Michael Caine Harry Palmer - Ipcress File Pop Art Print - Len Deighton
The Ipcress File novel came out just after the release of the first James Bond film Dr. No (1962). When the novel sold well, EON producers Harry Saltzman and Albert Broccoli approached Deighton to write the script for the next 007 film after Dr. No, From Russia With Love (1963); however, despite Deighton’s efforts, little of his screenplay was filmed. Saltzman instead decided to use The IPCRESS File, and its sequels, as the beginning of a new secret agent movie series. However, unlike the Bond films, The IPCRESS File was designed to have a different, more down-beat, style, although Saltzman employed many Bond movie staff, including production designer Ken Adam, editor Peter Hunt, and composer John Barry; eventually, Michael Caine was chosen to play the lead.
In the film version, Harry Palmer is a British army sergeant forcibly drafted into the security services to work away a prison sentence for black marketeering. He worked first for Army Intelligence then the Foreign Office. He works for the brilliant but slightly duplicitous Colonel Ross. Harry Palmer has much in common with Deighton, including passions for military history (Harvey Newbegin complains about his bookshelf contents in Billion Dollar Brain), cooking, and classical music.
July 4th, 2009 at 11:53 pm
I am writing a major biography of Len Deighton, and offer a couple of corrections to your piece.
Producer Harry Saltzman met with Len Deighton to discuss the film rights of The Ipcress File prior to the opening of the first James Bond film Dr No, and nearly six weeks before the publication of the novel.
Saltzman had received an advance copy of Ipcress from Deighton’s agent Jonathan Clowes, and arranged to meet the new author at Pinewood Studios. After Deighton subsequently declined to adapt Ipcress for the screen himself, the producer hired him to prepare a draft screenplay of From Russia With Love, and in December 1962 flew the author and his wife to Turkey to scout locations. As you correctly stated, Deighton delivered a draft but it was not used, and nor was he credited.
July 9th, 2009 at 10:42 am
Cheers Edward.
You need to have a word with Wikipedia as their info will also be wrong.
Thanks for the interest, do you like the art by the way?
You could always use it in the book if you wish?
Regards,
Michael.