Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		3.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.0

The Ipcress File Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov November 8, 2021

Sidney J. Furie's "The Ipcress File" (1965) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Via Vision Entertainment. The supplemental features on the disc include new video interview with second assistant director Denis Johnson Jr.; new video interview with assistant production accountant Maurice Landsberger; vintage promotional materials for the film; archival video interview with Michael Caine; two audio commentaries; and more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

Intelligence agent Harry Palmer (Michael Caine) is promoted and given a new assignment during the same day. He is ordered to track the whereabouts of a prominent Western scientist who has suddenly disappeared.

After a long and confusing investigation Palmer delivers the missing scientist to his superiors. Unfortunately, his memory has been wiped out and he is unable to recall who his abductors were. Determined to find out what has happened, Palmer then goes back on the streets and begins digging for clues.

Sidney J. Furie's The Ipcress File has all the key ingredients a good spy thriller needs -- an intriguing story with multiple twists, convincing characters, and fantastic atmosphere. The film also boasts strong cinematography by Otto Heller. Light and shadow are carefully managed to heighten the tension, while the bold framing choices give the film a sleek period appearance.

Based on the novel by Len Deighton -- who a year later would publish A Funeral in Berlin, which was also made into a film with Caine in the key role -- and a screenplay by Bill Canaway and James Doran, The Ipcress File is impossible to analyze without comparing it to Terence Young’s Thunderball. Indeed, the two films were completed months apart from each other and their main characters were both secret agents with an attitude.

But there are some key differences between the two agents. James Bond epitomized the ultimate British spy -- an intelligent and never-failing bachelor with a great sense of style who always knew how to deal with his opponents. These are qualities Palmer simply does not have. In The Ipcress File he is often clueless, trying too hard to impress the opposite sex, and with an off-beat sense of humor that hardly anyone gets. Furthermore, large parts of The Ipcress File are lensed with such attention to detail that at times it is difficult to embrace it as a straightforward spy thriller. There is plenty of action and proper intrigues, but the entire film actually quite comfortably borrows elements from a number of other genres.

The film's fluid style, however, isn't a weakness. On the contrary, it gives it a certain charm that not too many similarly-themed films from the same era have. (Guy Hamilton’s Funeral in Berlin, for instance, is a far colder and much more straightforward film). The mystery puzzle is very nicely crafted and excluding a few questionable transitions, such as the decision to abruptly move the action from London to Albania, Caine’s struggle to unlock the Ipcress enigma is indeed quite fascinating to behold.

The Ipcress File Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 2.35:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, The Ipcress File arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Via Vision Entertainment.

The back cover confirms that this release was sourced from the old restored master that was prepared on behalf of ITV Studios in the United Kingdom. (In case you are wondering, this is the same master that the folks at Kino Lorber worked with to produce their North American release in 2020 as well). It is a pretty good master that makes it quite easy to enjoy the film, but there are different areas where some meaningful improvements can be made. For example, if you have a large screen, you will quickly conclude that density levels are not optimal. Delineation and depth are pleasing, but both could be even better as well. You can partially offset some of these limitations if you upscale to 4K because the 'improved' density levels will have a positive impact on your perception of depth, but from time to time your eyes will still recognize the weaker areas of the master. Color balance is good. Saturation levels can be slightly better, but there are no issues to report. Image stability is excellent. Lastly, there is room for some encoding optimizations, but given the nature of the master, I think that the technical presentation is fine. (Note: This is a Region-Free Blu-ray release. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your player regardless of your geographical location).

The Ipcress File Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are two standard audio tracks on this Blu-ray release: English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit) and English: LPCM 2.0 Mono (48kHz, 24-bit). Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature. When turned on, they split the image and black bar below it.

Previously, I had used the Mono track to view the film, so this time I chose the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. I think that it is quite effective in expanding the dynamic field of some key sequences, but there isn't any material that can provide serious dynamic contrasts. The music sounds fine too, though I have to repeat old comments about the upper register and its shakiness in a few areas. My guess is that modern equipment can make some meaningful improvements to strengthen it, but the entire process will probably be part of some serious lab work.

The Ipcress File Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Audio Commentary One - this archival audio commentary was recorded by director Sidney J. Furie and film editor Peter Hunt. The two gentlemen offer plenty of invaluable information about the conception and production of The Ipcress File, the editing of the film (apparently director Furie never went to the editing room to work with Hunt), the evolution of the screenplay (which was rewritten every day), the lensing of different episodes, the critical reception and the fact that some critics described the film as "the thinking man's James Bond", etc.

• Audio Commentary Two - film historians and critics Troy Howarth and Daniel Kremer share plenty of very interesting information about Sidney J. Furie's framing choices and the evolving screenplay he had to work with, the use of music, the similarities and differences between The Ipcress File and the James Bond films that emerged during the same era, Ken Adam's interesting ideas and work and how they shaped up the film's visual style, the evolution of the British thriller (with specific comments about its stylistic appearance), the type of actors Furie liked to work with, etc. This is an outstanding commentary. Mr. Kremer is the author of Sidney J. Furie: Life and Films and produces a terrific summation of the director's entire career, with factual information that is clearly very well researched. The commentary was commissioned by Kino Lorber.

• Michael Caine is Harry Palmer - in this archival interview, Michael Caine recalls how he was approached and asked to play Harry Palmer, and discusses his interactions with the rest of the cast members, the film's production history, etc. In English, not subtitled. (20 min).

• The Design File - in this archival video interview, production designer Ken Adam discusses his contribution to The Ipcress File and its production history. In English, not subtitled. (11 min).

• Locations Report - in this new program, critic Richard Dacre discusses Len Deighton's novel that inspired The Ipcress File, the casting of Michael Caine, the evolution of the spy character, as well as the various key locations in London that were used by director Sidney J. Furie. Then-and-now comparisons are included. The program was produced exclusively for Via Vision Entertainment in 2021. In English, not subtitled. (20 min).

• Through the Keyhole - in this new video interview, second assistant director Denis Johnson Jr. discusses some of director Sidney J. Furie's unusual lensing choices in The Ipcress File, a few key locations that are seen in the film, as well as its tone. The interview was conducted exclusively for Via Vision Entertainment in 2021. In English, not subtitled. (4 min).

• Counting the Cash - in this new video interview, assistant production accountant Maurice Landsberger recalls his contribution to The Ipcress File and comments on the production process. The interview was conducted exclusively for Via Vision Entertainment in 2021. In English, not subtitled. (8 min).

• The Design File - in this archival video interview, production designer Ken Adam discusses his contribution to The Ipcress File and its production history. In English, not subtitled. (11 min).

• Textless Material - (4 min).

• Promotional Materials -
  
  1. U.S. Radio Spots
  2. Theatrical Trailer One
  3. Theatrical Trailer Two
  4. Production Photo Gallery
  5. Behind the Scenes Photo Gallery
  6. Portrait Photo Gallery
  7. Promotional Photo Gallery

• Isolated Music & Effects Track - presented as LPCM 2.0.

The Ipcress File Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

This release of Sidney J. Furie's The Ipcress File is included in The Harry Palmer Collection, a very handsome three-disc box set from Australian label Via Vision Entertainment. (The other two films in the box set are Funeral in Berlin and Billion Dollar Brain). The release is sourced from the old restored master that was prepared on behalf of British label ITV Studios, which is rather nice, and has an extensive selection of exclusive new and archival bonus features. RECOMMENDED.