WATCH 
LISTEN 
A round up of the day's news with Chris Warburton.
Friday 11 February 2011, 16:45
Forty years ago, movie star Michael Caine, playwright and actor John Osborne, Swedish siren Britt Ekland, and a who's who of British character actors were brought together under Mike Hodges' clean direction to create a very fine gangster movie indeed. As gritty and downbeat as the Ted Lewis novel it draws on, the film has a punch like few others. Everyone can quote the lines, but just why is Carter's impact so profound, so long-lasting?
In order to see this content you need to have both Javascript enabled and Flash installed. Visit BBC Webwise for full instructions. If you're reading via RSS, you'll need to visit Mark's blog to view the video.
All posts are reactively-moderated and must obey the house rules.
Wednesday 9 February 2011, 11:13
Monday 14 February 2011, 10:31
Outspoken, opinionated and never lost for words, Mark is the UK's leading film critic.
This twice-weekly video blog is the place where he airs his personal views on the things that most fire him up about cinema - and invites you to give your own opinions.
Stay updated with the latest posts from the blog.
Subscribe using:
Comment number 1.
Matt C11th February 2011 - 17:14
So glad you did a blog on one of my favourite movies. For me the film is all about Michael Caine creating one of the nastiest, baddest meanest anti-heros of them all. Somehow he is both repugnant and mesmerising at the same time.
The fact that Caine could pull of performances as varied as Charlie Crooker and Jack Carter demonstrates why he is one of the best loved and enduring British icons.
Link to this (Comment number 1)
Comment number 2.
MrsPlops11th February 2011 - 17:15
Get Kermode!
........Starring Danny Dyer.
That famous multistorey car park is now gone sadly. I would like to see more films set in Newcastle!
Link to this (Comment number 2)
Comment number 3.
Trevor11th February 2011 - 17:20
I think nostalgia has a certain part to play - which assumes a certain age of the nostalgee(?). Many a time it was the BBC1 Monday Film at 9.25 - and the talk at school the next day would be of little else.
And, Michael Caine was still a serious actor then, rather than the caricature he has now become.
Also it looked like 'Life On Mars' on crack (to coin a phrase) and perfectly captured a moment in 70s British history that no amount of CGI or reconditioned Ford Escorts can recreate.
I also find American movies of that era equally fascinating for much the same reason.
Link to this (Comment number 3)
Comment number 4.
Matth Stil11th February 2011 - 17:28
40's the new 30.
Link to this (Comment number 4)
Comment number 5.
stevie777111th February 2011 - 17:29
I think that is what’s called movie magic, when everything just comes together; there is 1 more element to throw in the mix- the year 1971 itself.
There must have been something in the air in England (or is it Britain) what with 'Straw Dogs' 'The Devils' 'A Clockwork Orange' and ‘On the Buses’ appearing.
On the subject of British gangster movies can I fly the flag for Michael Apteds magnificent 'The Squeeze', criminally neglected and still not on DVD.
Link to this (Comment number 5)
Comments 5 of 49