As the red, white and blue Mini Coopers rock from side to side along a tunnel, with £4 million in gold bullion in their boots and Quincy Jones's infectious score swinging away in the background, ask yourself this: is there a film - certainly a British film - that delivers a greater infusion of pure joy than The Italian Job?
A flashy, fast romp that chases a team of career criminals throughout one of the biggest international gold heists to ever appear on film. The unparalleled Michael Caine is arresting, leading a cast that truly embodies the Swinging ‘60s, including Britannia’s premier export Noël Coward (In Which We Serve 1942), dripping aristocratic disdain in his final film role, and the late, great Benny Hill (The Benny Hill Show).
Charlie Croker (Caine), is a stylish thief fresh out of prison. He takes over “The Italian Job”, a complicated plan to steal gold bullion from Italy, right from underneath the noses of the Italian Police and the Mafia. Combining action, humour, and an incontrovertible sense of style, this is undoubtedly one of the quintessential British caper films of the 1960s.
