 2012
    rayman0071
    Before Jason Bourne and..... Before Harry Callahan and Popeye Doyle..there was Harry Palmer. Michael Caine made his first appearance as novelist Len Deighton's bespectacled British-spy Harry Palmer in the first of three movies based on this character,and "The Ipcress File" releas... read moreed in 1965 gave moviegoers an alternative to James Bond in director Sidney J, Furie brilliant espionage thriller that was one of the best of the "spy" genres that dominated the era. Caine unravels a sinister plot to brainwash British scientists in which his own insubordinate nature is his best weapon But the plots themselves are the reason why this film was at the top it's genre and it was an alternative to the James Bond films and other espionage thrillers of the 1960's. Shot and cut in brash,claustrophobic style,this thriller has a dash of 1940's hardboiled noir,while allowing Caine to flash enough suave to make the ladies squirm in their seats. Advertised as the thinking man's "Goldfinger","The Ipcress File" is regarded as a darker version with more violent and harsher overtones.
  • pier007
    October 14, 2008
    pier007
    At the rise of the 007 mania, and the effervescence of the swingin' sixties and the new wave, square secret service agent Harry Palmer was born.
    Most of the same people who gave life to Fleming's spy; including John Barry, Ken Adam and many more; had their hands in this, his anti... read morethesis. A myopic, expert cook who has to deal with uninteresting tasks of surveillance and piles of paper to fill; thick cockney accents; rigid bureaucratic bosses; and some other dirty businesses going on behind his back.
    Director Sidney J. Furie injects angular, lavish and noirish camera work; and the old chap Michael Cain is always efficient.
  • garyX
    July 14, 2007
    garyX
    Intelligent and perfectly cast 60s spy thriller that's a little too self conciously gimmicky for it's own good, but Caine's on top form, and the brainwashing scene is highly memorable.
  • SarahG1988
    October 24, 2006
    SarahG1988
    Quite an amazing british-spy thriller. Much more realistic than the James Bond franchise,mainly because everything in this film is totallt shot on location in England. And of course Michael Caine as Harry Palmer is excellent. Highly recomended
  • DrLappos
    October 18, 2007
    DrLappos
    Caine was born to play these roles....Superb
  • kenscheck
    April 25, 2012
    kenscheck
    Michael Caine stars as Harry Palmer, a sort of thinking man's James Bond. It's produced by Harry Saltzman, who was also one of the major producers who helped bring Bond to the big screen. The film is well written and performed, and its an entertaining espionage film. It lacks t... read morehe excitement and style that makes the Bond films such a success..but in a way thats the point. It is meant to be the antithesis to Bond. I liked the movie, but I don't know if its nearly as entertaining as a good Bond film, though it is definitely superior to most Moore or Lazenby lead efforts of 007.
  • emmylou120
    August 19, 2011
    emmylou120
    While the movie was good, I felt like it was too slow a pace for me. Definitely better than some James Bond movies, but a little boring nonetheless.
  • sosinsk1
    August 9, 2011
    sosinsk1
    The Ipress File is the first in the Harry Palmer series and is set during the Cold War. I'm not a huge spy movie or spy novel fan, but there's just something about this series is utterly charming - perhaps it's the character of Palmer. I like that Palmer is kind of the anti-Jam... read morees Bond. Palmer is not equipped with any special weapons, unless one counts wit and luck. The Ipcress File explores mind control as a war method and the special effects are off the hook.
  • klinea
    May 2, 2009
    klinea
    An interesting film. Kinda like a Dirty-Harry-ish James Bond. Great ending! Cool to see a young Michael Caine.
  • matricialynnicus
    October 20, 2008
    matricialynnicus
    Kind of like a blend between James Bond and the Manchurian Candidate. 3.5 stars is probably generous, but it's pretty ok for that type of film.

View All The Ipcress File Reviews

Critic Reviews

April 20, 2010
TIME Magazine

Ipcress proves again that one of the primal pleasures of moviegoing is a tingling, no-nonsense suspense yarn enlivened by honest good humor. Full Review

Variety Staff
March 26, 2009
Variety Staff, Variety

Caine skillfully resists any temptation he may have had to pep up the proceedings. In fact, his consistent underplaying adds considerably to the pull of the picture. Full Review

Bosley Crowther
May 20, 2003
Bosley Crowther, New York Times

The Ipcress File is as classy a spy film as you could ask to see. Full Review

April 20, 2010
Film4

Check out the scene where Caine and Green discuss the merits of button mushrooms and you'll appreciate that, as the actors have an excellent grasp of character, so the screenwriters have a superb eye ... Full Review

April 20, 2010
TV Guide's Movie Guide

The best part of the film is Caine's characterization. Full Review

Pablo Villaca
March 26, 2007
Pablo Villaca, Cinema em Cena

Embora inferior a Funeral em Berlim, que contaria com um roteiro melhor, o primeiro filme da série ainda funciona graças à direção de Furie, à atuação irônica de Caine e à forma curiosamente monótona ...

Carol Cling
December 8, 2006
Carol Cling, Las Vegas Review-Journal

Caine's the coolest anti-007 ever ...

Angie Errigo
April 1, 2006
Angie Errigo, Empire Magazine

Caine, Zulu under his belt and Alfie ahead, is the cheeky working class but aspirational bright spark hero par excellence, captured at the exact moment he became a star. Full Review

Geoff Andrew
February 9, 2006
Geoff Andrew, Time Out

Deighton's plot is a mild headache of deceit and double-dealing that glides stylishly and with much wit around Caine's Sergeant Palmer, a cocky London bachelor and middle-ranking scion of the MoD's co... Full Review

Lori Hoffman
January 25, 2006
Lori Hoffman, Atlantic City Weekly

The coolest secret agent of them all

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Cast

More Like This

Click a thumb to vote on that suggestion, or add your own suggestions.

  • A Dandy in Aspic
    A Dandy in Aspic (100%)
  • Mission Impossible 2
    Mission Impossible 2 (43%)
  • Moonraker
    Moonraker (40%)
  • The Odessa File
    The Odessa File (50%)

More Movies like The Ipcress File

Facts

No facts approved yet. Be the first

The Ipcress File : Watch Free on TV

The Ipcress File Trivia

  • Micheal Caine plays Harry Palmer im The Ipcress File. But what is the character's name in the original novel?  Answer »
  • As of 2007, which Michael Caine movie has NOT yet been remade?   Answer »
More The Ipcress File Trivia

Movie Quizzes

No quizzes for The Ipcress File. Want to create one?

Video Clips

Upload a Video |

All The Ipcress File Videos

Meet Other Fans

Add The Ipcress File to favorites

Recent News

Submit a Story |

View The Ipcress File News

Recent Lists

Make a List |

View All Lists

Most Popular Skin

drblood Skin by drblood
6 Profiles
Add to Profile

More Skins