ok, first of all I am old, secondly the nearest I got to MCTE Colchester, thank goodness,  was when my mate beat me to a prisoner escort job there from Ballykelly, and he wished he hadn't ... 'Prisoner and escort ... double left right left right double.....

started to watch the 'new' Ipcress file last night, but why were the guards in prison service uniforms [ MCTE was army IIRC] and it went down from there.

any relationship to the original film [with he of Zulu fame]  no chance.

why cannot supposedly new versions of films even try to follow the original, or then even why remake a classic other than to provide work for actors etc who cannot even attempt  to replicate the original.

I find it extremely rare to see a 'new' version better than the original. I have recorded but not seen last night's episode. The same applies to music IMHO. Unless it's a completely different rendition I have no time for it

I put it on but frankly it didn't grab my attention at all so I just carried on painting N people     I don't remember any of the story.

Quote from: Newportnobby on March 07, 2022, 09:57:37 PM
The same applies to music IMHO. Unless it's a completely different rendition I have no time for it

Cover versions are always worse than the original, unless it's a cover of a Bob Dylan song, then it's infinitely better than the original 

John P

Hi all,

I liked it, though I feel that the lead actor lacks the qualities that made Michael Caine so right in the role - magnetic screen presence and charisma combined with a sense of menace.

In terms of faithfulness, I have read that it is intended to be closer to the original book than the film was, though having never read the book I have no idea whether this aim is being fulfilled.

And despite a slight over-use of the old Dutch tilt I feel that the whole thing looks fantastic- almost giving the impression of having been actually made in the 60s.

cheers

Ben A.

The Michael Caine film did not follow the book very closely at all. In fact I found the film to be better than the book.

It is a while since I read it, but I do not think the book contained anything about Berlin either. Those elements seem to be inspired by Len Deighton's later (and in my opinion much better) Bernard Samson series (Game, Set and Match etc).

Personally, I enjoyed this version of it. I am not bothered whether it follows the book too closely as long as it is a good story.

It is a shame that they did not do the Bernard Samson series (written in the 1980s and 1990s and mostly set in the 1980s) but I guess they got burned by the "controversial" adaptation that Granada did back in the late 1980s.

I agree about the Dutch tilt, and also the atmosphere. It looks as though most of the "Berlin" scenes were shot in Zagreb.

Having recently rewatched the film I rather liked it.

There are things that I think they got wrong (Routemaster with LRT on the side isn't something I remember growing up in London) but I enjoyed the overall feel.

Quote from: Paul J on March 08, 2022, 08:57:41 AM
It looks as though most of the "Berlin" scenes were shot in Zagreb.

The London featured was actually Liverpool (evidently London was too clean)
Checkpoint Charlie in Berlin was indeed Zagreb. Other Berlin parts were shot in Rijeka.
Split doubled for Beirut.
Croatia in winter doubled for both Finland and America.
A South Pacific atoll was actually a helicopter base near Split.
They even created an American diner off the A55 in Wales complete with period Cadillacs.

THe Ipcress File is one of my all time favourite films although I must agree with Paul J that it didn't stick at all closely to the book. I'll probably continue watching the remake out of interest.

This looks interesting. Not watching much tv, where will I get to see it here? Will it be on the Aussie equivalent of the BBC, the ABC?

Netflix? Stan?

Just asking, like - as I say, I don't watch a lot of tv. I do remember the Michael Caine original, though.

It's shown on ITV here, George. With the cost of everything nowadays I suspect they'll try and sell it to as many stations as possible so look out for it

Quote from: class37025 on March 07, 2022, 09:41:18 PM
ok, first of all I am old, secondly the nearest I got to MCTE Colchester, thank goodness,  was when my mate beat me to a prisoner escort job there from Ballykelly, and he wished he hadn't ... 'Prisoner and escort ... double left right left right double.....

started to watch the 'new' Ipcress file last night, but why were the guards in prison service uniforms [ MCTE was army IIRC] and it went down from there.

any relationship to the original film [with he of Zulu fame]  no chance.

why cannot supposedly new versions of films even try to follow the original, or then even why remake a classic other than to provide work for actors etc who cannot even attempt  to replicate the original.

It bears absolutely no relation to the original version of "I'm Michael Caine, Not A Lot Of People Know That!" fame. or was it Harry?

Nothing in this is relevant to either the book or the film.

Ah, great idea, "Let's call it "The Ipcress File"  That should get us a few viewers free gratis!"

GE

Quote from: cycletrak9 on March 08, 2022, 10:25:25 AM
THe Ipcress File is one of my all time favourite films although I must agree with Paul J that it didn't stick at all closely to the book. I'll probably continue watching the remake out of interest.

mine too--in fact--better than the Bond films. I watch it every time its on TV--in fact--i thought it was on and switched channel only to find it was a remake.