Funeral in Berlin (1966) Michael Caine / Harry Palmer - Videokarma.org TV - Video

soundmotor · #1 06-29-2008, 09:32 AM

This is the second installment of the Harry Palmer films. I had only seen "The Ipcress File" before and frankly did not remember too much about it. I like Michael Caine though and grabbed this one. (I am fortunate to have a local library that adds ~30-50 DVD titles a month and they've got perhaps 2,500-3,000 now.)

The best way to describe it is pay attention or you'll miss something. The plot is not linear and will keep you guessing. Great performance turns all the way through and Caine is wonderful as the sullen anti-James Bond "spy". He does what he does & who knows why. Perhaps it is patriotism or maybe it is just a job? It never fully lets on though. This might be one of the best spy films from the era. I'd never seen it before and it was a complete joy to discover in this regard.

One other point. I suffer from noticing technical inaccuracy in films, I just can't turn it off and sit back. Yeah, I am one of those people. When I come across a film that has all the goods I sit up and take notice and see how far the filmmaker goes. I was totally amazed at the technical competence in this one. The east-German, DDR border guards are wearing DDR border guard uniforms. The DDR Stasi are wearing DDR Stasi uniforms. They are armed with leftover Nazi weaponry such as the MP43 which is historically correct. When the Soviets partitioned Germany, they kept the Nazi gear in use because it was there and free and much of it stayed in use until they modernized. I cannot believe that the filmakers got cooperation from the DDR to film there as it did not show them in any way flattering. However it happened it is wonderful detail; if you care about it that is......

I won't recap the plot but suffice to say if you like Cold War films, here's one that is not gimmicky and well written. It is certainly an entertaining way to spend an evening. But, as I mentioned you have to pay attention. I had to re-watch a section as something blew right by me, likely because I was so busy noting that the shoulder epaulets were the correct type on the Soviet officer.

Funeral In Berlin

ducati_EL34 · #2 06-29-2008, 05:34 PM

Those two are great films. Do you by any chance like "The Odessa File" with John Voight? It is a cold war era film with a nazi flavoring. I find the twenty years after the end of WWII to be a fascinating period...

Holst · #3 06-29-2008, 08:27 PM

The Ipcress File is the only one out of the series that I've seen, in fact I wasn't aware that it was a series until last year. I did watch The Ipcress File about five times as a kid and I remember I loved it

soundmotor · #4 06-30-2008, 06:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ducati_EL34

Those two are great films. Do you by any chance like "The Odessa File" with John Voight? It is a cold war era film with a nazi flavoring. I find the twenty years after the end of WWII to be a fascinating period...

I saw it a long time ago but cannot recall the storyline except that I liked it.

I will have to track it down.

soundmotor · #5 06-30-2008, 06:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Holst

The Ipcress File is the only one out of the series that I've seen, in fact I wasn't aware that it was a series until last year. I did watch The Ipcress File about five times as a kid and I remember I loved it

"Billion Dollar Brain" is the last of the series. I've not seen that one. By the reviews, "Funeral in Berlin" is supposed to be the strongest of them. I have not seen "The Ipcress File" in ~30 years and do want to see it again as I recall I liked it.

Jack Lord · #6 07-01-2008, 02:35 PM

Quote:

I cannot believe that the filmakers got cooperation from the DDR to film there as it did not show them in any way flattering. However it happened it is wonderful detail; if you care about it that is......

I doubt they received any cooperation from the DDR. While those are excellent props and sets, that's probably all they are. I cannot fathom the DDR cooperating, especially before 1972 when things calmed down a bit there.

Anyway, its a really good film. Berlin was and is a big interest for me. Besides that flick, the other movie that really did their reproduction of East Berlin perfectly was the comedy, "Gotcha." It was a farce comedy, but they had it perfectly.

reggaenaut · #7 07-01-2008, 07:59 PM

I saw all 3 films, but cannot remember the plots. There is another brilliant Berlin film starring Richard Burton. I just cannot remember the title(I am really getting old). It was filmed in black and white.

Marantz3650 · #8 07-02-2008, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reggaenaut

I saw all 3 films, but cannot remember the plots. There is another brilliant Berlin film starring Richard Burton. I just cannot remember the title(I am really getting old). It was filmed in black and white.

"The Spy Who Came in from the Cold" (1965)

Anyway, The Ipcress File and Funeral in Berlin on Region 1 DVDs are very expensive....Yikes!!

reggaenaut · #9 07-03-2008, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marantz3650

"The Spy Who Came in from the Cold" (1965)

Anyway, The Ipcress File and Funeral in Berlin on Region 1 DVDs are very expensive....Yikes!!

Thanks Marantz3650. I tried but just could not remember the title. Great acting and very good plot. The use of black and white was stunning; it reinforced the drabness of East Berlin in the cold war era. I should check my library to see if it has these 4 films and have myself a Berlin Festival.