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Get Carter [VHS] [1971]
 
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Get Carter [VHS] [1971]

VHS ~ Michael Caine
4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews)

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Product details

  • Actors: Michael Caine, Ian Hendry, Britt Ekland, John Osborne, Tony Beckley
  • Directors: Mike Hodges
  • Writers: Mike Hodges, Ted Lewis
  • Producers: Michael Caine, Michael Klinger
  • Format: PAL
  • Language English
  • Classification: 18
  • Studio: Warner Home Video
  • VHS Release Date: 16 Oct 2000
  • Run Time: 107 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B00004CNNB
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 1,639 in Video (See Bestsellers in Video)

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Product Description

Amazon.co.uk Review

Released in 1971 (the same year Straw Dogs and A Clockwork Orange hit the screens, which must make 71 the annus mirabilis for violent films set in Britain), Get Carter opens with gangsters leering over pornographic slides and ends on a filthy, slag-stained beach in Newcastle. It's a low-down and dirty movie from beginning to end, and possibly the grittiest and best film of its kind to come out of Britain. The granddaddy of Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels and all its ilk, director Mike Hodges' Get Carter offers revenge tragedy swinging-60s style, all nicotine-stained cinematography, shabby locations and the kind of killer catchphrases Vinnie Jones would die for ("You're a big man, but you're in bad shape. With me, it's a full-time job. Now behave yourself", says Michael Caine's deadpan anti-hero Carter before inflicting a few choice punches on Brian Mosley, aka Coronation Street's Alf Roberts, to name but one example from Hodges and Ted Lewis' exquisitely laconic script).

Presenting the dark horse in his family of loveable Cockney geezer roles (Alfie, The Italian Job), Michael Caine plays the title role of Jack Carter, a man so hard he barely registers a flicker of regret watching a woman he has just had sex with plunge to her death. After taking the train up to Newcastle as the credits roll and Roy Budd's chunky bass-heavy theme tune plays, Carter returns to his hometown to attend his brother's funeral and investigate the circumstances of his death. Not that he's all that sentimental about family: he shaves nonchalantly over the open coffin, and shows affection to his niece Doreen (Petra Markham) by cramming a few notes in her hand and telling her to "be good and don't trust boys". Gradually, Carter unravels the skein of drugs, pornography and corruption tangled around his brother's death, which brings him up against supremely oleaginous kingpin Kinnear (played by the author of Look Back in Anger John Osborne) among others. A remake starring Sylvester Stallone is in the offing, but quite frankly it will be a 30-degree (Celsius) Christmas night in Newcastle before Hollywood could ever make something as assured, raw and immortal as this. --Leslie Felperin



Synopsis

A man out to avenge his brother's death enters the world of pornography and crime. Based on the novel 'Jack's Return Home' by Ted Lewis.

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Customer Reviews

35 Reviews
5 star:
 (28)
4 star:
 (4)
3 star:
 (1)
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Average Customer Review
4.6 out of 5 stars (35 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
30 of 33 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars You're a big man, but you're out of shape ..., 13 Nov 2002
By MarmiteMan (Norwich, England) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   
This review is from: Get Carter [1971] [DVD] (DVD)
Get Carter is probably Mike Hodges' masterpiece. It is certainly Britain's gangster-film masterpiece ... complete with unacceptable-in-America ending. The Long Good Friday and Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels may arguably come close to emulating Get Carter's success and cult status, but do not equal it. Cinematographer Wolfgang Suschitzky could have shot the film in black & white with no discernable change of mood or visual nuances: it is set amidst the bleak, industrial decay of early-70s Newcastle-upon-Tyne. The closing slag-heap scenes are in daylight, but the overcast, lowering sky drowns out all colour. Even the signature-tune is plaintively minimalist.

The plot features nasty villains, principal among whom is 'the hero,' surly London gangland racketeer and troubleshooter Jack Carter (Michael Caine at his most impassively impressive, in perhaps his best-ever rôle) who is only slightly more self-righteous than the Geordie 'rural Mafia' he out-villains whilst unravelling the complex web of cover-ups, bribes, double-crosses and sudden violence to determine which villain(s) in particular he will wreak 'orrific vengeance upon for A] them wot done 'is bruvver in, and also later on B] for involving his niece in a blue-film racket. On the train 'oop north' Carter reads Raymond Chandler's Farewell, My Lovely, but he lacks entirely any of Philip Marlowe's scruples and morals. Carter screws the bird but doesn't bat an eyelid when the car - with her in the boot - is pushed into the river, nor does he flinch a facial muscle when discovering that his sole ally (Alun Armstrong) has been brutally given the once-over.

Today's porn industry enjoys a semi-glossy veneer of stylishness with most of the porn 'stars' being in control of their careers, but back in the heady days of the early-1970s 'blue movies' were exploitationist, gritty, sleazy and dirty, complete with poor-quality film and the absence of sound. Get Carter's ending is unexpected (the only similarly-unexpected ending I can think of is Sergio Corbucci's Il Grande Silenzio [1969]), and yet fitting for the film's ongoing theme of bleakness and pessimism. Including the final fade-out.

