Charlie Croker, recently released from chokey, is planning a four-million dollar gold bullion heist in Turin. The scam involves deliberately causing a massive traffic jam, knocking off the gold and then escaping with it in three Minis along a complicated back-alley route. But first Charlie must convince the powerful and dismissive Mr Bridger to fund his outlandish scheme.
The quintessential British caper flick, this is a great fun film which plasters a smile to your mug right from the start and keeps it there. It has four key ingredients going for it. Firstly, a fantastic script by Troy Kennedy Martin, with a great central idea for the heist, a gallery of lovable lowlifes and lots of funny dialogue ("We all work together as a team, and that means you do everything I say."). Secondly, a terrific performance by Caine, whose unbridled barrow-boy charm permeates almost every scene. Thirdly, an amazing score by Quincy Jones which runs the gamut from easy listening to jazz and traditional orchestra and concludes with a wild toe-tapping cockney singalong number called "Getta Bloomin' Move On !". And finally, incredible stuntwork by Remy Julienne for the zesty classic car-chase finale, with Union Jack Mini Coopers racing through piazzas, arcades and subways. The rest of the cast have a tremendous comic pedigree, and Coward is deft and mannered (in his final film) as the haughty, snobbish, macroeconomically-minded, royalty-adoring Mr Bridger. This is definitely a movie for classic car enthusiasts, featuring Lamborghinis, Aston Martins, Jags and lots of Fiats. Beautifully photographed on location in Turin and the Alps by Douglas Slocombe, handsomely produced by Michael Deeley and stylishly directed by the underrated Collinson, this is one of the most beloved and entertaining British movies ever made.
The quintessential British caper flick, this is a great fun film which plasters a smile to your mug right from the start and keeps it there. It has four key ingredients going for it. Firstly, a fantastic script by Troy Kennedy Martin, with a great central idea for the heist, a gallery of lovable lowlifes and lots of funny dialogue ("We all work together as a team, and that means you do everything I say."). Secondly, a terrific performance by Caine, whose unbridled barrow-boy charm permeates almost every scene. Thirdly, an amazing score by Quincy Jones which runs the gamut from easy listening to jazz and traditional orchestra and concludes with a wild toe-tapping cockney singalong number called "Getta Bloomin' Move On !". And finally, incredible stuntwork by Remy Julienne for the zesty classic car-chase finale, with Union Jack Mini Coopers racing through piazzas, arcades and subways. The rest of the cast have a tremendous comic pedigree, and Coward is deft and mannered (in his final film) as the haughty, snobbish, macroeconomically-minded, royalty-adoring Mr Bridger. This is definitely a movie for classic car enthusiasts, featuring Lamborghinis, Aston Martins, Jags and lots of Fiats. Beautifully photographed on location in Turin and the Alps by Douglas Slocombe, handsomely produced by Michael Deeley and stylishly directed by the underrated Collinson, this is one of the most beloved and entertaining British movies ever made.