Michael Caine classic The Italian Job pips Full Monty and Zulu to title of greatest British film ever made
Psycho filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock crowned Best British Director ahead of Ridley Scott and Danny Boyle
THE Italian Job has been named the greatest British film ever made.
A survey of 2,000 Brits put the stylish 1969 crime caper in top spot - with fans fondly remembering its famous Mini Cooper chases and cliffhanger ending.
The film tells the story of a gang of English crooks who plot to rob $4million worth of gold bullion from under the noses of the mob and the police in Turin.
Sir Michael Caine, who played lead character Charlie Croker in the family favourite, also walked away with the title of best British actor in the same poll.
The study was commissioned by Vue Entertainment to celebrate the re-launch of the iconic Vue Leicester Square cinema, first opened in 1938.
Other titles appearing in the list include striptease comedy-drama The Full Monty, which came in second, and Richard Curtis’ romance Love Actually, which took fourth place, behind another Sir Michael Caine classic, Zulu, in third.
Vue Entertainment’s Film Content Manager Dean Cross said: “The Italian Job is a testament to the quality of British film-making - a moment when the best of the best came together to create cinema magic.
“There are bigger productions on the list, starring bigger stars, but Michael Caine’s gravitas as an actor, and the iconic scenes of The Italian Job put it ahead of the competition. A worthy winner.”
The 50 Best British Films
- The Italian Job
- The Full Monty
- Zulu
- Love, Actually
- Trainspotting
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
- Four Weddings and a Funeral
- The Bridge on the River Kwai
- Monty Python's Life of Brian
- Billy Elliot
- Lawrence of Arabia
- The Railway Children
- Shaun of the Dead
- The 39 Steps
- The King's Speech
- The Dam Busters
- Slumdog Millionaire
- Skyfall
- Monty Python and the Holy Grail
- A Clockwork Orange
- 28 Days Later
- Notting Hill
- The Third Man
- Hot Fuzz
- Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit
- Chariots of Fire
- 2001: A Space Odyssey
- This is England
- The Ladykillers
- The Wicker Man
- Gandhi
- Get Carter
- Withnail and I
- Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels
- The Theory of Everything
- Goldfinger
- Local Hero
- Kind Hearts and Coronets
- Kes
- Scum
- The Imitation Game
- Bend it Like Beckham
- Snatch
- The Long Good Friday
- Sense and Sensibility
- Carry on Doctor
- Carry on Camping
- A Fish Called Wanda
- Dr. No
- A Hard Day's Night
As well as being crowned best British film, The Italian Job was also given the award for Most Iconic Scene in a British film, for Michael Caine’s “You’re only supposed to blow the bloody doors off!” remark.
Sir Anthony Hopkins, who achieved widespread acclaim for his portrayal of serial killer Hannibal Lecter in 1991’s Silence of the Lambs, was named the second best British actor ever, followed by Sir Sean Connery, the late Alan Rickman and Dame Judi Dench.
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Heading behind the camera, Sir Alfred Hitchcock took the director’s chair in a tally of best British directors, followed by Alien director Ridley Scott.
Anna Smith, President of the UK Critics’ Circle, said: “These results are a fascinating reflection of British culture over the decades, beginning with epic war film Zulu in 1964, when real-life battles were still fresh in many audience members' minds.”
“Popular 70s and 80s cinema was arguably dominated by Hollywood, but British film is back with a bang in the 90s, with The Full Monty and Trainspotting.”
The Ten Best British Directors
- Alfred Hitchcock
- Ridley Scott
- Richard Attenborough
- Danny Boyle
- Ken Loach
- Christopher Nolan
- Mike Leigh
- Sam Mendes
- Steve McQueen
- Ken Russell
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