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From Amazon.co.uk
The greatest Brit-flick crime caper comedy of all time, 1969's The Italian Job towers mightily above its latter-day mockney imitators. After Alfie but before Get Carter Michael Caine is the hippest ex-con around, bedding the birds (several at a time) and spouting immortal one-liners ("You're only supposed to blow the bloody doors off!"). The inheritor of a devious plan to steal gold bullion in the traffic-choked streets of Turin, Caine recruits a misfit team of genial underworld types--including a lecherous Benny Hill and three plummy public-schoolboy rally drivers--and uses the occasion of an England-Italy football match as cover for the heist.
In his final screen appearance, Noel Coward joyfully sends up his own patriotic persona, and there are small though priceless cameos from the likes of Irene Handl and John Le Mesurier. But The Italian Job's real stars are the three Mini Coopers--patriotically decorated red, white and blue--that run rings round every other vehicle in an immortal car-chase sequence, which preserves forever the British public's love affair with the little car. Quincy Jones provided the irreverent music, naturally, while the cliffhanger ending thumbs its nose at anything so un-hip as a resolution. It's all unashamedly jingoistic--ridiculously, gleefully, absurdly so--but the whole sums up the joie de vivre of the 1960s so perfectly that future historians need only look here to learn why the decade was swinging.
On the DVD: The Italian Job disc contains three all-new documentaries--"The Great Idea" (conception), "The Self-Preservation Society" (casting), and "Get a Bloomin' Move On" (stunts)--which dovetail into a good 68-minute "making of" featurette. Contributors include scriptwriter Troy Kennedy Martin and Producer Michael Deeley, who also crops up on the sporadically interesting commentary track with author of The Making of The Italian Job, Matthew Field. The deleted "Blue Danube" waltz scene is also included, with optional commentary. The print is a decent anamorphic transfer of the original 2.35:1 ratio, and the soundtrack has been remastered to Dolby 5.1. The animated Mini Cooper menus set the tone perfectly. --Mark Walker
Product Description
Michael Caine, Noel Coward, Benny Hill, Tony Beckley, Raf ValloneDirectors: Peter Collinson
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
96 of 103 people found the following review helpful
Format:Blu-ray
I ripped the shrink-wrap off this little gem this morning with the glee of a six-year old delinquent given a day pass to Cadburys. I then sat down to watch it and emerged two hours later with the grin of a 51-year old Cheshire cat on Viagra.
We all know "The Italian Job" is a Sixties classic, but what you don't know is that this 40th Anniversary reissue of it (issued today 15 June 2009) is simply off the charts good...
First up is the print - which is GLORIOUS - as pristine as you could hope for and a joy from start to finish. And although it doesn't state it on the outer box, this is the fully restored British Film Institute version, which has been cleaned up frame-by-frame (and those clean shots are used in the "Making Of" extras too). One of those features is the 30th Anniversary reissue trailer from 10 years ago, which uses the famous "...doors off..." van sequence. Untouched - it's covered in scratches and has no definition whatsoever - it allows you see what the film stock did look like as opposed to how beautiful it looks now after restoration.
There are so many scenes that now stand out - as Matt Monro's cheesy song "On Days Like These" plays and the car drives through the Alps in the opening credits - when Charlie comes out of prison as he walks through the gates and Maggie Blye greets him in a stolen car from the Pakistani Embassy - when the three Mini Coopers climb the roof of the football stadium with the Italian cops in pursuit - it's just all BEAUTIFUL. The BFI have also done "Zulu", "The Loneliness Of The Long Distance Runner" and "Saturday Night And Sunday Morning" and this is up there - done to the same stunning standard as they were (see my reviews).
The extras are generous too (nearly two hours worth):
1.... Read more ›
We all know "The Italian Job" is a Sixties classic, but what you don't know is that this 40th Anniversary reissue of it (issued today 15 June 2009) is simply off the charts good...
First up is the print - which is GLORIOUS - as pristine as you could hope for and a joy from start to finish. And although it doesn't state it on the outer box, this is the fully restored British Film Institute version, which has been cleaned up frame-by-frame (and those clean shots are used in the "Making Of" extras too). One of those features is the 30th Anniversary reissue trailer from 10 years ago, which uses the famous "...doors off..." van sequence. Untouched - it's covered in scratches and has no definition whatsoever - it allows you see what the film stock did look like as opposed to how beautiful it looks now after restoration.
There are so many scenes that now stand out - as Matt Monro's cheesy song "On Days Like These" plays and the car drives through the Alps in the opening credits - when Charlie comes out of prison as he walks through the gates and Maggie Blye greets him in a stolen car from the Pakistani Embassy - when the three Mini Coopers climb the roof of the football stadium with the Italian cops in pursuit - it's just all BEAUTIFUL. The BFI have also done "Zulu", "The Loneliness Of The Long Distance Runner" and "Saturday Night And Sunday Morning" and this is up there - done to the same stunning standard as they were (see my reviews).
The extras are generous too (nearly two hours worth):
1.... Read more ›
22 of 24 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
How anyone can give this classic film a mere one or two star rating is beyond me, i can only assume they are confused with the truely dire remake that was set in L.A. because frankly that version was a complete waste of time, especially as the original (which i am reviewing) is such a classic.
