| The Italian Job | | Cast : | Michael Caine, Noel Coward | | Director : | Peter Collinson | | Studio : | Paramount Home Video | | Format : | Color, Closed-captioned, Widescreen, Dolby | | Released Date : | September 03, 1969 | | DVD Released Date : | December 29, 2004 | | Language : | English (Dubbed), English (Subtitled), English (Original Language) | | Audience Rating : | G (General Audience) | | | BUY THIS DVD FROM AMAZON |
Customer Reviews
| Rating |  | | Date | July 01, 2005 | | Summary | Pretty good fun | Content
 | This movie isn't nearly as exciting as the remake, but it is quite a bit funnier. It seemed to be shooting for a whole different attitude, and it is a very amusing movie. It is quite exciting too. |
| Rating | | | Date | May 16, 2005 | | Summary | Ending could have been better | Content
| Overall, the movie is ok except for the ending which is like a cliffhanger. It's like a Hitchcock movie letting you figure out what happened at the end. I like the new remake (2003) which is a lot better! |
| Rating | | | Date | May 14, 2005 | | Summary | Classic crime caper from the 60's | Content
| The 60's Italian Job is well known to British audiences, for whom the movie is as regular a fixture of Christmas television scheduling as James Bond films, The Great Escape and the Queen's speech. Negative reviews by US viewers are as much a result of the lack of a culture context and unfamiliarity with many of the ensemble cast. The film has aged well and provides an amusing, if rather rose-tinted, snapshot of 60's British culture.
The cast includes Noel Coward as Mr Bridger, the criminal mastermind, and Michael Caine as the foppish Charlie Croker. British audiences will recognise a host of well known actors in cameo roles, including Benny Hill and John Le Mesurier.
The stars of the film though are undoubtedly the cars. Amusingly, the array of 60's supercars including a Lamborghini Muira, E-Type Jaguars and Charlie's Aston Martin are overshadowing by the three Mini Coopers which lead the Italian police on an amazing car chase through Turin. Remy Julienne and his stunt driving team produced one of the most amazing and well known, at least to British audiences, car chases on film. Arguably it still rates as one of the best car chase sequences and all the more so because the stunts were actually filmed on location in Turin (and Coventry in the case of the sewer scenes) and in cars with minimal modifications.
There are many memorable moments in the movie beyond the Mini Cooper sequence. Caine's 'blow the doors off', Benny Hill's larger lady obsessed Professor Peach on the tram in Turin and the 'hanging' ending stick out in my mind.
The extra features on the DVD are good but not truly outstanding. The 'Making Of' documentary provides a number of interesting insights into the movie. The commentary overlay track is a little stilted but worth a listen. There is only really one deleted scene, the rather amazing 'Blue Danube' car ballet on ice.
In summary, this is a true British classic with a great cast, score and storyline. A nice snapshot of 60's London, a fantastic (at least for UK audiences) cast and the superb car chase scene make this one to buy. The Hollywood remake, whilst not a bad movie in its own right, shares only the title, a storyline based on a gold heist and the updated BMW Mini with the original.
And for anyone wondering about the original Mini's, they really are that small and that much fun to drive. |
| Rating | | | Date | May 12, 2005 | | Summary | Early Michael Caine | Content
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In all honesty the only reason I purchased this DVD was that Michael Caine was in the movie. I don't know how I missed this one back in 1969 but I did, and I don't like to buy any DVD without having first seeing the movie. But I was willing to take a chance on Caine.
And it panned-out. The movie is a bit different, but that is part of the charm of it. I haven't seen the remake, and do not intend to, I have never seen Ocean's 11 remake either, and do not intend to. I'm 'old school' that today's makers cannot do a remake that will be as good, let alone better than the original.
The only small caveat I have about this film would be I did not care for the ending, it leaves you hanging, both figuratively and literally.
But I am happy to have it in my DVD library, and judging from most of the other reviews here, so too are most other buyers and viewers. |
| Rating | | | Date | May 07, 2005 | | Summary | Alfie on the job | Content
| A British institution (shown there on TV almost every Christmas) this is a movie not to be taken seriously but with a pinch of salt. If you don't understand that statement then forget it! Be aware - especially if you have seen the remake first - that this is a comedy first and foremost with some classic chase scenes. Some reviewers complain that it is dated, well that because it is - get over it this and enjoy a 60's romp with Michael Caine in full Alfie mode. This is not a film for those looking for social messages, deep meaning or plot cohesion, but one for those appreciative of British humor, ingenious car chases and who do not get hung up over the (nowadays) politically incorrect cultural stereotypes. There are some great lines ("the only way to get through it is, we all work together as a team - and that means you do everything I say" ) and the special features are worthwhile checking out. Could be considered more of a lads' movie but goes down great with kids too. Get your skates on mate, grab a beer, sit back and enjoy. |
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