sharp, intelligent, and unsentimental. It ranks with the very best spy movies ever made. Outstanding.

compared to Bond atmosphere give the film it's sense of believability through all of it's complex plot turns. The camera work is excellent with some beautifully framed scenes that have thus far not received the credit they deserve. Homolka as Stock is a particularly excellent characterisation and the whole affect of cameras and the first appearance of Stock remind me greatly of Welles introduction as Harry Lime. The whole film is very much of it's time but as such has not lost any of it's fascination. Definitely one of my favourites.

Cold War business at hand.But the more serious fun is the wonderfully executed plot development, interweaving the various characters such as Johnny Vulcan, Col. Stock, Hallam, Ross the boss , Kreutsmann, Steele, etc. into a menagerie of complicated intrigue. I'll let others offer a plot synopsis: I'll just say the film keeps you guessing and wondering throughout its hour and forty-five minutes. The overall style of mixing mordant anti-establishment humor and complicated intrigue reminds me of a later film, "The Russia House", with Sean Connery, an equally satisfying Cold War drama.The only knock I have on this film is the sometimes obtrusive sound track, where the trumpets blare much too loudly to proclaim a given dramatic occurrence. Could have been done a little more tastefully. All in all, a "must see" for Cold War movie fans!

crimes committed. His sense of loyalty is outdone only by his functioning conscience and deep rooted set of ethics. His lack of ruthlessness and strict unwillingness to commit murder in cold blood seem the only obstacle in his path to becoming a card carrying member of the British Intelligence Service. This makes him stand apart from the likes of Bond, who frequently made use of his "license to kill". These signs of humanity, along with attention to countless details make this an extremely realistic depiction of the secret goings on withing government defense agencies.I admit it...the many surprises and the multi layered tactics displayed by various characters in this 3-dimensional chess match would definitely have "scared me", had I been one of the players. I highly recommend this film to fans of the genre, and also to those fascinated by the history of the Cold War Era.

details, which are left out at the edge of the screen. Including the subtle way in which Sam first picks up Harry at the hotel. However, unlike most "Spy" films we are not subjected to the obligatory soft porn sequence.Listen carefully for the references to Suvorov – a Russian general, part of the priceless banter between Palmer and the Russian who wants to defect.They don't make films like this anymore – simply because they don't write books like this anymore. This was Len Deighton and it is first class.

Germany and each side sought to exploit the other side's weaknesses. Many East Germans were seeking to cross the 'wall' any way they could. To fail meant death. Harry Palmer is sent by his boss, Col. Ross Guy Doleman on what Harry believes is a fool's errand. A high ranking Russian Official, Colonel Stok KGB Oskar Homolka seeks to defect and needs Harry's help. His German friend, Johnny Vulkan Paul Hubschmid reassures harry of his mission as does Eva Renzi Samantha Steel an Isreali spy. All seems above board, but Harry is no fool and takes precautions to insure his own life. What transpires is nothing short of fine drama and the result is the foundation for Classic status. ****

thriller' - forget it. Harry Palmer travels to see his boss on a bus and only receives a gun at his request over half way through the film! Watch it for atmosphere, razor-sharp dialogue and a great in-joke regarding Lownbrau beer... Michael Caine is at his world-weary best and supported by a fine cast, all adding to arguably the most 'authentic' spy film of the 60's. as for Billion dollar brain- Have you ever seen it? Listen to the theme tune & turn off!!

and Oskar Homolka as Colonel Stok keeps this film going as the plot is rather too thick for my liking.I am not someone that wants to do this much thinking with my fluff - but I caught most of it or at least the main parts. Couldn't be sure totally who the lesser characters were in bed with though or even if it was not each other.When the series returned with The Billion Dollar Brain it had got past its sell-by date and seemed to almost parody what had gone before. Like all things it has hard to judge when you have gone too far before you actually have.As a footnote Howard Hughes used to watch this film over-and-over again as many as three times a day when locked in his own self-made lunatic asylum. Did the film drive him mad or help drive him mad. We will never know.