The Harry Palmer Collection: Standard Edition – Imprint Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Dates: UK, 1965 (The Ipcress File), UK, 1966 (Funeral in Berlin), UK, 1967 (Billion Dollar Brain)
Directors: Sidney J. Furie (The Ipcress File), Guy Hamilton (Funeral in Berlin), Ken Russell (Billion Dollar Brain)
Cast: Michael Caine (All Films), Nigel Green, Guy Doleman, Sue Lloyd, Gordon Jackson (The Ipcress File), Paul Hubschmid, Oscar Homolka, Eva Renzi, Guy Doleman, Hugh Burden, Heinz Schubert (Funeral in Berlin), Karl Malden, Ed Begley, Oscar Homolka, Françoise Dorléac, Guy Doleman, Vladek Sheybal, Milo Sperber (Billion Dollar Brain)

Release Date: July 17th, 2024
Approximate Running Times: 107 Minutes 37 Seconds (The Ipcress File), 101 Minutes 58 Seconds (Funeral in Berlin), 107 Minutes 52 Seconds (Billion Dollar Brain)
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC (All Films)
Rating: M (Australia)
Sound: DTS-HD 5.1 English (The Ipcress File), LPCM Mono English (All Films)
Subtitles: English SDH (All Films)
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: AUD$49.95 (Australia)

The Ipcress File: "Based on Len Deighton’s bestselling novel, the realistic, landmark spy thriller of espionage and counter-espionage centers on Harry Palmer, an intelligence agent assigned to investigate fears over British security." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Funeral in Berlin: "Harry Palmer is sent to Berlin where he is to extricate a Russian general who wants to defect." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Billion Dollar Brain: "Harry Palmer is blackmailed into working for MI5 again on his wildest – and most dangerous – assignment yet as he pits his wits against an insane billionaire and his supercomputer." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 3.75/5 (The Ipcress File), 3.5/5 (Funeral in Berlin, Billion Dollar Brain)

Here’s the information provided about The Ipcress File's transfer, "high-definition master from a restored 2K scan by ITV Studios".

The Ipcress File comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 41 GB

Feature: 34.5 GB

Here’s the information provided about Funeral in Berlin's transfer, "high-definition transfer by Paramount Pictures".

Funeral in Berlin comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 42.8 GB

Feature: 27.6 GB

Here’s the information provided about Billion Dollar Brain's transfer, "high-definition transfer by MGM ".

Billion Dollar Brain comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 38 GB

Feature: 29.7 GB

Quality-wise, these three films’ transfers look similar; they all come from dated sources. Flesh tones look healthy, colors look correct, image clarity is strong, black levels fare well, and compression is very good. Also, any source debris is minimal, and all three of these transfers have organic qualities. That said, The Ipcress File source is the strongest of these three films.

Audio: 4.5/5 (LPCM Mono English - All Films), 4.25/5 (DTS-HD 5.1 English The Ipcress File)

The Ipcress File comes with two audio options, a DTS-HD 5.1 mix in English and a LPCM mono mix in English. Funeral in Berlin comes with one audio option, a LPCM mono mix in English. Billion Dollar Brain comes with one audio option, a LPCM mono mix in English. Though the 5.1 audio track sounds good, I still prefer the mono audio track. All of the mono audio tracks sound clear and balanced, and ambient sounds are well represented. Each film comes with removable English SDH.

Extras:

Extras for The Ipcress File include a promotional image gallery (57 images), a portrait image gallery (24 images), a production photo gallery (46 images), a behind the scenes image gallery (57 images), theatrical trailer #1 (3 minutes 6 seconds, DTS-HD mono English, no subtitles), theatrical trailer #2 (1 minute 8 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), 4 radio spots (2 minutes 45 seconds, LPCM mono English, no subtitles), textless material (3 minutes 33 seconds, Dolby Digital mono, no dialog), an interview with assistant production accountant Maurice Landsberger titled Counting the Cash (7 minutes 20 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with 2nd assistant director Denis Johnson, Jr. titled Through the Keyhole (3 minutes 52 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), a featurette titled Locations Report with Richard Dacre (19 minutes 3 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an archival interview with production designer Ken Adam tilted The Design File (11 minutes, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an archival interview with actor Michael Caine tilted Michael Caine is Harry Palmer (11 minutes, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), a Isolated Music & Effects audio track, an archival audio commentary with director Sidney J. Furie and editor Peter Hunt, and an audio commentary with film historian Troy Howarth and film historian/filmmaker Daniel Kremer. 

