The Italian Job (1969)

Director:

Peter Collinson

Writer:

Troy Kennedy-Martin (written by)

Release Date:

3 September 1969 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Comedy | Crime | Thriller

Tagline:

Introducing the plans for a new business venture: "The Italian Job."

Plot:

Comic caper movie about a plan to steal a gold shipment from the streets of Turin by creating a traffic jam.

Plot Keywords:

Gold | Prison | Mini Cooper | Car Chase | Sewer

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe.

Cast

Michael Caine	...	Charlie Croker
Noel Coward	...	Mr. Bridger (as Noël Coward)
Benny Hill	...	Professor Simon Peach
Raf Vallone	...	Altabani
Tony Beckley	...	Freddie
Rossano Brazzi	...	Beckerman
Margaret Blye	...	Lorna (as Maggie Blye)
Irene Handl	...	Miss Peach
John Le Mesurier	...	Governor (as John le Mesurier)
Fred Emney	...	Birkinshaw
John Clive	...	Garage Manager
Graham Payn	...	Keats
Michael Standing	...	Arthur
Stanley Caine	...	Coco
Barry Cox	...	Chris
Harry Baird	...	Big William
George Innes	...	Bill Bailey
John Forgeham	...	Frank
Robert Powell	...	Yellow
Derek Ware	...	Rozzer
Frank Jarvis	...	Roger
David Salamone	...	Dominic
Richard Essome	...	Tony
Mario Valgoi	...	Manzo
Renato Romano	...	Cosca
Franco Novelli	...	Altabani's Driver
Robert Rietty	...	Police Chief
Timothy Bateson	...	Dentist
David Kelly	...	Vicar
Arnold Diamond	...	Senior Computer Room Official
Simon Dee	...	Shirtmaker
Alastair Hunter	...	Warder (Cinema) (as Alistair Hunter)
Lana Gatto	...	Mrs. Cosca
John Morris	...	Standin
Louis Mansi	...	Computer Room Official
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Hazel Collinson	...	Blonde scrubber at Diner party (uncredited)
Lelia Goldoni	...	Mrs. Beckerman (uncredited)
Frank Kelly	...	Prisoner in cell (uncredited)
Valerie Leon	...	Receptionist, Royal Lancaster (uncredited)
Henry McGee	...	Tailor (uncredited)

Directed by
Peter Collinson

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Troy Kennedy-Martin		written by (as Troy Kennedy Martin)

Produced by
Michael Deeley	....	producer
Robert Porter	....	associate producer (as Bob Porter)
Stanley Baker	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Quincy Jones

Cinematography by
Douglas Slocombe

Film Editing by
John Trumper

Casting by
Paul Lee Lander

Production Design by
Disley Jones

Art Direction by
Michael Knight

Makeup Department
Gordon Bond	....	chief hair stylist
Freddie Williamson	....	chief makeup artist

Production Management
Derek Kavanagh	....	production manager
Giorgio Migliarini	....	production supervisor: Italy
Stanley O'Toole	....	executive in charge of production: Paramount (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
David Munro	....	assistant director: second unit
Mauro Sacripanti	....	assistant director: Italy
Scott Wodehouse	....	assistant director
Philip Wrestler	....	second unit director (as Phillip Wrestler)
John Glen	....	second unit director (uncredited)
Antal Kovacs	....	second unit director (uncredited)

Art Department
Terry Apsey	....	construction manager

Sound Department
John Aldred	....	sound mixer
John Glen	....	additional sound editor
Gerry Humphreys	....	dubbing mixer
Stephen Warwick	....	sound editor
Tom Otter	....	boom operator (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Pat Moore	....	special effects

Stunts
Claude Carliez	....	stunts (uncredited)
Rémy Julienne	....	stunt coordinator (uncredited)
Rémy Julienne	....	stunt driver (uncredited)
Rémy Julienne	....	stunts (uncredited)
Nosher Powell	....	stunts (uncredited)
Robin Webb	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Ronnie Maasz	....	director of photography: second unit
Norman Warwick	....	camera operator: second unit
Chic Waterson	....	camera operator
Michael Browne	....	gaffer (uncredited)
Mike Drew	....	focus puller (uncredited)
David Wynn-Jones	....	clapper loader (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Dulcie Midwinter	....	wardrobe supervisor
Roy Ponting	....	wardrobe master

