Charlie has a "job" to do. Having just left prison, he finds one of his friends has attempted a high risk job in Italy right under the nose of the Mafia. Charlie's friend doesn't get very far, so Charlie takes over the "job". Using three Mini Coopers, a couple of Jaguars, and a bus, he hopes to bring Torino to a standstill, steal the gold, and escape.Written by
Andy Topham <andrew.topham@aeat.co.uk>
The number plates on the three Minis all have a reference to parts in this movie. The red Mini has the number "HMP 729G", this is "Her Majesty's Prison" and Charlie Croker's Michael Caine's prison number. The white Mini is "GPF 146G", this is Grand Prix flag as referred to by Birkinshaw (Fred Emney). The blue Mini is "LGW 809G", and refers to the flight number that the gang would have taken had they been successful. "LGW" refers to London Gatwick and the flight number. See more »
Goofs
When the bulldozer starts to shove the Aston Martin over the cliff edge the car moves in the direction of the camera crew rather than mounting the parapet. The scene then abruptly cuts to a shot of the bogus Aston Martin being hurled over the cliff. See more »
Quotes
Charlie Croker:
You'll be making a grave error if you kill us.
Charlie Croker:
There are a quarter of a million Italians in Britain and they'll be made to suffer. Every restaurant, cafe, ice-cream parlor, gambling den and nightclub in London, Liverpool and Glasgow will be smashed.
See more »
Alternate Versions
When the first E-Type is crushed on the mountain road, Charlie says, "You just cost him his no claims bonus." For the American release this was dubbed to, "...his insurance bonus." See more »
A year after I saw the remake, I finally got to see the original for the first time. This movie was released during my freshman year in college, but I certainly don't remember it ever being in any local theaters. From a 35-year hindsight perspective, it has an "Austin Powers" feel to it, primarily because of the sound track and the period-attire worn by the players. The 2003 re-make has a more imaginative yet believable plot, while this original has a sly, tongue-in-cheek undertone of humor to it. Benny Hill as the computer-geek obsessed with "large-boned women" is a real hoot! I think that sub-plot could have been played out further in the form of it creating more complications for master planner Michael Caine. Although I like "Marky" Mark Wahlberg and most of his movies, Michael Caine imbued the Charlie Croker role with more personality. The mini-Coopers are still the centerpiece of both movies, though: good chase scenes! This movie has merits that the re-make does not, and vice versa. It's hard not to compare the two, but try watching both again, as individual movies.
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A year after I saw the remake, I finally got to see the original for the first time. This movie was released during my freshman year in college, but I certainly don't remember it ever being in any local theaters. From a 35-year hindsight perspective, it has an "Austin Powers" feel to it, primarily because of the sound track and the period-attire worn by the players. The 2003 re-make has a more imaginative yet believable plot, while this original has a sly, tongue-in-cheek undertone of humor to it. Benny Hill as the computer-geek obsessed with "large-boned women" is a real hoot! I think that sub-plot could have been played out further in the form of it creating more complications for master planner Michael Caine. Although I like "Marky" Mark Wahlberg and most of his movies, Michael Caine imbued the Charlie Croker role with more personality. The mini-Coopers are still the centerpiece of both movies, though: good chase scenes! This movie has merits that the re-make does not, and vice versa. It's hard not to compare the two, but try watching both again, as individual movies.