The Italian Job (1969)
Only the British and Steven Soderbergh seem to be able to make funny caper movies. The Italian Job the original one, that is a quite funny, minor classic of the genre, elevated from midnight movie fare thanks to the presence of a spot on Michael Caine.
The film’s setup is pretty staid
Caine’s Charlie Croker is straight outta prison, and he’s right back at the crime game the moment he’s released. Thanks to guidance from boss Bridger (Noel Coward, appearing primarily in films given to Caine), the job is meticulously planned and staffed: Ultimately the gig is to cause a giant traffic jam in the city of Turin, steal $4 million in gold from an armored car, and escape using clever non-roadway surfaces so the cops can’t follow them.
Ultimately the planning for the job an hour of narrative wherein a dozen or so characters are introduced to us is a bit of a bore. But once the job itself is underway, the film truly shines. The Italian Job is never remembered as a character study or a twisting caper film. It’s a movie with a fantastic heist and car chase at the end the three Minis that race across Turin’s rooftops and through its sewers have become iconic additions to film history. The chase is so good it makes the rest of the film pale in comparison. Oh, and the abrupt ending (intended to leave the movie open for a sequel that was never made) is a fantastic throwback that you never see today.
Coward’s appearance in the film is as disposable as Benny Hill’s (he plays, of all things, a computer expert who just happens to have a fetish for large breasted women and who often appears in sped-up scenes). The many supporting characters and odd tangents serve simply to give the movie more than 30 minutes of running time dazzling though it may be.
To watch more movies like The Italian Job (1969) visit Putlocker.
Also Watch
