The Italian Job is an action packed comic caper, released in 1969, to a highly receptive British audience. This movie, set fully in the Turin and London of the “swingin’” sixties, has been brilliantly written Troy Kennedy Martin, directed by Peter Collinson and produced by Michael Deeley. Michael Caine plays the lead charater as Charlie Croker, Noel Coward as Mr. Bridger(the Mafia- style boss) and Benny Hill as Professor Simon Peach.
Wily but likeable Charlie, just out of prison, has an important ‘job’ to do. He intends to steal a whopping 4 million dollars worth shipment of gold, coming in from China, from right under the noses of the cops. With help from Mr. Bridger, a jail bird, an ingeniously planned traffic jam is worked out on the roads of Italia. This conveniently distracts Italian authorities, while the loot is whisked away in three bright Mini Coopers. The chase that commences thereafter is very appealing (even if you aren’t car-crazy), considering the minimal technology available way back in 1969. The cars zip through Italy’s picturesque natural and man- made backdrops, living up to the legendary “Mini Cooper chase sequence” title that this film holds. Also shot, was an amusing car ‘dance’ sequence, complete with orchestral music. Sadly, the whole scene was deleted as the makers felt it did not match the swift pace of the movie.
Rémy Julienne has handled the stunts for this picture so well that it was nominated for the Golden Globe Awards. Also contributing to this was Deeley’s choice of a cliffhanger style ending which left good scope for a sequel. Unfortunately the project never took off. But what did happen, was a remake by the same name in 2003. Also, in 2004, a ‘zine named The Italian Job as one of the 27 greatest British films ever thanks to the millions of audience votes in its favor.