Having solved the riddle of "The Ipcress File", Harry Palmer is back, and he's just as insolent as ever. He still knows how to handle his ladies ("You're useless in the kitchen, why don't you go back to bed?" he tells his latest lovely conquest - Harry. we must remember, knows what he's talking about when it comes to knocking up a good meal) and is, if anything, even more wary and contemptuous of his boss, Colonel Ross, this time. And Harry has good reason to be suspicious when he's sent to Berlin to arrange the defection of a Colonel from the Russian army.

The Berlin locations are excellent in this sequel, Caine is terrific, Eva Renzi looks great and the cinematography is highly evocative. The script gives Harry some of his greatest one-liners. On the other hand, director Guy Hamilton keeps things rather functional and flat, the editing is slack, the musical score is insipid (especially when compared to John Barry's wonderful work on "The Ipcress File") and the plot twists so… more »

Having solved the riddle of "The Ipcress File", Harry Palmer is back, and he's just as insolent as ever. He still knows how to handle his ladies ("You're useless in the kitchen, why don't you go back to bed?" he tells his latest lovely conquest - Harry. we must remember, knows what he's talking about when it comes to knocking up a good meal) and is, if anything, even more wary and contemptuous of his boss, Colonel Ross, this time. And Harry has good reason to be suspicious when he's sent to Berlin to arrange the defection of a Colonel from the Russian army.

The Berlin locations are excellent in this sequel, Caine is terrific, Eva Renzi looks great and the cinematography is highly evocative. The script gives Harry some of his greatest one-liners. On the other hand, director Guy Hamilton keeps things rather functional and flat, the editing is slack, the musical score is insipid (especially when compared to John Barry's wonderful work on "The Ipcress File") and the plot twists so much that the finale lacks the impact that it should have had.

Still, Caine's Harry Palmer is a class act, and he's still a great antihero, after all these years.