The Italian Job is a British comedy caper film, written by Troy Kennedy Martin, produced by Michael Deeley and directed by Peter Collinson. It was released in 1969 and was very popular in Britain; subsequent television showings and releases on video have established it as something of a national institution in the UK, with a cult following elsewhere.
Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.
The film stars Michael Caine as dapper mobster Charlie Croker, with Noel Coward as Mr Bridger, an incarcerated criminal mastermind who nonetheless runs a gangland empire from within jail. The plot revolves around Croker's attempt to stage a gold bullion robbery in Turin, to be achieved by sabotaging the city's traffic-control computer and escaping, in spite of the resulting traffic jam, in nippy Mini getaway cars along a carefully planned route. The person who orginally devised the job, Roger Beckermann (Brazzi), is murdered by the Mafia while out on a drive in the Alps. His wife hands Croker the plans.
In the first half of the film Croker is released from prison and begins to assemble his gang, which includes computer expert Professor Peach (Benny Hill), and a very minor character played by Robert Powell. John Clive (various Pink Panther/Carry On films) makes an appearance as the garage owner that Charlie deals with to get his car out of storage.
Set in London and Turin and filmed with vivid colors in anamorphic widescreen, the film remains an iconic evocation of the swinging sixties, although its rose-tinted view of London's criminal underworld was in sharp contrast to the brutal reality. In fact, Caine has stated[citation needed] that he took the lead role in Get Carter (which portrays the same underworld with brutal realism) largely in order to correct the overly romantic picture of organized crime painted in The Italian Job. One of the most entertainingly absurd aspects of the film is that Mr Bridger's gang is run by an effeminate dandyman named Camp Freddie (played by Tony Beckley).
Apart from the colourful vision of a certain time and place, the film is also notable for its inventive and exciting car chases and stunts, arranged by Rémy Julienne. The film's cars were almost as much part of the cast as the people: the ill-fated Lamborghini Miura in the opening sequence, various Aston Martin and Jaguar sports cars, a Land Rover, and an array of police Alfa Romeos which are out-driven by the heroic British Minis.
The stunning Alpine setting through which some of the chases passed was another memorable aspect of the film.
The getaway sequence is the film's highlight, however. It was arranged to take in as many sights of Turin as possible, though it makes no sense[citation needed] in terms of the city's geographical layout. After the heist, the gang transfer the gold to the Minis in the entrance hall of the Museo Egizio. The three Minis then race through the stylish shopping arcades of the Via Roma, up the sail-like roof of the Palazzo Vela, around the rooftop test track of the famous Fiat Lingotto factory building and even down the steps of the Gran Madre di Dio church while a wedding is in progress. The gang finally escapes the city by driving through large sewer pipes, throwing off the police in the process.
The gang make their final getaway on a six-wheeled Bedford VAL coach (actually used to transport the crew)—driving up a ramp on the back whilst the coach is still travelling at speed. The getaway Minis are then pushed out of the still-moving coach as it negotiates hairpin bends.
Successfully on their way to Switzerland along a winding mountain road, the gang celebrate in the back of the bus. A mistake by the driver sends the coach into a skid, with the back end of the bus teetering over the edge of the cliff, the gold slipping towards the rear doors. As Croker attempts to reach the gold, it slips further, and the audience is left not knowing whether the coach, its contents, and its occupants survive—a literal cliff-hanger ending. Croker's last line is "Hang on a minute lads, I've got a great idea! Err..."
Spoilers end here.