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

Colour:

Colour (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:

Peter Yates was first offered the job of director.

Goofs:

Continuity: Spray of blue paint changes when security van enters building.

Quotes:

Lorna:[after hearing a rapid knock at the door] It's the Law, Charlie!
Charlie Croker:What you tell 'em?
Lorna:Charlie, would I tell them anything?
Charlie Croker:...Yes you would.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Lupin the Third: The Secret of Mamo (1978)

Soundtrack:

On Days Like These

A rollicking heist flick with the best car chase ever put on film

"The Italian Job" is a comedic heist film that is mostly renowned for the extended car chase getaway. In it, a thief recently released from prison (Michael Caine) organizes a scheme to steal a shipment of gold bars by creating a massive traffic jam and using a trio of Mini Coopers to escape with the loot.

The cast is pretty decent with the always dependable Caine perfectly cast as charismatic thief Charlie Croker, Noel Coward as the incarcerated backer of the titular job and Benny Hill in a small role as a computer expert obsessed with plump women. Besides that there's no-one worth remarking on and not much acting that isn't up to snuff.

The script is bold and inventive with much of the humour being understated and unpredictable. The heist itself is clever but the staging of the getaway is a real work of art. Again, there is an inventiveness that is quite refreshing. Nevertheless, I was starting to get a little tired of waiting for the heist to be set in motion. Finally, the ending caps the proceedings in memorable fashion.

The direction by Peter Collinson is solid and above average for an action-comedy. The music, handled by Quincy Jones, is memorable but also characteristic of the era, meaning that it is unlikely to appeal to all tastes.

If you're looking for a lighthearted crime caper this is just the ticket. I particularly recommend the film since it includes what is, in my opinion, the best car chase ever filmed.