cult film freak: MICHAEL CAINE IN THE ORIGINAL VERSION OF 'THE ITALIAN JOB'

Written by James M. Tate / 1/05/2021 / No comments / action , caper , comedy , cult , ensemble , harry baird , heist , margaret blye , michael caine , noel coward , peter collinson , sixties

MICHAEL CAINE IN THE ORIGINAL VERSION OF 'THE ITALIAN JOB'

1/05/2021 | No comment

Michael Caine in The Italian Job Year: 1969 Rating: **1/2

A stern, turtleneck-clad Michael Caine resembles BULLITT Steve McQueen on THE ITALIAN JOB poster, a misleading heist film as slapstick impairs what could have been a damn cool action vehicle...

Which it is during the 11th hour when those famously nifty mini-cars zip through Italy after Caine's gang of British criminals rob millions in gold... but the chase follows what's a far too easy heist with very few hitches, and the main problem is the overlong setup: a shame since the "collecting of ensemble misfits" is usually involving and fun...

But only Michael Caine — fresh out of prison before breaking back in to talk Noel Coward into funding the heist — seems like he knows what's going on and how the hell to get there, and back: Even the experienced getaway bus driver at the literal cliffhanger finale was the wrong choice, taking mountainous corners like a wacky open road joyride, and, while many viewers loathe the ambiguous ending, it's actually the best (and most suspenseful) scene in the picture since, for the first time, all of the otherwise goofy characters (backed by an even goofier main song/track) are dead serious, literally for their very lives, which should have happened a lot more times, and a whole lot sooner.

The little car chase in THE ITALIAN JOB directed by Peter Collinson

The little car chase in THE ITALIAN JOB

Future Get Carter hoods Tony Beckley and Michael Caine, and cat

Margaret Blye and a handful of babes in THE ITALIAN JOB

Margaret Blye and Michael Caine in THE ITALIAN JOB

John Clive and Michael Caine in THE ITALIAN JOB

"Hang on a minute lads, I've got a great idea!" Michael Caine, The Italian Job

Michael Caine looking Steve BULLITT McQueen for THE ITALIAN JOB

Share This Post :

Tags : action , caper , comedy , cult , ensemble , harry baird , heist , margaret blye , michael caine , noel coward , peter collinson , sixties

James M. Tate

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.

FAVORITES SHORTLIST

1)OTLEY 2)HELL IS A CITY 3)ROBBERY 4)THE FEARMAKERS 5)CANYON PASSAGE 6)HOT CARS 7)VIOLENT SATURDAY 8)THE BREAK 9)CALCULATED RISK 10)THE ROARING TWENTIES 11) ANATOMY OF A MURDER 12)THE CROWDED SKY 13)SWEENEY TWO 14)RAIDERS FROM BENEATH THE SEA 15)HARDCORE 16)JUNGLE STREET 17)WHITE HEAT 18)CULT OF THE COBRA 19)FALLEN ANGEL 20)A PRIZE OF ARMS 21)SHARKS' TREASURE 22)THE MARKED ONES 23)THE DRIVER 24)THE SYSTEM 25)AIR PATROL 26)THE STONE KILLER 27)SANDS OF THE KALAHARI 28)WILLIAM CONRAD'S BRAINSTORM 29)FRENZY 30)THE MAN FROM LARAMIE FAVORITE ACTORS 1)DANA ANDREWS 2)JAMES CAGNEY 3)STANLEY BAKER 4)MARLON BRANDO 5)JACK NICHOLSON 6)CHARLES BRONSON 7)BURT REYNOLDS 8)WILLIAM LUCAS 9)TOM COURTENAY 10)GENE HACKMAN DIRECTORS 1)JACQUES TOURNEUR 2)RICHARD FLEISCHER 3)VAL GUEST 4)STANLEY KUBRICK 5)OTTO PREMINGER 6)ORSON WELLES 7)JOHN GUILLERMAN 8)JOHN LANDIS 9)SAM PECKINPAH 10)MICHAEL WINNER