Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3952 in DVD
• Released on: 2004-09-06
• Rating: Parental Guidance
• Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
• Format: PAL
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 103 minutes

Synopsis
Michael Caine stars as super detective Harry Palmer, in confrontation with General Midwinter, a fanatical billionaire who devises a failsafe plan to destroy Russia. Sequel to 'The Ipcress File'.

Customer Reviews

Our man Flint, Harry Palmer style
This story is not quite "The Ipcress File" (1965) but it has its moments. The catsup, oops blood in those days was considerable thicker.

We have Harry (Michael Caine) once again being recruited by Colonel Ross (Guy Doleman), with a promotion and a 300£ annual raise. But he has other ideas and soon opportunities to take part in a great political movement. Where there is chaos there is profit. And as usual you can not tell the good guys from the bad or the idiots.

The actors as they are introduces in the story are an added plus. The Russian Colonel Stok, Oscar Homolka earlier played Dr. Prokosch in "Boys' Night Out" (1962). Who can look at Karl Malden and not think of "The Streets of San Francisco" (TV series) - Detective Lt. Mike Stone (120 episodes, 1972-1977). Of course we can not leave out Ed Begley best known for the cult classic Wild in the Streets (1968).

The movie is fast paced. And somehow in all the noise and bad tempers Harry Palmer keeps his cool and is the voice of reason. So does he get his raise?

Pokes fun at Bond
A witty expose of the reality of espionage: betrayal, loss of life and definitely no science fiction techno-toys. What more could you want? Well, Michael Caine being down at heel, noble and still full of integrity; Catherine Deneuve's sister just before she died; very amusing Texan megalomaniac character - a warning of things that were to come?; icy, haunting music by Richard Rodney Bennett (my favourite film theme); strong visual and pace contrasts. It's a classy more realistic version of a Bond film. Which one? Can someone up on Bond films help?

Time finally catches up with Billion Dollar Brain
Billion Dollar Brain had always disappointed in the past, but seen again in light of recent events it's taken on a whole new resonance. As a Harry Palmer movie it still disappoints, but taken on its own terms its an entertaining spoof of the 60s spy movie, from its OTT title sequence (where Maurice Binder ruthlessly sends up his own Bond title sequences) to its Alexander-Nevsky-with-oil-tankers finale on the ice. At no point does the film ever expect you to take it seriously, which is just as well - after all, who on Earth would believe that a far-right evangelical Texas oil millionaire would start a pointless war based on phoney intelligence? Definitely a film that reality has finally caught up with...

MGM/UA's DVD boasts a fine 2.35:1 widescreen transfer, although as others have noted a 32-second sequence featuring The Beatles' A Hard Day's Night playing on a record player has had to be cut because of licensing problems. There are also sadly no extras at all.