DB7

Jackie Dent
Monday October 4, 2004
The Guardian

It outraged many on its release in 1971 with scenes of extreme violence and telephone sex. But, more than three decades on, Get Carter has been voted by a film publication as the greatest British movie of all time.
Set in Newcastle and filled with shocking murders and well-cut suits. The film charts the story of Jack Carter, played by Michael Caine, a London gangster who travels to the north-east for his brother's funeral.

It caused a sensation when it was released not only because of its violence but its images of Britt Ekland, wearing black lingerie and indulging in telephone sex with Carter and of Caine appearing naked in a shoot-out.

As Carter, Caine delivered some of the most memorable lines in film history, including the often quoted: "You're a big man, but you're out of shape. With me, it's a full-time job. So behave yourself."

Matt Mueller, editor of Total Film magazine, which produced the list of the Top 50 British films, said Get Carter was slated when it first came out. Today, however, Get Carter is considered a film which was groundbreaking and before its time.

"It was pretty shocking at the time for its scenes of violence, and Caine played a pretty ruthless character. But Caine's character is now seen as one of the greatest anti-heroes of all time."

Get Carter was based on Ted Lewis's book Jack's Return Home, and was written and directed by Mike Hodges.

However, he decided to move the setting of the story from Doncaster to Newcastle, and the film makes much of the city's decaying industrial landscape.

The film also stars Ian Hendry and the playwright John Osborne.

Total Film magazine polled 25 film critics for the survey, which is dominated by films from the 50s and the 60s - the most recent on the top 10 list being Trainspotting, which was released in 1996.

A Matter of Life and Death, starring David Niven, came in second while Trainspotting came third.

Top 10

1 Get Carter (1971)

2 A Matter of Life and Death (1946)

3 Trainspotting (1996)

4 The Third Man (1949)

5 Life of Brian (1979)

6 The Wicker Man (1973)

7 Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949)

8 Lawrence of Arabia (1962)

9 From Russia with Love (1963)

10 Naked (1993)

Freddy

"It caused a sensation when it was released not only because of its violence but its images of Britt Ekland, wearing black lingerie and indulging in telephone sex with Carter"

When they interviewed Peter Seller's son a couple of years ago he said that when he saw the scene mentioned above, and although he had not seen his father for a while, he realised that the marriage with Britt Eckland was over because Sellers would never have allowed any wife of his to do that.

regards
Freddy

Steve Crook

But they weren't even in the same room :)
I heard that their parts were recorded at different times and they never even met each other on set.

Steve

Steve Crook

PaPAS

Freddy

Hi Steve,
His son Michael said the Peter Sellers wouldn't allow Ekland to even have a screen kiss such was his jealousy, even if Caine wasn't on the set with her could you imagine him thinking of the thousands of cinema goers looking at his near naked wife. That's when he knew their marriage was over.
regards
Freddy

Tony Pendrey

I watched the latest airing of "Get Carter" the other night on TV. I always liked the way they used a wind sound effect to create that dark and sombre atmosphere. I also noticed for the first time that the wind often kept howling when they were inside, and at the same volume ! Give me the South, (Middlesbrough), any day.

Ah Yes, the Soviet Union. All them wheatfields and ballet in the evenings

Marky B

The ending was filmed near Blackhall,just north of Hartlepool.
Ta Ta
Marky B

I am special. The heavens always open for me.

samkydd

The whole film Get Carter captured "grimness" perfectly. From my own recollection as a child, the 1960s and 70s wasn't all swinging David Hemmings types and brand new Minis! It was often very depressing indeed, especially for youngsters from low income families!

The scene with the middle aged woman singing cabaret style in the bar was about as good as it got in many places, and not just Up North either! Everyone's motto then seemed to be "Keep your expectations low and you'll never be disappointed!"

"...the chairman of Littlewoods stores made a Keynote speech!"

aaron

Mine still is..

'He who is not one up...Is one down'

Steve Crook

At least when you're a pessimist you know that things can only get better

Steve

Tony Pendrey

I wouldn't bank on it.

Ah Yes, the Soviet Union. All them wheatfields and ballet in the evenings

ollie

My glass is always half empty.....

cheers Ollie.

"Bullseye !!"

Tony Pendrey

I don't look at my glass and ask myself if it's half empty or half full. No. I just think, "This ain't what I bloody ordered in the first place " !

(Plagiarised from todays Sunda y Times)

Ah Yes, the Soviet Union. All them wheatfields and ballet in the evenings

Steve Crook

If that's the case then you're not being pessimistic enough

Steve

Yorkie

Get Carter is probably the ultimate example of why Hollywood shouldn't try and remake British Films. Sly Stallone? in Seattle?

samkydd

Pessimism is a part of British film culture that the yanks can't get near! Thankfully!

"...the chairman of Littlewoods stores made a Keynote speech!"