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: **

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 minis 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 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

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)THE FEARMAKERS 3)CANYON PASSAGE 4)HOT CARS 5)THE CROWDED SKY 6)RAIDERS FROM BENEATH THE SEA 7)VIOLENT SATURDAY 8)JUNGLE STREET 9)THE MAN FROM LARAMIE 10)HELL IS A CITY 11))ANATOMY OF A MURDER 12)SHARKS' TREASURE 13)SWEENEY TWO 14)HARDCORE 15)FRENZY 16)THE SYSTEM 17)WHITE HEAT 18)THE SERGEANT 19)AL CAPONE 20)FALLEN ANGEL 21)ASH WEDNESDAY 22)CURSE OF THE DEMON 23)ATLANTIC CITY 24)KILLER FISH 25)AIR PATROL 26)DUEL IN THE JUNGLE 27)EASY LIVING 28)WILLIAM CONRAD'S BRAINSTORM 29)VENOM 30)THE ROARING TWENTIES 1)DANA ANDREWS 2)JAMES CAGNEY 3)JACK NICHOLSON 4)MARLON BRANDO 5)CHARLES BRONSON DAMES 1)VIRGINIA MAYO 2)SUE LYON 3)GENE TIERNEY 4)MERRY ANDERS 5)FAYE DUNAWAY DIRECTORS 1)JACQUES TOURNEUR 2)RICHARD FLEISCHER 3)STANLEY KUBRICK 4)ORSON WELLES 5)OTTO PREMINGER 6)JOHN LANDIS 7)JOHN GUILLERMAN 8)VAL GUEST 9)JOHN CARPENTER 10)MICHAEL WINNER