Editing The IPCRESS File (section)

==Film==
{{main|The Ipcress File (film)}}
A film adaptation starring [[Michael Caine]] was released in 1965 and produced by the [[James Bond]] co-producer [[Harry Saltzman]], assisted by several prominent members of the Bond production family. The film medium made it difficult to maintain the anonymity of Deighton's hero, who acquired the name [[Harry Palmer]].

The character's name was chosen by Caine, who was having lunch with Harry Saltzman. They were trying to think of a name for the protagonist, and agreed that a boring name would best suit the protagonist's persona. Saltzman asked what would be the most boring name they could think of and Caine suggested the name Harry, then immediately apologised to Saltzman. However, Saltzman saw the funny side and pointed out that his real first name was actually Herschel, not Harry, so Saltzman was satisfied with it. The inspiration for the surname came from a boy called Palmer whom Caine knew at school. Caine described Palmer as: "the most boring boy I'd ever met".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.movingimagesource.us/articles/citizen-caine-20100528 |title=Citizen Caine |author=David Schwartz |date=28 May 2010 |work=Moving Image Source |publisher=[[Museum of the Moving Image (New York City)|Museum of the Moving Image]] |access-date=24 November 2010}}</ref>

The given name "Harry" actually occurs in a short sequence in the book where the unnamed protagonist is greeted by someone saying "Hello, Harry." This causes him to think, "Now my name isn't Harry, but in this business it's hard to remember whether it ever had been."<ref>{{cite book |last =Deighton |first=Len |title=The IPCRESS File |publisher=Ballantine |year=1982 |page=31 |isbn=0-345-30453-5}}</ref>