The Italian Job (1968 Original)

The Italian Job (1968 Original) - To see if someone from another country is British, ask them if they like The Italian Job. Along with Get Carter, The Italian Job is a film Michael Caine will always be remembered for. The role of likeable Cockney crook Charlie Croker is a role tailor-made for him. Whenever he`s on screen, he has cool and natural authority oozing

out his ears. So sod off, Mark Wahlberg.

The film is not dissimilar to the Ealing film The Lavender Hill Mob. Both stories concern British crooks pulling off a crime away from England (Alec Guiness` lot took France, Caine`s crew took Italy). The only other person in the film who is as good as Caine is Noel Coward. Playing the imprisoned Mr Bridger, he walks around with the traditional stiff upper lip and is the very picture of dignity, even if he does have an obsession with the Queen.

The film is remembered for 2 scenes. One is one of the greatest car chases in history, right up there with Bullit, The French Connection, Mad Max 2 and any Bond film. The scene is like a visual ballet with cars, as 3 Minis - a red one, a white one and a blue one - loaded with gold effortlessly keep one step ahead of the Italian police. The song "Self Preservation Society" rocks too. The other scene is the legendary cliffhanger ending which has the lads trapped in a coach about to go over a cliff. Had the film been a success in America, we would have seen this ending - Charlie`s great idea has them leaving the engine on the coach running so they will drain all the fuel out. They will then exit the coach before it plummets and race the mafia for the gold.

Not even an inferior remake can hide how legendary this film is. If you don`t enjoy The Italian Job from start to finish, then you`re an idiot. Alltogether now - "You`re only supposed to blow the bloody doors off".