The storyline which does take time to build up (like all good stories do) is set around the often used scenario of a loveable english ganster mob performing a blag and getting away with it (almost). The script contains much subtle british humour, and the shots of 60's London with empty streets and classic cars are a joy to behold. All the usual ingredients for films of this genre are there, the initial doubt, the bungled rehersals, and the most unlikely looking bunch of crooks ever seen in the same room that somehow on the day, manage to pull it off. The dialogue is sharp and witty and full to the brim with superb one liners, phrases and sayings, some of which have entered the english language, and how many films script can have that claim to fame?
Michael Caine is peerless as Charlie Crocker, with his unique voice and acting style proving to the be the icing on the cake for this classic British caper. It is his acting and the script that provided an undeniable template for many a British gangster\mob film to follow i.e. Lock Stock \ Snatch \ Layer Cake...
What is worth bearing in mind is that at the time of it's original release (1969) England were very much on a high with the sixties still swinging, we were football world champions, and as a country we were looking forward with optimism to the common market and europe, hence the almost celebratory atmosphere throughout, and the light hearted us against them feel of the whole film.
... Read more ›10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
By bangor_lad
Format:DVD
One of the best films of all time!. No matter what age group, you will love this!. I loved watching this on TV when i was young and after buying the DVD, i love watching it again! Michael Caine is, as always, amazing and the rest of the cast did a great job. Its a simple story about a big-time robbery they are going pull. This is a well thought of script as its very realistic unlike some other films like this. At the same time it has some very funny moment and one-liners!
It also has a great soundtrack to go along with it! On the DVD there are also some good and interesting Extras.
This DVD is a must have! Well worth the money!
It also has a great soundtrack to go along with it! On the DVD there are also some good and interesting Extras.
This DVD is a must have! Well worth the money!
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By W. Beckett
Format:Blu-ray|Amazon Verified Purchase
Well being over 50, of course The Italian Job was played ad nauseum during my growing up years on the telly. However, let me just say this: After buying the Blu-Ray edition, I then brought the CD soundtrack, the book on The Making Of The Italian Job, plus occasionally still slip back in the Blu-ray film just to marvel at the great feel good factor and cinematography of this marvellous movie classic! In otherwords, you ain't really seen the film and ain't really fully appeciated it until you get to sit through it in glorious HD! Right from the opening shot, it proves it's lovingly digitally remastered credentals: There it is! A blue sky with actually NOOOOOOO grain! Unlike some Blu-Ray transfers from the same period!
Of course there's no point in talking about it's plot which most people now know by heart anyway. But if you've always liked the film, than prepare yourself to truly love it once you've experienced a glorious Blu-Ray HD transfer, as well as the great enlightening and entertaining Extras that come along with it! Full marks to how a classic on Blu-Ray should be released!
Of course there's no point in talking about it's plot which most people now know by heart anyway. But if you've always liked the film, than prepare yourself to truly love it once you've experienced a glorious Blu-Ray HD transfer, as well as the great enlightening and entertaining Extras that come along with it! Full marks to how a classic on Blu-Ray should be released!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excelllent
Very good. Very quick, Very reliable. Very pleased . Super quick . No fuss. Very competitive price wise. Informed when it was available straight away.
Published 1 month ago by Mr. Alan W. Beckley
5.0 out of 5 stars
'I like em BIG'
The Italian Job - 40th Anniversary Edition [Blu-ray] [1969]Most people of a certain age will be aware of the cockney/continental comedy crime caper, if however, you've never seen... Read more
Published 1 month ago by CharlieMbro
5.0 out of 5 stars
YOU'RE ONLY SUPPOSED TO BLOW THE B***** DOORS OFF!
Surely by now everybody has seen this film at least once in their lifetime.
Michael Caine takes the lead, and the other lead is took by the minis. Read more
Michael Caine takes the lead, and the other lead is took by the minis. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Graham
5.0 out of 5 stars
Original action
The original and the best action movie ever. Watch this and the 2003 re-make. Both are excellent action movies. Michael Caine at his best.
Published 1 month ago by T.Haynes
5.0 out of 5 stars
Classic
A classic film. Bought to replace video edition. Watched this film loads, never tire of it. The extras include the making of the film
Published 1 month ago by Andyman
5.0 out of 5 stars
A classic
This is a real classic movie, they do not come much better. Great performances from all the cast and a fund of one-liners.
Published 2 months ago by A. M. Whatmough
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great story
They had the audacity to pull off the robbery of the century, masterminded by the marvellous Noel Coward from within his prison cell. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Geoff Bishop
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Italian Job - 40th Anniversary Edition [DVD] [1969]
A truly classic film which i have watched hundreds of time and the special addition was good value for money film that spans the generations.
Published 2 months ago by Jeremy Trott
5.0 out of 5 stars
made an old man happy
I got this for a friend he is a little old and his video had gone the way of a ghost and after watching him try to put the video into his dvd player I had to get this dvd for him... Read more
Published 3 months ago by mark allen
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Italian Job 1969
One of the partners collection. He thinks Michael Cane is absolutely brilliant, and would recommend it to anyone any age.
Published 3 months ago by Kath
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