The film features neat cameos by Ian Hendry (as Eric Paice, the scheming chauffeur with the I-am-a-baddy shades) and noted playwright John Osborne (as Mr. Big, who is out of shape). Memorable is Carter's somewhat unpleasant 'seduction-to-telephone' of moll Britt Ekland back in London whilst observing his Newcastle landlady rocking in her chair barely containing her surging hormones ... until Ekland's oafish 'owner' enters the room and cannot imagine what she is doing unclad, "You got gut-ache or something ...?"

Steven Soderbergh's "requiem for the hard man" The Limey (1999) may look like a 1990s version of Get Carter: just released from Her Majesty's pleasure, well-'ard Terence Stamp goes out to Los Angeles to find out why and by who's hand his daughter was done-in. The Chandleresque dialogue includes a high London slang content and Stamp knocks the opposition about with machine-gun resonance, but there the similarities end ...

Hollywood made a 'Get Carter 2000' ... HOW DARE THEY ...!!!

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12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars One of the most compelling British movies ever made, 16 Dec 2001
By cool.butler@virgin.net (Bury St Edmunds, England) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Get Carter [1971] [DVD] (DVD)
This film hits the spot in every critical category. Brilliantly shot from a palate of greys and dark brown, Newcastle looks mean and unforgiving. Caine produces possibly his best performance,utterly convincing in the lead role. The plot never loses pace and the one liners are still great down the pub! A true crime classic that makes Lock Stock look like a cartoon. Check out the commentary for a DVD extra worth having.
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16 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Bleak Houses....Brit-Gangster classic, 22 Dec 2003
By A Customer
This review is from: Get Carter [1971] [DVD] (DVD)
Has Sir Michael Caine made a better film than this ? The answer is a resounding NO.
Set in early Seventies Newcastle this is simpy the best British film of the decade,maybe even the century.
Caine plays a menacing thug who has returned to his hometown to bury his brother and find his killers.As he slowly meanders around the city he starts to draw together the threads of the tale regarding his brothers death.He seeks brutal revenge on the killers and the shocking ending leaves the movie even bleaker than you could imagine.Retribution...simple retribution.
Caine is brilliant,the cinematography captures the grey,cold North east and nobody steps outside the gritty,social-realist world created.A young Alun Armstrong impresses and legendary playwright John Osborne is a steady presence as a local crimelord.
Disturbing,bleak and 100% English, this is a must see of Seventies cinema.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars class
a class film if it does feel a little dated espically in the fight scenes, overall caine is brillant as the man after revenge for his brothers death, the thing with this film is... Read more
Published 28 days ago by dean salisbury

5.0 out of 5 stars Get Carter, 1971, 2008 WB Iconic Films release - Classic gangster film starring Michael Caine and 1970's Newcastle
This iconic 1971 film has to be one of the greatest gangster films ever made. The basic premise is quite simple, London gangster Jack Carter (Caine) returns to his roots in... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Victor Tugelbend

5.0 out of 5 stars FORGET GET CARTER
Get Carter? VILLAIN is a better movie. Starring Richard Burton (a good actor unlike M.Cain), it is a well directed 1971 movie that is a classic example of the English gangster... Read more
Published 11 months ago by Brendan O. Clarke

5.0 out of 5 stars A real tough no holds barred thriller
Strongman and enforcer Jack Carter (Michael Caine) returns to his native North East (of England) to investigate the suspicious death of his brother. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Peter H

5.0 out of 5 stars GET THIS DVD!
Michael Caine was never better than in this terrific film. Excellent performances by him and the rest of the outstanding cast, as well as the director Mike Hodges. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Lou Almighty

5.0 out of 5 stars A first-rate, tough-minded movie with a merciless performance by Michael Caine
Michael Caine plays Jack Carter, a London gang member who specializes in strong arm intimidation. He learns that his younger brother has died in the north of England, in... Read more
Published 20 months ago by C. O. DeRiemer

5.0 out of 5 stars Zero Fear/Passionate Revenge
I saw this film after hearing the whole hype over it and once you get past the dated feel about 1970's Newcastle. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Mr. T. S. Hughes

1.0 out of 5 stars worst film eVer
I HAD to watch this film for my As level film studies and it was crap. I dont recommend this film to anyone, unless you like monotonous voices and boring plots. Read more
Published 22 months ago by simon says

2.0 out of 5 stars Dated and dull
Read the hype and reviews and bought this movie. Was tedious at best! Very dated and poor. Save both your money and time and give this one a miss.
Published on 6 Oct 2007 by C. Myers

5.0 out of 5 stars Is there a Mr. Carter in the room?
Not just an epic gangster movie but a very articulate piece of detective work the main character follows before any violence is carried out which adds to the realism and depths of... Read more
Published on 17 Aug 2007 by Darkstar

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