Journal: 4 Scenes That Will Make You Want To Watch The Italian Job Again

4 Scenes That Will Make You Want To Watch The Italian Job Again

By Benjamin Shahrabani
November 11, 2015

Photos via The Italian Job film

Bank job films often include a thoughtfully-selected getaway car, and in The Italian Job, the criminals apply a spectacular twist: multiple Mini Cooper getaway cars. But you already know this.

If you’re new to this film, here’s the setup: recently released from prison after two years inside, Charlie Croker (Michael Caine) finds he has been bequeathed “a job to do” after less than five minutes on the outside: an elaborate plan dreamt up by a recently-deceased criminal mastermind.

Michael Caine is in fine form, there’s a wonderful supporting cast of oddballs, an evocative score composed by Quincy Jones, and one of the most unforgettable endings in cinematic history. Let’s take a look, and revisit some of the key scenes, and see why The Italian Job is the epitome of 1960’s chic, and oh-so Petrolicious.

1. The Stakes

Matt Monro’s song “On Days Like These” plays as a 1967 Lamborghini Miura P400 drives through the Italian Alps. The driver, Beckerman (Rosanno Brazzi,) looks like he doesn’t have a care in the world. Of course he wouldn’t, he’s the man with a plan, and he’s also driving a Miura.

Until, well, a Mafia-driven Caterpillar 944A bulldozer ensure Beckerman is killed. You don’t want to mess with these people…

2. The Plan

“Four-million dollars through a traffic jam,” says Beckerman as he lays out the plan for Crocker in a 16mm film message sent from beyond the grave. I don’t know about you, but isn’t this footage kind of incriminating?

After hearing what’s about to happen, it’s impossible to not wonder how this heist will shake out. 

3. The Vehicles

The Mini Coopers, plus a Land Rover Series IIa 109″, two Jaguar E-Types, and a Thames van. I love it when a plan comes together, and when so many Petrolicious-grade vehicles are included. Also included: stunt training sequences for the heist. Let’s just say: sometimes you have to break some eggs to make an omelette.. 

4. The Heist

A brilliant, entertaining heist ensues, as its title, The Italian Job, promises. Mini Coopers fly around everywhere, there’s plenty of time to do background car spotting and, sadly, some stylish Italian police cars get destroyed. In this case, a 1963 Alfa Romeo Giulia Ti.

Fun fact: one scene even takes place on the test track atop the old Fiat Factory in Turin. This scene is so beloved that whenever we ask your favorite car films, The Italian Job makes an appearance.

Realistic? Not by a long shot. And it has plot holes you could drive a Mini Cooper through. But in the end, it doesn’t really matter. This is a movie that you sit back, relax, and enjoy. Michael Caine holds the whole film together. Well, him, and the Mini Coopers.

“Hang on lads. I’ve got a great idea.” 

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Hill Stone
Hill Stone
2 years ago

I have not watched this film but I have no doubt that it is good because everything that Italians do deserves attention. Italians have no problems finding a job and I know that if I decide to change jobs, then I definitely want to get a new job in Italy. I found on https://resumereviewservice.net/enhancv-review information about a service that can help me with a resume, all that remains is to make a decision to move to Italy.

lilimayon
lilimayon
3 years ago

Wonderful comedy, it is a pity that they did not remove the continuation, but there is a remake with Jason Stetham, Charlize Teron, Mark Waldberg, Edward Norton. But the original picture clings to his spirit and not special effects so says my linkedin profile makeover service colleague and he is really right! 🙂

sadlotus
sadlotus
8 years ago

Did an ‘Italian Job’ tour with my son a couple of years ago in my Elan. Visited the Fiat factory rooftop – you can still walk it – it’s now a shopping mall. From the roof you can see several of the other locations including rooftop of the Expo building.
Last year we did a ‘Good Bad and the Ugly’ tour round Spain.
Makes you watch these films in a new light.

Paul Ipolito
Paul Ipolito
8 years ago

“I likes ’em big!”

Matthew Lange
8 years ago

My favourite cars in the film are Crocker’s Aston Martin DB4 (one of only 70 made) and the Fiat Dino Coupes driven by the mafia. It is said that it was actually a Lancia Flaminina mocked up to look like the DB4 that goes over the cliff.

Dennis White
Dennis White
9 years ago

My only problem with this film is the scenes with Noel Coward, which seem interminable.

Mark Hancheroff
Mark Hancheroff
9 years ago

I’ll just leave this here…;)

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