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The Ipcress File

Spy thriller in which intelligence agent Harry Palmer is plunged into the shabby and treacherous world of counter-espionage as he uncovers a bizarre brain drain among scientists. Based on the novel by Len Deighton.

1 hour, 44 minutes

Last on

Sat 16 Dec 2023 13:00
BBC Two

Music Played

Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes

  • 00:03

    John Barry

    The Search

  • 00:04

    John Barry

    Main Title Theme (from The Ipcress File)

    Performer: John Leach.
  • 00:10

    John Barry

    Dialogue 'I Just Love The Army'

  • 00:11

    John Barry

    Dialogue 'Is This A Promotion, Sir'

  • 00:16

    John Barry

    Dialogue 'A Fair Appraisal'

  • 00:28

    John Barry

    Jazz Along Alone

  • 00:37

    John Barry

    Dialogue 'I Like Birds Best'

  • 00:38

    Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Eine Kleine Nachtmusik K525 (Rondo)

    Performer: Philharmonia Orchestra. Performer: Colin Davis.
  • 00:47

    John Barry

    A Man Alone

  • 00:48

    John Barry

    Dialogue 'Button Mushrooms and Birds'

  • 00:50

    John Barry

    Dialogue 'Best Meal You've Ever Eaten'

  • 01:14

    John Barry

    Dialogue 'There's A Dead American Agent In My Flat'

  • 01:14

    John Barry

    Dialogue 'Lose Yourself'

  • 01:41

    John Barry

    Dialogue 'You Used Me'

The Soundtrack

John Barry's score for The Ipcress File is a fine example of popular music being used to great effect in film - something he continued in his most famous work for the James Bond franchise.

In Sound of Cinema: The Music That Made the Movies, Neil Brand describes how the opening score hints at threat and intrigue, but adds a touch of lightness, suggesting that this will be an entertaining as well as tense ride.

You can find out more about how soundtracks went pop in episode two of Neil Brand's BBC Four series.

Credits

Harry Palmer Michael Caine
Major Dalby Nigel Green
Colonel HL Ross Guy Doleman
Jean Courtney Sue Lloyd
Director Sidney J Furie
Jock Carswell Gordon Jackson
Dr Radcliffe Aubrey Richards
Bluejay Frank Gatliff
Barney Thomas Baptiste
Housemartin Oliver Macgreevy
Alice Freda Bamford
Inspector Pat Keightley Stanley Meadows
Police Station Sergeant Glynn Edwards
Writer Bill Canaway
Writer James Doran
Producer Harry Saltzman

Broadcasts

  • Tue 31 Jul 2007 23:20
    BBC Two except East & Yorkshire
  • Sun 4 May 2008 23:00
    BBC Two except East & Yorkshire
  • Sun 30 Nov 2008 23:50
    BBC One except Northern Ireland
  • Sun 13 Sep 2009 13:15
    BBC Two Northern Ireland, England & Wales only
  • Sun 18 Jul 2010 00:15
    BBC Two except East, Wales (Analogue) & Yorkshire
  • Thu 29 Dec 2011 12:05
    BBC Two except East, Wales (Analogue) & Yorkshire
  • Sat 22 Sep 2012 13:40
    BBC Two Scotland, England & Wales only
  • Sat 22 Sep 2012 14:40
    BBC Two Northern Ireland
  • Thu 12 Sep 2013 22:00
    BBC Four
  • Mon 6 Jan 2014 21:00
    BBC Four
  • Mon 29 Dec 2014 22:00
    BBC Four
  • Sat 10 Jan 2015 13:45
    BBC Two except East, Wales (Analogue) & Yorkshire
  • Wed 7 Dec 2016 21:00
    BBC Four
  • Sat 29 Apr 2017 13:45
    BBC Two Scotland, Wales, England & HD only
  • Sat 15 Dec 2018 14:20
    BBC Two except East, Wales (Analogue) & Yorkshire
  • Sat 28 Dec 2019 14:55
    BBC Two except East, Scotland, Wales (Analogue) & Yorkshire & BBC Scotland
  • New Year's Day 2020 21:00
    BBC Four
  • Sun 12 Jul 2020 14:45
    BBC Two Wales & Wales HD only
  • Sun 12 Jul 2020 15:45
    BBC Two England, HD, Northern Ireland HD & Northern Ireland only
  • Sat 6 Mar 2021 13:00
    BBC Two except East, Scotland, Wales (Analogue) & Yorkshire
  • Sun 2 Jan 2022 14:05
    BBC Two except East, Scotland, Wales (Analogue) & Yorkshire
  • Sun 2 Oct 2022 14:05
    BBC Two except East, Scotland, Wales (Analogue) & Yorkshire
  • Sat 11 Mar 2023 13:30
    BBC Two except East, Scotland, Wales (Analogue) & Yorkshire
  • Thu 16 Mar 2023 21:00
    BBC Four
  • Sat 16 Dec 2023 13:00
    BBC Two except East, Scotland, Wales (Analogue) & Yorkshire

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