British agent Harry Palmer (Michael Caine) is dispatched to Berlin to get the real story when a Russian intelligence colonel is reported to be anxious to defect.
The global success of the James Bond franchise spawned a million imitators, ranging from the sublime to the silly. The Harry Palmer trilogy, featuring The Ipcress File, Funeral in Berlin, and Billion Dollar Brain, were arguably the best of the lot and a close runner-up to Bond himself. "Funeral in Berlin" provides an interesting view of postwar Berlin. The movie is filled with oddball characters. Caine is as irrepressible and incorrigible as ever in the role of Palmer, matched by Oscar Homolka as the would-be defector in one of the veteran actor's best performances. The result is a film that demonstrates a narrative depth most of the James Bond films lack. It also helps that the picture was directed by Guy Hamilton, a four- film veteran of the Bond series who knows the genre inside-out and realizes what areas could use a little freshening up.
Verdict: The real charm of this movie lies in Michael Caine's performance as Harry Palmer and in a weird little character quirk written into the script. You may not believe everything agent Harry Palmer does, but you won't feel your intelligence was insulted.
Rating: 7- ('cos I like spy movies)
Favorite quote: Samantha Steel: My name is Samantha Steel. Some people call me Sam.
Harry Palmer: Edmund Dorf. Some people call me Edna.
The global success of the James Bond franchise spawned a million imitators, ranging from the sublime to the silly. The Harry Palmer trilogy, featuring The Ipcress File, Funeral in Berlin, and Billion Dollar Brain, were arguably the best of the lot and a close runner-up to Bond himself. "Funeral in Berlin" provides an interesting view of postwar Berlin. The movie is filled with oddball characters. Caine is as irrepressible and incorrigible as ever in the role of Palmer, matched by Oscar Homolka as the would-be defector in one of the veteran actor's best performances. The result is a film that demonstrates a narrative depth most of the James Bond films lack. It also helps that the picture was directed by Guy Hamilton, a four- film veteran of the Bond series who knows the genre inside-out and realizes what areas could use a little freshening up.
Verdict: The real charm of this movie lies in Michael Caine's performance as Harry Palmer and in a weird little character quirk written into the script. You may not believe everything agent Harry Palmer does, but you won't feel your intelligence was insulted.
Rating: 7- ('cos I like spy movies)
Favorite quote: Samantha Steel: My name is Samantha Steel. Some people call me Sam.
Harry Palmer: Edmund Dorf. Some people call me Edna.