The Ipcress File with Michael Caine

The Ipcress File with Michael Caine

The Ipcress File has won the BAFTA Awards for Best Film and was nominated for the most prestigious cinema prize:

The Palme d’Or

In 1966, this was a tough competition, with motion pictures like:

Darling

The Hill

Michael Caine, one of the best actors that British cinema has given the world, was nominated for:

The BAFTA Award for Best British Actor, for his portrayal of Harry Palmer, the main character of this spy story

This film has a familiar story, but the magic rests in the manner of rendering the narrative on to the big screen.

In addition, Michael Caine is excellent in the title worker.

A number of leading British and other Western scientists have been kidnapped and their return is confusing.

One of them for instance is a reputed professor and comes back to address a panel of colleagues.

He starts his address and then stops in the middle of his second sentence.

Amnesia appears to be the cause.

However, the British Intelligence is working on this issue and has understood what happened in large part.

Moreover, they are not the only ones following the developments, since the CIA has sent agents in the field.

Harry Palmer is the hero of the film and he has a very appealing, amusing at times presence and actions.

He is not James Bond or Ethan Hunt, but he is a rebel and there are resemblances with these other, more famous spies.

Actually, his superior officer relies on the independent spirit of this agent to uncover an inside conspiracy.

For some time, these notes have been looking at the Character Strengths that film heroes have or miss.

Harry Palmer shows:

Bravery, Creativity, Persistence, Integrity, Curiosity, Open- mindedness, Love of learning, Perspective

Citizenship, Fairness, perhaps not so much Prudence and Mercy…

He is also strong on:

Self-regulation, Humor, Hope, Gratitude, Appreciation of Excellence, Social Intelligence, Kindness and Vitality

In his past, Harry Palmer has been on the wrong side of the law, dealing in the black market in Germany.

He was offered a deal- work with the Secret Intelligence Service or go to prison for some years.

With humor, he says:

“And the food is terrible in jail”

One of his hobbies or passions is cooking and enjoying good food, so eating the penitentiary meals must have seemed awful.

Harry Palmer is soon on the tracks of the main suspect and he finds a lot of information…so much that he is kidnapped.

He shows resilience and an incredible strain, his loyalty being put to the test, under the most difficult circumstances.

The Ipcress File is a very good motion picture.