In this espionage thriller, no one can be relied upon, not even your surperiors! Harry Palmer is tasked with investigating the brainwashing of scientists with his only clue being the mysterious "IPCRESS" file that points to the heart of the conspiracy. Michal Caine adds his signature charm to this iconic thriller with plenty of twists and turns, leaving us unsure of who to trust!

Movie is engaging all the way, despite some convoluted plotting. Anchored by Michael Caine's performance as the empathetic smart ass spy, Harry Palmer, as he searches for a missing scientist and uncovers alot more than he intended.

Joe Cole delivered a credible character in the Ipcress File with subtle nuanced differences. The Joe Cole version of the Ipcress File may well prove to be of the same enduring quality as the epic Harry Saltzman version starring Michael Caine. In a way though it is a shame that the film industry is producing yet another remake of a classic thriller. If success is to breed success the film industry must not polish old gems but mine for new ones. In the espionage genre, an example of such a new gem is Beyond Enkription, the first fact based spy thriller in The Burlington Files series by Bill Fairclough aka Edward Burlington who was a real MI6 agent, codename JJ and one of Pemberton's People in MI6. I only mention that because, coincidentally, a few critics have likened its protagonist to a "posh and sophisticated Harry Palmer" and the first novel in the series is indisputably anti-Bond or at the least a tad Deightonesque. It's worth checking out this enigmatic and elusive thriller, a must read for espionage illuminati, albeit it's not being a remake may mean that to date it has eluded you. For more beguiling anecdotes best read a brief and intriguing News Article about Pemberton's People in MI6 dated 31 October 2022 in TheBurlingtonFiles website and then read Beyond Enkription.

Felt slow and noir like but had its moments in this Bond like but Bond lite tale of a British secret agent. Caine is good.

Stylish and engaging spy thriller, in many ways the anti-Bond. Caine's performance is fantastic. It's in danger of getting a little silly towards the end but manages to hold it together convincingly enough.

Brilliant anti hero , poor mans Bond, good and gritty, some excellent set pieces, cracking JB score, MC at his best, especially learning from Deighton for his cooking scene ( a man cooking ???), proper job spy thriller, so much to like and great shots, in my top 5.

Run of the mill spy yarn.

James Bond meets Manchurian Candidate was what kept coming to mind as it wandered while watching this. Michael Caine is always delightful and was here, but unfortunately the plot did not hold my attention in the way I would expect from a spy thriller. The cinematography and sets did help create a pleasing vibe. 6.5/10

Michael Caine is known these days for supporting roles in Hollywood blockbusters, so it is strange to see him as a young actor in one of his first big roles in the British industry. In this one, he does a fairly good job and the fast pace of proceedings ensures that every scene has a purpose and retains the audience's interest. Some of the camera work and zooms are very enjoyable. The key element of brainwashing might be far-fetched and out of tone with the noirish, withdrawn take on the spy genre, but at least it was an intriguing contrast. I also found the more noir, trumpeted score pleasant. I am not sure that this film made me eager to watch the sequels immediately, but I am certainly not opposed to the idea.

Great stuff. Gritty, witty, and grimy 60s London.

A great spy movie, with a twisted plot, great actors, and a very well-developed character, Harry Palmer. He is created by an outstanding Michael Caine, and I was left wondering how much of the character is due to Caine and how much to the script and direction. It's a "genuine" spy novel, more Le Carre' than James Bond, and we are much better off for it.

While it doesn't reach the bleak characterizations or hyperrealistic tension of a Le Carre adaptation, The Ipcress File opts for a more serious counter to Bond's early goofiness while preserving much of the latter's refined cool. Plenty of classic clandestine moments can be found to support Caine's mildly rebellious but dedicated Palmer, including an intense guns-drawn exchange in a parking garage and the final deadly choice between two comrades, one innocent, the other a double-agent. A capable spy film that blends a wry wit with some intrigue. (3.5/5)

The second-best espionage thriller to come out of the Cold War, behind Manchurian Candidate. Tight script, brilliant acting, crisp direction, haunting score, photographed in a gritty documentary style which endows the film with immense credibility. The ending packs a wallop. Michael Caine as antihero Harry Palmer quietly commands your attention, mesmerizingly. Supporting cast is also superb. The mystery unspools slowly by design, gathering momentum in the last two acts. Great moviemaking with a singular sardonic vision, cultural landmark of the late 1960s.

I forget how many times l have watched this and it is always rewarding. So many things to enjoy but l highlight two, less frequently mentioned in dispatches. First is the score: not just the theme but John Barry's score throughout sets the tone. Second is the cinematography. London never looked so seedy, almost as if the War had just ended, not the swinging sixties. Together they brilliantly capture the underlying mood of world weariness. Love it.

Often touted as the "Oswald the Lucky Rabbit" to the James Bond franchise's "Mickey Mouse," the Harry Palmer movies may not have gotten anywhere near as much of the exposure that the 007 adventures may have gotten, but that's not to say this first outing isn't worth a look. Definitely pulling from the more John-Le-Carre-esque sides of espionage fiction, "The Ipcress File" could be viewed by some as pedestrian or lackluster in comparison to other spy outings. And I get it. This can admittedly be a bit of a slow burn at times, but really only in its first half. It's quiet, yet deliberate in its pacing and build-up, ultimately leading to a second half that really gives you something outside the box, kind of goofy, but undeniably creative and cool. Sprinkle in some textbook charm from Michael Caine here and there and you're given a solid, if slight entry in the pantheon of 1960's spy films.

Top of the heap of the anti-Bond spy thriller films, where the action never leaves London, and barely qualifies as "action." Caine's Harry Palmer is described as being somewhat insubordinate, but it's just a bit of cheek now and then. He gets put on an assignment involving scientist going missing or daft, and eventually becomes a subject of experimentation himself. No great thrills here, just a classy subdued yarn that Caine carries all the way by underplaying things.

Brilliant brilliant brilliant.

Stylish with a distinctly film-noir influence, this is a cleverly written and intriguing thriller that, despite having a few plot points that could have done with a bit more of an explanation, is still mightily entertaining. Most of the characters are thinly written with little to do, but Michael Caine's cool performance as the womanising, somewhat cheeky and insubordinate spy, Harry Palmer, will serve to distract you from that fact. Yes, it bears a lot of similarities to the Bond series, but 'The Ipcress File' feels less Hollywood-polished, a little more realistic and much more local with most of the film set in London.

I suppose that's what we call a spy - thriller movie..

Whilst I can't fault this movies intention, artsy direction and Michael Caine's portrayal of the central character, the down to earth grim realism approach and plodding pace makes the whole experience feel rather flat. John Barry's score works perfectly but it's lack of variety makes it repetitive after a while. The final act is perhaps the most fun, even if things get slightly silly plot-wise. It's not a movie I'll be returning to anytime soon but I'm still giving it a decent rating because for the right audience it's certainly a worthy watch.