BILLION DOLLAR BRAIN - Sir Richard Rodney Bennett

Billion Dollar Brain (1967), directed by Ken Russell, is the third of the Harry Palmer films ('Ipcress File' and 'Funeral in Berlin'). Palmer, working as a private investigator, receives a strange phone call and is paid to take a package to Helsinki, Finland. He does not know that he is about to encounter his old acquaintance Leo Newbiggin (Karl Malden) -- nor that the package contains virus-filled eggs that have been stolen from the British government's research facility at Porton Down. Later, he is coerced into working once more for the British secret service by Colonel Ross. He must become a member of the 'Crusade for Freedom' organisation (an ultra-right-wing group led by maniacal oil-billionaire 'General' Midwinter) and thwart its planned attempt at liberating Latvia from Soviet domination, which would cause a worldwide conflict; he must also recover the stolen virus for the British.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• Michael-Caine
• Françoise-Dorléac
• Karl-Malden
• Ed-Begley
• Oscar-Homolka
• Guy-Doleman
• Susan-George
• Vladek-Sheybal
• Ipcress-File
• Funeral-in-Berlin
• Len-Deighton
• anti-Bond

[caliandris]

I adore this music. I can't understand why it is sooo difficult to get hold of. It isn't on the list of Richard Rodney Bennet's tracks on Spotify... it doesn't seem to be available on CD.

Thanks for posting it :-).

[Soundtrackcollector]

@caliandris thanks for your interest.

If you listen carefully, you can hear the needle on vinyl.

However, there is a boot CD "Billion Dollar Caine" with some dodgey additional film audio recorded from video tape.

[zerokomma]

Watched the Ipcress file yesterday. Fantastic film, now have to catch this one too, especially cause its by mad Ken Russell. Absolutely great edit mate, looks like a marvelous flick.

[Soundtrackcollector]

Thanks George, Funeral in ... is worth watching too.

[ZINCOVIX8754]

fanatstic tribute to a superb film...great editing chops mr.soundtrack as always

[Soundtrackcollector]

Thanks agin for your support Mr.Zin - Keep chopping!

[leemcuk1]

Thanks for posting this. One of my all time favourite films and so many reasons to like it:

1. Cool Caine

2. Gorgeous Dorleac

3. Wonderful music

4. Bizarre and unique Bond/art film collision with a strange dreamlike atmosphere

5. Evocative Finnish locations

6. Uncanny modern parallels - mad Texan oil baron endangers world peace with ill-advised invasion

7. Great, quotable dialogue - "My arm is long and my vengeance is total and may God have mercy on you because I certainly won't!"

[destructivedandy]

RIP Karl Malden, Leo Newbigen. Died today

[Kingmanthecomposer]

Ok I stand corrected, there only THREE pianos but the Stravinsky sonority must still have been an influence. The pianists were RRB Susan Bradshaw (not MW though they did work alot together duetting) and Thea Musgrave (who also doubled Celesta and Harpsichord.) There is a harp but no other strings just wind and brass. Jeanne Loriod (Messiaen's sister in law noted for her Turangalila part) played the Ondes Martenot (Cynthia a Loriod pupil, was to play RRB's parts later in his career).

[Kingmanthecomposer]

It is also of interest that around this time Bennett had taken part in a performance of Stravinsky's Les Noces with Nijinska 3 other pianists at the ROH including Edmund Rubbra and MW (again who is often did two piano music with) and also John Lanchberry (who would be director of both Sydney OH and ROH Covent Garden). This must have made him decide on the 4 pianos. I JUST SAW IT'S NOT A THEREMIN BUT AN ONDES MARTENOT. Cynthia Millar played all his parts.

[Kingmanthecomposer]

Just read a book on RRB Omnibus Press by Anthony meredith, well worth a read. I believe as well as lp it was available on MC too from c1968 but never cd officially, its scoring is notable for the fact it uses NO strings but FOUR PIANOS (played by RRB Malcolm Williamson Thea Musgrave and I believe Marcus Dods who was MD on things like Far from the Madding Crowd Equus and Murder on the OE) wind and brass and THEREMIN. It also has sections of Shoastakovich Symphony (No. 7) 'Leningrad'.

[NostalgicNorthland]

My favourite of the Harry Palmer films....so creative, slick and stylish. RRB's music was perfect, this was a great time for film scores. I thought the tragic Francoise Dorleac more beautiful than her sister, the snowbound landscape breathtaking and Oscar Homolka a sheer delight. The whole thing is perfection for me, far better than Bond but that's just my personal opinion.

[Nualchemist]

@caliandris

I found the CD OST available on Amazon.com. Check it out.

[MacGrurry]

never seen these. heard of The Ipcress file and Harry Palmer but never took the time to watch. great music

[leemcuk1]

@bissia

7. General Midwinter says it to Leo (Karl Malden) when he finds out he's been feeding false data into The Brain.

2. Yes very tragic she died so young, I thought she was more talented than her sister Catherine Deneuve. She was very good in Polanski's Cul de Sac as well.

[poitrenaud]

Francoise D'Orleac is Catherine DeNeuve's sister-She unfortunately passed away during the filming of this movie-

So Tragic

[macthornberg]

@caliandris i love this too. It's amazing. I could listen to it over and over.