The Harry Palmer Films

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Lots 141, 142, 143-148 and 150 are from the collection of Michael Caine's stuntman-double John Morris. Morris began work in the film industry as an electrician in the 1950s, lighting the sets, a director spotted him and asked him to do some work in front of the camera instead and his career as a stuntman-double began. Morris doubled for a number of stars including George Segal and then John Lennon in both Beatles' films. He first worked with Michael Caine in 1965 on The Ipcress File and then stayed exclusively with Caine for the next fourteen years between 1965-1979 co-ordinating stunts and standing in for Caine in numerous films including The Harry Palmer trilogy, Alfie, The Italian Job and Get Carter. An inscription from Caine to Morris written on the reverse of a still of the two men on the set of The Ipcress File demonstrates the high esteem in which Caine held him "So far John you've been marvellous and I'm sure you always will be, let's hope we can stay together, Mike"

Details

The Harry Palmer Films
A pair of prop spectacles by Correna of France, with non-prescription lenses and imitation tortoiseshell frames in hinged black spectacle case, the spectacles supplied to Johnny Morris as Michael Caine/Harry Palmer's stunt double and worn by Morris in all three MGM Harry Palmer films The Ipcress File, 1965; Funeral In Berlin, 1966; and Billion Dollar Brain, 1967; accompanied by a black and white still of Caine in Billion Dollar Brain wearing a similar pair of glasses (printed later); and a letter from Johnny Morris confirming the provenance (4)

Special notice

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Lot Essay

These prop spectacles appear identical to those worn by Caine when viewed from the front, however when viewed in profile it's noticeable that there is one fewer hinge pin on this pair. As all close-up work in the film was done by Caine himself, this minor discrepancy would not have been obvious in the film.

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