'' was the first
Spy Novel by
Len Deighton , published in
1962 .
It was made into a
Film in
1965 produced by
Harry Saltzman and directed by
Sidney J. Furie , starring
Michael Caine as
Harry Palmer .
The plot involves , although these elements were not in the film version.
In common with several of his other early novels, the chapter headings have a "feature". In ''The Ipcress File'' these take the form of each chapter being headed with a quote from a horoscope, which relates to the action in the chapter, though vaguely, as in most horoscopes.
The film version of ''The Ipcress File'' was intended as a downbeat alternative to the
James Bond films, which were being made at the same time. Four prominent members of the production team -- producer Harry Saltzman,
Film Editor Peter Hunt , composer
John Barry and
Production Designer Ken Adam -- also worked on the Bond series.
The film had two immediate sequels:
In 1996, Michael Caine returned to his Harry Palmer role in '' and '''''
Midnight in St. Petersburg '''''.
