​Harry Palmer
Counter Culture Hero

In 1962 James Bond was reborn on the big screen. Dr No staring Sean Connery was a revelation. At the same time Len Deighton was writing a spy novel entitled 'The Ipcress File.' This book also had a male secret service operative as its main character the difference however was that Deighton's secret agent was nameless. In 1965 we also got to meet this nameless secret agent on the big screen. The actor playing the originally nameless Len Deighton agent...? Well we know it was Michael Caine,  but this is cinema and characters also have to have a name. Hello Harry Palmer. And so, in one swift move I would argue that 'Harry Palmer' became my  'Counter Culture' hero.
Ironically the way Harry Palmer represented 60's realism far out shone Bond. From the moment Palmer awakes in his basement flat to make fresh filter coffee and cook eggs, still in his pyjamas! 

​Interestingly, Saltzman, the producer of 'The Ipcress File', wanted a name that would distance Deighton's hero from Fleming's. He came up with 'Palmer' and Caine (Michael) came up with 'Harry', saying that it was a boring name, forgetting that it was the name of... 'Harry Saltzman.'
Harry Palmer was born, he hadn't existed before the film. Even in the book. Thus he was as far removed from our hero James Bond as you could get. Bearing in mind 'Goldfinger', which was released in 1964  is arguably the best and most iconic Bond film ever and as such is very  much 'Of the Culture'.
What do you think?  Can I rest my Q branch attache 'case' ?  Best pauliepaul

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