Directed by Mike Hodges
Written by Mike Hodges from a novel by Ted Lewis
1971/UK
IMDb page
First viewing/Amazon Prime rental
One of 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die
Jack Carter: You couldn’t run an egg and spoon race Eric.
This picture is the natural successor to all those gritty, grim “noir” gangster films coming out of Britain in the fifties and sixties.
Jack Carter (Michael Caine) is a professional enforcer for the London mob. He is also a noted ladies’ man. Jack’s brother Frank has been killed in an auto accident in Newcastle. Jack goes to pay his respects and comes to believe Frank was murdered.
Jack basically becomes a killing machine as he follows the complex trail of lies and double-crosses that lead to his man.
I thought this was very good for what it was. There’s no real good guy just a bunch of thugs struggling for dominance. I’m not convinced that it was ground breaking must-see material.
A nice little mean spirited gem. Michael Caine, one of my top favorite actors, is quite effective here. I agree, not a must see. The American remake was horrible. A crime film must see is “White Heat” 1949.
I have to agree with you. I’m a big fan of film noir and have done a couple of month long binges on the blog. For a fantastic British noir I would highly recommend Brighton Rock.
I will check the film out. I hope you’re watching or DVRing TCM’s Noir Alley.
But it was Michael Caine.
It was definitely that! I like him as a tough guy. Have you seen Mona Lisa?
I think it’s a great film, but it’s not one I sit down and watch a lot. I grew up in the North-West of England in the 70s, which was in a similar state to the North-East, so the first time I watched it, I was reminded a lot of my childhood.
Caine has said that he wanted to play a genuine ‘heavy’, a professional killer like the men he saw growing up in the East End, whom he felt hadn’t been captured on screen properly. Apparently, after the film, he ran into one of them that he’d known before, and the man’s only criticism of his performance was that in real life, they were all married! Their bosses wanted them to have secure home lives, so that they wouldn’t go off on their own (like Carter), or go off the rails, like they do in so many movies.
Have you seen Mona Lisa? If you want Caine evil and “heavy” that’s the one. The superb leading performance by Bob Hoskins is the icing on the cake. Super dark. Come to think about it all those Scorsese mafia movies the characters are all married.
I’ve heard of it, but never actually seen it – it’s on a long list of Blu Rays to buy!
Yeah, the marital status of hitmen and heavies is rarely touched on, especially when they’re the leads – the hero/anti-hero is usually supposed to be ‘available’ lol Although “Married To The Mob” is one exception
An other excellent British crime film is “The Long Good Friday” 1980. Bob Hoskins and Helen Mirren, definitely a must see!
I look forward to revisiting that one. A goodie from an earlier time is “They Made Me a Fugitive”/AKA “I Became a Criminal” (1947) with Trevor Howard.
I love British cinema! How about “The Lavender Hill Mob” for a change of pace in the Brit crime genre.
Love those Ealing comedies! I hadn’t seen a lot of British cinema until I started this project and now I really look forward to those films.
And don’t forget “The Ladykillers.” SUBLIME!!!
Right you are!