Music Department
Keith Grant	....	music scoring engineer (uncredited)

Other crew
Barbara Allen	....	production secretary
Al Burgess	....	location manager
Douglas Hayward	....	suits: Mr. Caine
Helen Whitson	....	continuity

Production Companies

• Oakhurst Productions
• Paramount Pictures Corporation

Distributors

• Paramount British Pictures (1969) (UK) (theatrical)
• Paramount Pictures (1969) (USA) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1974) (USA) (TV)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1999) (UK) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2002) (UK) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Video (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Hollydan Works (2004) (Yugoslavia) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2004) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Film AB Paramount (1969) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• CIC Video (1988) (UK) (VHS) (pan/scan)
• CIC Vídeo (Brazil) (video)
• Lusomundo Audiovisuais (1996) (Portugal) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2004) (Sweden) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Bermans  costumes
• City of Turin, The  grateful thanks: for their help with this film
• Fiat  grateful thanks: for their help with this film
• L'Équipe Rémy Julienne  stunt driving
• Lee Lighting  lighting (as Lee Electric)
• Olympic Studios  music scoring
• Panavision  filmed in

Also Known As:

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English | Italian

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

South Korea:15 | Portugal:(Banned) (original rating) | Portugal:M/12 (DVD imports) | UK:PG (video rating) (1988) | Australia:PG | Canada:PG | Finland:K-11 (DVD rating) | Finland:K-12 (original rating) | Ireland:PG | Netherlands:12 | Norway:15 | Norway:16 (cinema version) | Singapore:PG | Sweden:11 | UK:U (original rating) | USA:G | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Alembic House - 93 Albert Embankment, Vauxhall, London, England, UK

Company:

Oakhurst Productions

Trivia:

According to the DVD commentary, although never formally planned, the start of the anticipated sequel resolved the cliffhanger ending of the original by having the Mafia arrive in helicopters and lifting the bus back onto the road to recover the gold (incidentally rescuing Charlie and the gang). The rest of the movie would then involve Charlie's crew pulling a second heist to steal the gold back from the Mafia.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: The Chinese characters on the plane from China are basically nonsense: "China Government Fly". They are also traditional characters, which were replaced by simplified characters in the 1950's in Mainland China.

Quotes:

Charlie Croker:You wouldn't hit a man with no trousers on, would you?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Silent Clowns: Laurel and Hardy (#1.3)" (2006)

Soundtrack:

It's Caper Time

"It is a work of genius."

In a sense I was disappointed to find that I actually liked The Italian Job. For after decades of imitations and student new-lad pub bores crowbarring "You're only supposed to blow the bloody doors off!" into conversation, I was all prepared to hate it.

Yet The Italian Job is a good film. A very good film in fact. First-class direction, all pans and upshot angles, and slyly political, though its "Cool Britannia" ethos almost seems to parody devotees of the Union Jack. Anyone watching this film for reconfirmation of the Empire is mistaken, though the team's final downfall notably comes from the only non-Caucasian member.

The humour is self-conscious, but never so that it goes too far; it's always witty. Michael Caine is the archetype Michael Caine, all pointing finger and raised-voice declarations, the version mimics love to portray. Noël Coward is able support in a straightish role, though the wonderful Benny Hill parodies his own image, thus diluting his already fine (And misunderstood) ironic take on the sexual pervert.

Screen realism is not an issue here, with a Mafia cameo who are hardly Don Corleone. Women are also marginalised, with only Maggie Blye getting a largish role as Caine's girlfriend, Lorna. This is the same girlfriend who hires six women to help celebrate his release from prison, and refers to fellow womankind as "birds". Yet while the film is a "boys only" club, it's far from a testosterone-led car chase, as Coward's appearance should attest. And what makes the final climatic chase so rewarding is that it's carefully, and intelligently, set up. The film is metaphorical where you wouldn't expect it to be, and well-acted all round.

All of which leaves me struggling for a way to end this review. Hang on a minute, lads, I've got an idea -