- Actors: Michael Caine, Sue Lloyd, Burt Kwouk, Jason Connery, Michael Gambon
- Directors: Douglas Jackson
- Format: PAL
- Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3 - 1.33:1
- Number of discs: 2
- Classification: 15
- Studio: Starz Home Entertainment
- DVD Release Date: 20 April 2009
- Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B001RNXYXE
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 13,730 in Film & TV (See Top 100 in Film & TV)
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 15 people found the following review helpful
If you haven't seen any of the original and excellent 1960's Harry Palmer thrillers(Ipcress File, Funeral in Berlin, Billion Dollar Brain) starring Michael Caine then these two more recent chapters probabaly won't mean much to you.
If you have then you probably will not like these two 1990's T.V. films as much. However, provided you can look past the lower budget production values and lack of 60's style there is enjoyment to be had in these two films - particularly ''Bullet to Beijing''
Michael Caine was having a definite career slump in the early 1990's - it seemed like his 60's and 70's glory days were by then a distant memory. But in Britain with the introduction of Lad-mags such as ''FHM'' which projected the 1960's Caine image as somewhat of a role-model for the everyman and refreshed peoples memories of ''Ipcress File'' as well as ''Get Carter'', Caine started to get asked a lot if he would ever return to his signature Harry Palmer role. These two films are the result of all those questions and a lack of better options at the time for Caine.
Filmed back to back mainly in Russia - the first film in this set ''Bullet to Beijing'' was originally intended for a theatrical release with ''Midnight in St. Petersburg'' to follow several months later on cable t.v. - In the end both would end up going the t.v. route.
''Bullet'' has visibly more money and thought put into it and Michael Caine does a good job here - I think it's his best performance as Palmer outside of the Ipcress File, here we see an older and lonelier Harry Palmer and overall the film is a tight enough spy film with some good moments.
''Midnight'' looks rushed and everyone seems to be just going through the motions a bit - the story here is like a lower budget remake of ''Bullet'' but if you don't compare it to it's predecessor's it's a reasonable enough if forgetable thriller.
So not a patch on the originals but it's good to see Caine as Palmer again. Happily Michael Caine has since gone on to have a better decade of films over the last ten years.
If you have then you probably will not like these two 1990's T.V. films as much. However, provided you can look past the lower budget production values and lack of 60's style there is enjoyment to be had in these two films - particularly ''Bullet to Beijing''
Michael Caine was having a definite career slump in the early 1990's - it seemed like his 60's and 70's glory days were by then a distant memory. But in Britain with the introduction of Lad-mags such as ''FHM'' which projected the 1960's Caine image as somewhat of a role-model for the everyman and refreshed peoples memories of ''Ipcress File'' as well as ''Get Carter'', Caine started to get asked a lot if he would ever return to his signature Harry Palmer role. These two films are the result of all those questions and a lack of better options at the time for Caine.
Filmed back to back mainly in Russia - the first film in this set ''Bullet to Beijing'' was originally intended for a theatrical release with ''Midnight in St. Petersburg'' to follow several months later on cable t.v. - In the end both would end up going the t.v. route.
''Bullet'' has visibly more money and thought put into it and Michael Caine does a good job here - I think it's his best performance as Palmer outside of the Ipcress File, here we see an older and lonelier Harry Palmer and overall the film is a tight enough spy film with some good moments.
''Midnight'' looks rushed and everyone seems to be just going through the motions a bit - the story here is like a lower budget remake of ''Bullet'' but if you don't compare it to it's predecessor's it's a reasonable enough if forgetable thriller.
So not a patch on the originals but it's good to see Caine as Palmer again. Happily Michael Caine has since gone on to have a better decade of films over the last ten years.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Although the critics don't always rate these two films, I find them fun, easy viewing and a good follow up to the 3 better known Harry Palmer films.
16 of 18 people found the following review helpful
I enjoy watching Micheal Caine and as Harry Palmer he is the old spy who now works freelance in Russia. I bought the double bill flims and enjoyed them. They are more or less light entertainment and in fairness to young Connery he has several attempts to speak Russian during both films. My one piece of advice is watch Bullet to Beijing first and then Midnight in St. Petersburg. If you've been to St.Petersburg then it's great to see the tourist spots in this film.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Average Follow Up TV Movies
Must admit never knew these existed until seeing them in a High Street store then finding Amazon had them. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Northern Warrior
Not Happy with me.
Should have given 5 stars. I receved item in good condition and also on time, so why 4 stars. I got it wrong the movies were rubbish "really rubish" Oh not the quality or the sound... Read more
Published 9 months ago by John1
Disappointing performance
Although Michael Caine is again great to watch in this two DVD set, neither of the stories picks up speed. Set in Moscow and St. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Robert P. Duvalle
The Rather Lame Return of Harry Palmer
I have no idea, what could have provoked some of the positive commentary about these two movies, other than a high degree of sentimentality about the old Harry Palmer from 'The... Read more
Published 21 months ago by Bacchus
Caine Double Bill
Excellent sound quality & picture - although I would have liked a wider screen picture aspect ratio.
Published on 21 May 2010 by P. Sabulis
IPCRESS these are not
First of all, these films are definitely not - nor even based on - Len Deighton's work : he wrote only 4 Harry Palmer books (sadly) and these 2 films are nothing to do with them. Read more
Published on 3 Mar 2010 by Q
Not as good as I remembered it
They were good films in their day and that is where they should have stayed! Disappointing.
Published on 20 Jan 2010 by R. Newton
Spectacularly laclustre
This double bill is really none too good. Ask Michael Caine about it, I think he'll agree. The films suffer from rather poor production values, which is sort of a problem for this... Read more
Published on 26 Aug 2009 by Fritz Langlois
HARRY IS BACK
HARRY PALMER IS NOW A MIDDLE AGED PRIVATE AGENT,WHO GOES ON A MISSION TO RUSSIA . HERE HE MEETS RUSSIAN AGENT JASON CONNERY,WHO ASSISTS HIM TO GET OUT OF ALL KINDS OF TIGHT... Read more
Published on 31 May 2009 by DICK BARTON
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