Extras for Funeral in Berlin include a photo gallery with music from the film playing in the background, a theatrical trailer (2 minutes 58 seconds, LPCM mono English, no subtitles), an interview with editor John Bloom (13 minutes 54 seconds, LPCM stereo English, no subtitles), an archival interview with author Len Deighton titled Afternoon Plus (25 minutes 4 seconds, LPCM mono English, no subtitles), an archival documentary titled Candid Caine: a self portrait by Michael Caine (46 minutes 14 seconds, LPCM mono English, no subtitles), an archival documentary titled Michael Caine: Breaking the Mold (57 minutes 45 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), and an audio commentary with Rob Mallows of The Deighton Dossier.

Extras for Billion Dollar Brain include a photo gallery with music from the film playing in the background, a textless version theatrical trailer (5 minutes 28 seconds, LPCM mono English, no subtitles), a theatrical trailer without narration (5 minutes 28 seconds, LPCM mono English, no subtitles), a theatrical trailer (2 minutes 43 seconds, LPCM mono English, no subtitles), an archival excerpt of Michael Caine discussing the British film industry on the TV show This Week (5 minutes 40 seconds, LPCM mono English, no subtitles), an interview with associate editor Willy Kemplen titled Billion Dollar Frame (19 minutes 45 seconds, LPCM stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with cinematographer Billy Williams titled Photographing Spies (13 minutes 25 seconds, LPCM stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with Rob Mallows of The Deighton Dossier (12 minutes 9 seconds, LPCM stereo English, no subtitles), and an audio commentary with film historians Vic Pratt and Will Fowler.

Summary:

The Ipcress File: A British spy who often breaks the rules is given the job of uncovering those behind kidnapping and brainwashing scientists.

Sidney J. Furie directed The Ipcress File. He is also known for directing other films such as The Leather Boys, The Lady Sings the Blues, Hit!, and The Entity.

The success of the James Bond films in the 1960s led to an influx of spy films. Though most of these owe greatly to the James Bond films, it is the few that are nothing like the James Bond films that standout. Case in point: The Ipcress File, the first in a trio of spy films with a secret agent named Harry Palmer.

That said, there is one area where the Harry Palmer spy films are connected to the James Bond films, and that is producer Harry Saltzman. With Albert R. Broccoli, he co-produced every James Bond film from Dr. No to The Man with the Golden Gun. The Ipcress File’s other James Bond connections include composer John Barry, editor Peter Hunt, and production designer Ken Adam.

From its opening moments, it is clear that The Ipcress File is the polar opposite of what other 1960s spy films were going for. Despite its use of sardonic humor, very little in The IPress File could be considered upbeat. Also, where most 1960s spy films are known for their bombastic action sequences, The Ipcress File is best summed up as an anti-action film.

When it comes to its protagonist, Harry Palmer, despite being a rulebreaker, he is a company man through and through. And cast in the role of Harry Palmer is Michael Caine (Get Carter), who delivers a phenomenal performance that perfectly captures his character's essence. That said, as great as the rest of the cast are, it is really Michael Caine’s show, as he dominates every moment he’s in.

As mentioned before, The Ipcress File is light when it comes to action; the narrative's primary focus is Harry Palmer and his colleague’s investigative work. And even when it comes to the way that The Ipcress File depicts spy work, it is not flashy and at times mundane. That said, the visuals are filled with odd and interesting angles, and Sidney J. Furie’s solid direction does a superb job heightening the mood. Also, the well-executed narrative does a great job building momentum towards an exceptional finale. Ultimately, The Ipcress File is a solid espionage film that is one of the high water marks of 1960s spy cinema.

