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Airbolt 
"teil mann, teil maschine"
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 Posted - 02/21/2010 : 13:05:45
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Is there a more varied trilogy ( in terms of style ) than the Harry Palmer trilogy? All three films ( "The Ipcress File" , "Funeral in Berlin" and "Billion Dollar Brain" ) managed to capture some of the zeitgeist but in wildly varying ways.
"The Ipcress File " is ( in my opinion ) the most effective in capturing the feel of the times. In a rather dreary 1960's Britain , the down at heel hero kicks against the "old school tie" methods of his superiors. The plot involves something vaguely reminiscent of an Avengers v Mission Impossible mash-up. There is talk of "Lasers". In the end Harry Palmer appears to be tortured thro the unusual tactic of taking him to a club playing Hardcore Techno.
Throughout the film there are peppered references to Britain slowly emerging from 1950's austerity. Two protagonists meet in an "american-style" supermarket - then a new innovation in the land of corner shops. Palmer is into "foreign" cuisine - dishes like Spaghetti Bolognese were considered quite novel at that time in Britain.
The film is shot in a very "fab" way, with tortured camera angles and framing throughout.
"Funeral in Berlin" is a far more conventional examination of the Cold War. Shot in a conventional style with hints of noir, it examines the paranoia rampant in Berlin. It introduces the character of Colonel Stok , the very embodiment of the Russian Bear. Cynicism runs deep and no-one is to be trusted. Certainly , no one is who they say they are.
"Billion Dollar Brain" is the wild child of the trilogy. Helmed by Ken Russell it is part trippy and part Ingmar Bergman in visual style. The scenes in Finland are especially haunting , such as the wheel beside the lake. T'sre is great emphasis on decor in the houses , undoubtedly full of symbolism. O.K it also features some of the worst-ever day-for-night effects at the end but thats forgivable in a film that features a hoedown / book-burning.
Familiar characters return like Stok, only thay are almost comic. The scene where Stok and Palmer are in underwear is hilarious. There are gifts for actors in the part of General Midwinter, which are gratefully taken. No part of the scenery remains unchewed.
So, a very unique look at the Cold War that also mirrors the changing nature of the 1960's. It's a bit like looking at the evoltion of the Beatles from Scouse urchins to trippy philosophers.
Discuss
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Edited by - Airbolt on 02/21/2010 13:08:11 |
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BaftaBaby 
"Always entranced by cinema."
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Posted - 02/21/2010 : 13:07:54
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quote:
Originally posted by Airbolt
Is there a more varied trilogy ( in terms of style ) than the Harry Palmer trilogy? All three films ( "The Ipcress File" , "Funeral in Berlin" and "Billion Dollar Brain" ) managed to capture some of the zeitgeist but in wildly varying ways.
Discuss
Personally I can't wait for Harry Palmer and the Chamber of Secrets. 
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Airbolt
"teil mann, teil maschine"
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Posted - 02/21/2010 : 13:09:15
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quote:
Originally posted by BaftaBabe
Personally I can't wait for Harry Palmer and the Chamber of Secrets.
Boom Boom
I had to do a double take when i saw the posters for "A Single Man" just to check if they had brought out another Harry Palmer film. Hey, if Colin Firth can rock those NHS glasses , maybe they should. |
Edited by - Airbolt on 02/21/2010 21:27:39 |
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rabid kazook 
"Pushing the antelope"
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Posted - 05/04/2010 : 11:50:52
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Yes yes let's see another Bullet to Beijing. 
Harry Palmer is great. I like Get Carter but Ipcress File and Funeral in Berlin bowled me over.
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The Harry Palmer Trilogy
