The Ipcress File/Episode 2

My review comment on the first episode to the effect that the shadow of Michael Caine fell over the production was generally followed by the newspaper critics on Monday, but over the weekend the younger TV critics like Ben Rifkind in the Saturday Times and Deborah Ross in the Mail on Sunday praised it for being cool with crisp dialogue.

Tom Hollander as the smarmy spy chief Darby was praised by both.

I watched the second episode last night.

There were two murders and a fake identity.

Class dominated in the relationship between Darby and the rougher Harry Palmer – and posh Lucy withholding her real job in espionage from her fiancée whilst clearly being attracted to working class Palmer with his tougher edges.

At one point Palmer cooks a meal at his flat for Lucy. This brought back a memory of the first time I saw the film with my late mother.

I  can distinctly recall, as Michael Caine chopped up some raw vegetables, my mother explaining that it was ratatouille being cooked.

She also said Michael Caine had such a sexy mouth.

I enjoyed the second episode for its pace and period detail.

Perhaps that is enough and the original film should not affect one’s perception.