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The Italian Job

TV, Movie, Comic & Character

The Italian Job is a 1969 British comedy caper film, written by Troy Kennedy Martin, produced by Michael Deeley, directed by Peter Collinson, and starring Michael Caine. The film's plot centres around Cockney criminal Charlie Croker, recently released from prison, who forms a gang for the job of stealing a cache of gold bullion being transported through the city of Turin in an armoured security truck. In addition to Caine, the film's cast also included Benny Hill, Raf Vallone, Tony Beckley, and Noël Coward; the film was Coward's last before his retirement from acting.

While driving through the Alps, criminal Roger Beckermann is killed when his car crashes into a bulldozer deliberately parked in a tunnel by the Mafia, who then dispose of him and his car by pushing it into a nearby river. Meanwhile, Charlie Croker is released from prison following a sentence for an undisclosed crime and reunites with his girlfriend Lorna to enjoy his first taste of freedom. He then heads for a meeting with Beckermann who had been planning a job in Italy. However, Croker is surprised to meet Beckermann's wife, who reveals that her husband has been killed, but insists that he continue with Beckermann's plans, which had been completed before his death. Croker discovers that Beckermann had conceived a strategic heist that would involve trapping a security convoy in a traffic jam while it travels through Turin, and stealing from it $4 million in gold bullion – a down payment to the Italian government by China for a Fiat car factory near Peking.

The film is best loved for the extraordinary car chase after the robbery, all worked our beforehand by Beckermann. The gold is loaded into three Mini Coopers coloured red white and blue, which escape the city which is paralysed by a traffic jam, also part of the plan, caused by sabotaging the computer-controlled traffic light system. The cars follow a route under and over the city, through underpasses and over the rooftops, exiting to the Autoroute via a sewer and across a weir. They are then spectacularly loaded into the back of a moving bus which takes off across the Alps. However Big William the bus driver loses control on a corner and the bus skids. We are left at the end of the film with the back of the bus hanging in mid-air over a ravine and the crew unable to leave it as it would overbalance.

If you have ever wondered why an actor of Noel Coward's status and time of life would choose to appear in this film then here is the reason. The Director, Peter Collinson's, parents, an actress and a musician, separated when he was two years old; he was raised by his grandparents until from the age of eight until 14 he attended the Actor's Orphanage in Chertsey, Surrey. Noël Coward, who was president of the orphanage at the time, became his godfather and helped him to obtain jobs in the entertainment industry, Coward agreed to appear in The Italian Job to help his godson in his career.

The film was disastrously remade in 2003 featuring the newer BMW Minis


Released as 'Italian Job' versions

  2000 2000 2000 1998 1993
1:36 Scale Corgi 04441; BL/Rover Mini; The Italian Job, Red Corgi 04441; BL/Rover Mini; The Italian Job, White Corgi 04441; BL/Rover Mini; The Italian Job, Blue Corgi 05506; BL/Rover Mini; The Italian Job Set, 3x Minis: Red, White & Blue BL/Rover Mini 3 Car Set: The Italian Job
  Corgi 04441; BL/Rover Mini; The Italian Job, Red Corgi 04441; BL/Rover Mini; The Italian Job, White Corgi 04441; BL/Rover Mini; The Italian Job, Blue Corgi 05506; BL/Rover Mini; The Italian Job Set, 3x Minis: Red, White & Blue Corgi 94171; BL/Rover Mini; 3 Car Set: The Italian Job
 
  2002        
  Corgi CC82215; BL/Rover Mini; The Italian Job, Red Corgi CC82217; BL/Rover Mini; The Italian Job Diorama, Red      
  Corgi CC82215; BL/Rover Mini; The Italian Job, Red

Corgi CC82217; BL/Rover Mini; The Italian Job Diorama, Red

     
 
    1999 1993 2004  
1:43/1:50 Scale Corgi 03231906; The Italian Job, 3 Mini Cooper Set; Red, White & Blue Corgi Classics 36502; The Italian Job Coach & Mini Set; Bedford VAL coach & 3x Mini Coopers The Italian Job, 3 Mini Cooper Set Vanguards IJ1005; The Italian Job 5 Pce Set; All 3 Minis, The E-Type & That Van  
  Corgi 03231906; The Italian Job, 3 Mini Cooper Set
Marks & Spencer Issue
Corgi 36502; The Italian Job Coach & Mini Set; Bedford VAL & 3x Mini Coopers Corgi 98136; BL/BMC/Rover Mini Cooper; Almond Green & White Vanguards IJ1005; The Italian Job 5 Pce Set; All 3 Minis, The E-Type & That Van  

Generic models representing vehicles in the film

  Auto Art 74542; 1971 Lamborghini Miura SV; Orange Joal 214; Caterpillar 920 Wheel Loader; Yellow Burago 3016; 1961 Jaguar E Type Cabriolet; Red Eligor 1153; 1965 Jaguar E-Type 2+2; Dark Blue, Opening Bonnet Matchbox Collectibles DYB06-M; 1962 Aston Martin DB4; Metallic Silver
  Lamborghini Miura Caterpillar Wheel Loader Jaguar E-Type Roadster Jaguar E-Type Coupe Aston Martin DB4
(should be a convertible)
  Spot-On 161; Land Rover Series 2 109in; Station Wagon; Light Grey/White Oxford Diecast FDE006; Ford Thames Van 400E; Minibus; London Transport Edison Giocattoli 803921; 1967 Fiat Dino 2000 Coupe; Metallic Silver NEO 44275; Daimler Majestic Major; Black over Gunmetal Edison Giocattoli 803421; 1967 Alfa Romeo Giulia TI; Carabinieri
  Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon Ford Thames 400E 1967 Fiat Dino 2000 Coupe Daimler Majestic Major Alfa Romeo Giulia TI

      2003 2003  
2003 Remake Scalextric C2539A; BMW Mini Cooper; The Italian Job; Blue Scalextric C2540A; BMW Mini Cooper; The Italian Job; White Corgi CC86514; 2001 BMW Mini-Cooper; The Italian Job; Red Corgi CC99138; The New Italian Job Set; 3x BMW Mini, Red, White & Blue  
  Scalextric C2539A; BMW Mini Cooper; The Italian Job; Blue Scalextric C2540A; BMW Mini Cooper; The Italian Job; White Corgi CC86514; 2001 BMW Mini-Cooper; The Italian Job; Red Corgi CC99138; The New Italian Job Set; 3x BMW Mini, Red, White & Blue  

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Last Edit: 12/06/2024 Corgi Classics Sets Home Page Added 16/10/2022