Network in the UK has released the film that put Micheal Caine firmly on the map as one of Britain’s finest acting talents, The Ipcress File.
Release in 1965 Caine stars as Harry Palmer, a stubbornly insolent sergeant working for the Ministry of Defence who is less than thrilled to be transferred under threat of blackmail to an elite counter-intelligence unit. Palmer and the rest of his unit follow the trail of a missing scientist, but when he finds a piece of tape marked IPCRESS in an abandoned warehouse he suddenly becomes a marked man…
Featuring a fabulous performance from Michael Caine as well as a superb score by John Barry the film is a 60’s anti-Bond movie, in that there are no glamorous locations, beautiful babes or fancy gadgets, this is the real dirty world of espionage and double cross. A gritty 60’s spy thriller and is well worth exploring again.
The 1080p transfer is great, taken from the original elements, colours are deliberately muted and film grain is intact. The sound is given a choice of a remixed DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 or original mono LPCM 2.0. Both sound fine for a film of this vintage but the 5.1 does give you a more ambient feel which is to be expected.
Extras are as follows and are plentiful.
(Standard Definition unless otherwise stated)
- []Michael Caine is Harry Palmer – exclusive interview with Sir Michael Caine
- The Design File – exclusive interview with production designer Sir Ken Adam
- Commentary with director Sidney Furie and film editor Peter Hunt
- Michael Caine Goes Stella comedy short
- 1969 documentary: Candid Caine
- Original theatrical trailer (HD), textless material (HD) and US radio commercials
- Extensive image galleries (HD)
- Commemorative booklet
Another solid release from Network.
FILM: 7 PICTURE: 7.5 SOUND: 7 EXTRAS: 8
