The IPCRESS File Movie Poster

The IPCRESS File (Film)

Writers: W.H. Canaway, James Doran

Director: Sidney J. Furie

Release: August 2, 1965

Producer: Harry Saltzman
Associate-Producer: Ronald Kinnoch
Executive-Producer: Charles D. Kasher

Stars/Actors: Michael Caine, Nigel Green, Guy Doleman, Sue Lloyd, Gordon Jackson

Music by: John Barry

Production Company: The Rank Organisation

Genre(s): Crime, Thriller

ID: tt0059319

Runtime: 109 minutes

Based On: The IPCRESS File by Len Deighton

Synopsis: In London, a counter espionage agent deals with his own bureaucracy while investigating the kidnapping and brainwashing of British scientists.

Declassified by Agent Palmer: The IPCRESS File: A Spy Genre Film with Thriller and Mystery Tendencies (Spoiler Free Movie Review)

Quotes and Lines

Major Dalby: The next time you use CC1 authority, just you make sure you have it!
Palmer: You know, it’s funny… If Radcliffe had been here, I’d have been… a hero.
Major Dalby: He wasn’t. And you’re not.

Major Dalby: The Americans have put a tail on Palmer.
Colonel Ross: How very tiresome of them.

Palmer: The fellow whose job I’m taking, will he show me the ropes?
Major Dalby: Maybe – if you’re in touch with the spirit world.
Palmer: I beg your pardon?
Major Dalby: He was shot this morning.

Inspector Keightley: That little blonde bird you was with the other evening…
Palmer: Rita?
Inspector Keightley: That’s it. What’s her phone number?
Palmer: You dirty old man!
Inspector Keightley: Well, you scratch my back and I’ll scratch hers.
Palmer: You ought to be locked up!
Inspector Keightley: I know.

Inspector Keightley: Now wait a minute. What about her telephone number?
Palmer: Oh… Disconnected!

Raid Inspector: It looks as if all this has been laid on for nothing. That’s not good enough.
Major Dalby: According to Central Clearing House, this operation was timed to start at 2.25. You started at 2.35. *That*’s not good enough!

Colonel Ross: I was counting on you being an insubordinate bastard, Palmer.

Courtney: You’re supposed to be at work.
Palmer: Oh, you are, of course.

Palmer: Have you seen everything?
Courtney: Yes, thank you.
Palmer: Then you know where the… whiskey is?
Courtney: Yes.
Palmer: Fix us both one, will you?

Carswell: Don’t worry, man. You were the only one to come up with anything. He seemed very pleased.
Palmer: Well, he’s got a right comical way of showing it.

Bluejay: See that there’s padding on those straps next time.
Palmer: You want to make it easy for me?
Bluejay: No. For *me*.

Courtney: You know this is unauthorized.
Palmer: My mother gave it to me for Christmas.

Palmer: What are you gonna tell Dalby on your L101?
Courtney: That you like girls.
Palmer: You got that right.
Courtney: You’re not the tearaway he thinks you are. You also like books, music, cooking.
Palmer: I like birds best.

Courtney: Do you always wear your glasses?
Palmer: Yes. Except in bed.

Palmer: “Induction of Psychoneuroses by Conditioned Reflex Under Stress”. What does that mean?
Carswell: It means I know now why 17 scientists ceased to function.
Palmer: Yes?
Carswell: Look again, boy…
Carswell: I-P-C-R-E-S-S.
Palmer: Ipcress!

Major Dalby: It isn’t usual to read a B107 to its subject, Palmer; but I’m gonna put you straight. “Insubordinate. Insolent. A trickster. Perhaps with criminal tendencies.”
Palmer: Yes, that’s a pretty fair appraisal – sir.
Major Dalby: Good. That last quality might be useful. But if I have any trouble with you, Palmer, I shall *bite* you, Palmer, and I shall bite you so hard you’ll go right back to where Ross found you!

Palmer: Very neat. Must we sit through any more of this torture? I’ve got a lot of things to do.
Major Dalby: I think they’re playing very well.
Palmer: Tell me who wins.

Major Dalby: And we still have to find Radcliffe, gentlemen. That means more legwork and fewer inspired hunches.

Palmer: You didn’t come here to talk to me about button mushrooms and birds.