I have been watching ITV’s adaptation of Len Deighton’s The Ipcress File. It is based on the idea, not an actual adaptation of the original story. Fair enough, but Deighton is one of my favourite authors and The Ipcress File starring Michael Caine is one of my favourite films. I have tried to keep an open mind.
My first impressions were good, Joe Cole makes a passable attempt at Harry Palmer. Tom Hollander is an excellent Dalby. In fact, all the characters are pretty strong. However, the script lets Palmer down insofar as he has lost the insubordinate attitude (and related smart remarks) so prevalent in Deighton’s spies. The script strays into Sherlock Holmes territory to show how clever he is. Not so good. Also, he is recruited by Dalby. In the books, Palmer is recruited by Colonel Ross who places him in Dalby’s department. Suspecting Dalby, Ross hopes Palmer’s insubordination will flush Dalby out. Dalby, it turns out, is a bitter, passed over Major who’s biggest worry is what the other department heads down the corridor are up to. He has, indeed, turned.
What is sorely missing from the ITV adaptation is the dialogue between Ross and Palmer. Palmer is in MI6 under sufferance (it’s that or jail) and Ross wonders whether he’s made a mistake. It’s pure gold.
This is all lost in the adaptation, Dalby is way more senior, reports directly to a minister and has his own intelligence department.
All said and done, I can put up with most of the above. However…
The key to Deighton’s work is the simplicity of the story, the claustrophobia almost. In the book, it all happens within Dalby’s department which numbers 4 or 5 people, plus Colonel Ross. The ITV adaptation involves the KGB, the GRU, the CIA, US military and now, for reasons I can only guess at, the CIA have handed Palmer over to Chinese intelligence. I am part way through episode 5 and the sudden appearance of the Chinese has caused me to wonder whether I can be bothered to watch any more. On top of all that, they are weaving in US atom bomb testing, Soviet/US nuclear treaty negotiations, a rogue US General and his secret society which are plotting revolution. I am deeply fearful the plot is going to include the assassination of JFK.
It’s all too much. It’s just like the James Bond films at their worst. Think Casino Royale versus Moonraker. Or Dr Who under Chris Chibnall.
It’s a shame, this could have been so much better had the story had been kept simpler.