Funeral in Berlin: Harry Palmer is sent to Berlin to help a communist defector escape.

Guy Hamilton directed Funeral in Berlin. He is also known for directing other films such as Goldfinger, Live and Let Die, Force 10 from Navarone, and Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins.

Setting a spy film in the 1960s Berlin is the perfect setting for a spy film. Also, where the James Bond films made a clear distinction between good and evil, the Harry Palmer films deal with the gray areas. Funeral in Berlin’s James Bond connections are director Guy Hamilton, production designer Ken Adam, and second assistant editor Roger Spottiswoode.

When it comes to action sequences and moments in peril, Funeral in Berlin takes things up a few notches compared to its predecessor. The main action set piece is a smuggling sequence where a man hidden in a coffin is transported across a bridge, starting on the Soviet-occupied side and ending on the U.S. side. That said, this is one of several well-executed moments that are overflowing with tension.

The main attraction once again is Michael Caine, who is excellent in the role of Harry Palmer, an insubordinate spy. This time around he is even more comfortable in the role of Harry Palmer, and whenever he’s onscreen, he overshadows the rest of the cast. That said, the rest of the cast are very good, especially Oscar Homolka's (The Seven Year Itch) portrayal of colonel Stok.

Beside being sent to Berlin to assist a Soviet defector, there is a subplot involving Israel secret agents who are looking for a Nazi living under a different name. And once again, the groundwork, the little things a spy has to do, plays a significant role in the story that unfolds. Also, the narrative is well executed, along the way there is a solid twist, and the finale has a solid payoff. Another strength is Konrad Elfers’ superlative mood-enhancing score. Ultimately, Funeral in Berlin is a highly entertaining film that fans of The Ipcress File should thoroughly enjoy.

Billion Dollar Brain: Harry Palmer is a former spy who now works as a private detective.

Ken Russell directed Billion Dollar Brain. He is also known for directing other films such as Women in Love, The Music Lovers, The Devils, and Tommy.

Out of the three 1960s Harry Palmer films, Billion Dollar Brain is the one that most closely resembles a James Bond-like spy film. It features the most far-fetched premise: a group of anti-communists trying to start uprisings in Soviet-occupied countries. Even the opening credits, which were designed by Maurice Binder (he created 13 Bond films title sequences), have a James Bond-like vibe to them.

Locations are key in each of the three 1960s Harry Palmer films; this time around, the story mostly takes place in Helsinki. Also, there is a large portion of Billion Dollar Brain, which takes place in snow-covered landscapes. Things move to Texas for the finale, where Harry Palmer is inside of the anti-communist secret headquarters. That said, despite the locations adding greatly to the story that unfolds, the locations of Billion Dollar Brain are not as strong as London and Berlin, the locations from the first two Harry Palmer films.

When it comes to the performances, Michael Caine in the role of Harry Palmer is once again in top form. The best aspect of the Harry Palmer character is his combative relationship with his supervisor, Ross. And this time around he’s back by a solid supporting cast: Oscar Homolka in the role of colonel Stok, Ed Begley (Hang ‘Em High) in the role of the megalomaniac leader of the anti-communist group, and Karl Malden (The Cat o' Nine Tails) in the role of Leo Newbigen, an old friend of Harry Palmer.

Not only is Billion Dollar Brain the most action-heavy of three 1960s Harry Palmer films, it is overflowing with moments of spectacle. In the cast of the latter, this is not surprising to anyone who's familiar with Ken Russell’s other films. That said, though the narrative is not as tight as its two predecessors, the result is a film that is rarely dull. Also, Richard Rodney Bennett’s (The Brink’s Job) solid score perfectly captures the mood. Ultimately, despite being the weakest of the three 1960s Harry Palmer films, Billion Dollar Brain is still a fun ride that fans of 1960s spy films should enjoy.

Though the transfers leave plenty of room for improvement, they are still as good as these films have ever looked on home media. Also, Imprint Films The Harry Palmer Collection comes with a wealth of informative extras, making this release's shortcomings easier to look past. That said, until something better comes along, this release is your best option, recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer