1969 ( UK | USA ) ( Action, Comedy, Crime )
Starring: Michael Caine, Noël Coward, Benny Hill
Director: Peter Collinson
The Italian Job is one of the best-loved British classics ever made. The Italian Job stars Michael Caine as the iconic Charlie Croker, a freshly released crook who, using a tip-off from a deceased friend, decides to steal £4 million from Italy. There are many risks involved, so the job must be astutely planned and flawlessly executed for it to work right. However, it’s not an easy job – especially trying to blow off the doors of a van.
Caine is at his beguiling best in the lead role, and truly this film owes much to his central performance. He brings the character to life, and it’s his charm and indelible delivery that has taken this from being your standard crime caper to being a film still watched and talked about today. The car chases are exceptional, and ahead of their time. The mini-car team are let loose for a breath-taking series of stair descents, building leaps, banking manoeuvres and corkscrew flights through the sewers.
At just over an hour and a half, this is an easy yet always enjoyable way to spend your time — and should remain so for decades to come.
(1hr 39min)