Review of Billion Dollar Brain

Introduction

My name is Michael Caine, and I used to be a spy. Yes that`s right, a bloody spy.

This is the third outing for Caine as Len Deighton`s Harry Palmer, battling to save the world again. Palmer thinks that he has retired from his old job and is now making a living as a private detective. But as ever the powers that be want him back, to investigate strange goings on in Helsinki. Along the way he catches up again with Leo Newbigen (played by Karl Malden) and they encounter General Midwinter (played by Ed Begley), who is a very stereotypical dyed in the wool commie-bashing American from the 1950s and 1960s. But that`s all part of the fun!

Video

A 2.35:1 anamorphic transfer, which looks pretty good on the whole. I was pleasantly surprised that I didn`t see too much print damage, although there are moments when things look a little untidy. There are some good 1960s colours, reasonable detail levels and good contrast, even with some of the more wintry scenes. Nice to see a "lesser" film like this looking so good.

Visually this film just screams 1960s at you, and the most obvious place is when we get to the bad guy`s lair, and look around his "all powerful super computer" which will help him crush those pesky commies. These scenes were filmed at the Honeywell research labs, and this is what computers used to look like. Some quality nostalgia on show as we wander around the old school data centre!

Audio

A DD2.0 stereo soundtrack, which is the original mono replayed over both channels. All dialogue is clear and crisp, and everything is audible. The soundtrack has that kind of "spy" edge to it, and so moves the film along nicely, offering suspense and action in equal measure.

As with many of these catalogue titles, you can also choose from various other European languages.

Features

Nothing at all. A shame as I wanted to see something from behind the scenes or an interview at the very least.

Conclusion

It`s perhaps not the best of the Harry Palmer films, but it`s still an enjoyable 1960s spy romp. It serves best as a window on 1960s spy films, and the whole commie-bashing era of that part of the cold war. It`s certainly entertaining enough, and if you like a bit of Bond then it`s bound to appeal. Conversely, if you`re not a massive Bond fan, then this film is sufficiently different to hold your interest.

A quality performance from Caine is backed up by those around him, and I`ll definitely be coming back to watch this one again. The DVD is a good effort from a technical point of view, it`s just a shame that there are no extras.

Recommended for anyone who fancies a trip back to the world of spies in the 1960s!