Billion Dollar Brain *** (1967, Michael Caine, Karl Malden, Ed Begley) – Classic Movie Review 2420

Michael Caine’s third and last movie in his 1960s trilogy as author Len Deighton’s bespectacled British private eye, ex-secret agent Harry Palmer is directed by the wayward but wildly talented Ken Russell in 1967.

Having left the British Secret Service to become a private detective, Palmer accepts an assignment to deliver some mystery ‘eggs’ in an apparently innocent Thermos flask to an old friend in Helsinki. Then he whizzes off to snowy Finland and finally to Texas in order to take on baddies Leo Newbigen (Karl Malden) and crazed General Midwinter (Ed Begley), a Texan billionaire who has a private army, a massive super-computer and mad plans to invade Russia to wipe out Communism.

Returning from the previous episode, Oscar Homolka comes in handy as Stok, the defected Russian Colonel who tries to help Palmer stop the war. Guy Doleman also returns as Colonel Ross. Also in the cast are Françoise Dorléac (Anya), Vladek Sheybal (Dr Eiwort) and Milo Sperber (Basil) with tiny roles for future stars Donald Sutherland (scientist at computer) and Susan George (Russian girl on train).

Adapted by John McGrath from Deighton’s novel, the plot is impossible to follow in this form here. But there’s no need to take the story seriously to enjoy the movie. Certainly it appears that Ken Russell didn’t. However, his infectiously exuberant, self-indulgent direction, Billy Williams’s snazzy cinematography and particularly the snow photography and the cheeky, fun performances make for unusual but undeniable entertainment. Oddly, what started out as the anti-James Bond spy movie, has become very 007 here.

The series started with The Ipcress File (1965) and Funeral in Berlin (1966). Eventually, Caine revived his character for two films made back to back and released in 1995 and 1996: Bullet in Bejing and Midnight in St Petersburg.

© Derek Winnert 2015 Classic Movie Review 2420

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com