Palmer Bond is no comrade British filmmakers after the success of “Doctor No” really wanted to say to the world: we are not glorious Bond united. So came the espionage story about Sergeant Harry Palmer and Michael Kane in the title role, which is considered “anti-bondiad”. Maybe it’s because I’m not a Bond fan and I mostly missed the anti-bond.
Palmer is a witty, observant and brazen secret service sergeant who is forced to engage in routine surveillance of a certain character. When he gets into the operational department, experience in gathering information helps him investigate the case of “scientists”.
Michael Kane, good! You could have played Bond (don’t beat me for such a blasphemous thought). By the way, wonderful music for The Ipcress File was written by John Barry - the author of the main melody of the Bond.
Cinematographer Otto Heller seems to have made no predictable plan. He did not film, but painted what was happening on the set, using unusual angles and long shadows. Otto Heller so gracefully stylized reality that he became as important a storyteller as the director, lead actor and composer.
It turned out visually beautiful, but with suspense came a miss.
7 out of 10