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The Ipcress File

The Ipcress File

Thriller · 1965

Sly and dry intelligence agent Harry Palmer is tasked with investigating British Intelligence security, and is soon enmeshed in a world of double-dealing, kidnap and murder when he finds a traitor operating at the heart of the secret service.

Movie details

The Ipcress File

“The spy story of the century.”

1965 Thriller 1h 49m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.8 / 10

Community rating

Sly and dry intelligence agent Harry Palmer is tasked with investigating British Intelligence security, and is soon enmeshed in a world of double-dealing, kidnap and murder when he finds a traitor operating at the heart of the secret service.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over The Ipcress File?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

North by Northwest

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The Bourne Identity

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The MacKintosh Man

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The Amateur

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After his life is turned upside down when his wife is killed in a London terrorist attack, a brilliant but introverted CIA decoder takes matters into his own hands when his supervisors refuse to take action.

From Russia with Love

From Russia with Love

Action · 1963

Agent 007 is back in the second installment of the James Bond series, this time battling a secret crime organization known as SPECTRE. Russians Rosa Klebb and Kronsteen are out to snatch a decoding device known as the Lektor, using the ravishing Tatiana to lure Bond into helping them. Bond willingly travels to meet Tatiana in Istanbul, where he must rely on his wits to escape with his life in a series of deadly encounters with the enemy.

Casino Royale

Casino Royale

Adventure · 2006

Le Chiffre, a banker to the world's terrorists, is scheduled to participate in a high-stakes poker game in Montenegro, where he intends to use his winnings to establish his financial grip on the terrorist market. M sends Bond—on his maiden mission as a 00 Agent—to attend this game and prevent Le Chiffre from winning. With the help of Vesper Lynd and Felix Leiter, Bond enters the most important poker game in his already dangerous career.

Dr. No

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Diamonds Are Forever

Diamonds Are Forever

Action · 1971

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Mission: Impossible

Mission: Impossible

Adventure · 1996

When Ethan Hunt, the leader of a crack espionage team whose perilous operation has gone awry with no explanation, discovers that a mole has penetrated the CIA, he's surprised to learn that he's the prime suspect. To clear his name, Hunt now must ferret out the real double agent and, in the process, even the score.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Sidney J. Furie

Written by

W.H. Canaway · James Doran

Michael Caine

Michael Caine

Harry Palmer

Nigel Green

Nigel Green

Major Dalby

Guy Doleman

Guy Doleman

Colonel H.L. Ross

Sue Lloyd

Sue Lloyd

Jean Courtney

Gordon Jackson

Gordon Jackson

Jock Carswell

Aubrey Richards

Aubrey Richards

Dr. Radcliffe

Frank Gatliff

Frank Gatliff

Bluejay

Court is in session

Put The Ipcress File on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Adrenaline Seeker

“Momentum is a formal choice.”

The velocity sharpens instinct and tension, making every beat land before self-importance can settle in.

The prosecution The Sentimental Softie

“Speed as an alibi.”

The film races past its weak spots and hopes acceleration will keep the audience from inspecting the evidence.