| Plot Synopsis |
by Aubry Anne D'Arminio |
The quintessential British caper film of the 1960s, The Italian Job is a flashy, fast romp that chases a team of career criminals throughout one of the biggest international gold heists in history. Michael Caine is Charlie Croker, a stylish robber and skirt-chaser just out of British prison. Shunning rehabilitation for recidivism, Croker takes over "The Italian Job," a complicated plan to hijack gold bullion from Italy -- right from underneath the noses of the Italian Police and the Mafia. The job, whose original mastermind was murdered, clearly requires the sponsorship of a richer, more established criminal than Croker. He turns to the auspices of the eccentric Mr. Bridger (Noël Coward in his last film role), a suave, regal, incarcerated English crime boss with a peculiar fascination with the Queen. Bridger provides Croker with a quirky group of Britain's most infamous computer hackers (including a lascivious Benny Hill), bank robbers, hijackers, and getaway drivers -- the ex-con is soon well on his way to relieving Italy of the gold. |
| Similar Works |
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The Lavender Hill Mob
(1951, Charles Crichton)
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The Big Scam
(1979, Ralph Thomas)
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Le Cerveau
(1969, Gérard Oury)
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$ (Dollars)
(1971, Richard Brooks)
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Gambit
(1966, Ronald Neame)
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Topkapi
(1964, Jules Dassin)
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Grand Slam
(1968, Giuliano Montaldo)
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Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels
(1998, Guy Ritchie)
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Gettin' Square
(2003, Jonathan Teplitzky)
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Dirty Deeds
(2002, David Caesar)
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| Other Related Works |
| Is related to: |
Flawless
(2007, Michael Radford)
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| Influenced: |
Fakers
(2003, Richard Janes)
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| Has been remade as: |
The Italian Job
(2003, F. Gary Gray)
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