What's Get Carter like?

"1971"? Oh, the horror. That is SO old. It does seem remarkable that those ancient civilizations could possibly produce a good movie. Against these odds nevertheless, it is quite good.

It's about a million times better than the Stallone 'remake'.

I like the original, very 60's feel so obviously it's dated but it is a good movie with Michael Caine very believable indeed as a pretty ruthless S.O.B.

It is one of the few very good "English" gangster films. I have it filed next to Performance and (US film - English director) Point Blank.

You have the two comically poor remakes - Stallone and Gibson. I cannot think of many remakes that better their originals. These two aren't examples.

Good music (theme tune) and some, very, memorable lines. Good to see John Osborne acting and always a pleasure to catch Ian ("pissholes in the snow") Hendry as the oleaginous shaded chauffeur.

I would also like to catch up with "Villain" with Richard Burton. The last time (SO long ago) I nearly watched it - it was cancelled by the start of the Gulf War.

Agreed the original Get Carter is superb. Excellent music score by Roy Budd (worth getting on CD, and worth investigating Budd's other film work, much of it highly inventive). Some very amusing tongue-in-cheek scenes/dialogue eg. "Heavy" No.1 to a starkers Michael Caine brandishing a shot-gun, (having just been disturbed whilst bonking his landlady): "Put it away Jack, you know you won't use it". "Heavy" No.2: "Er, the gun 'e means!". Despite these humorous touches it is a strangely bleak and sombre film, certainly not one to watch if you are feeling a bit cheesed-off with life. In that case, something like "Who Dare's Wins" with Lewis Collins is sure to lift your spirits. One of those films that is so bad, in a way that only we British seem able to manage, that it is highly entertaining and watchable. British stiff-upper-lip cockiness all the way that somehow ends up being incredibly camp and unintenionally amusing. A truly great expression of "Britishness" from a film, like the "Carry-ons" and "Confessions of.." movies. Wonderfully refreshing as well to see such older British films that reflect a time entirely devoid of political correctness.

Peter

PS. I have "Villain" on DVD. Also excellent, with a bizzare and un-typical performance from Richard Burton. I think the DVD is becoming scarce so you may want to pick up a copy soon Adam.

Peter

Don't hesitate Jon - it's superb. One of the few gangster movies that don't glamourise the lifestyle. It's beautifully bleak and brutal, and the closing scene, enhanced by the utterly haunting theme music, will haunt you for a very long time. Even the sex scenes are presented in an authentically sordid fashion (well apart from the Britt Ekland scene, maybe ). One of my favourite films.

Regards
Nigel

quote:

Originally posted by Adam Meredith:
I cannot think of many remakes that better their originals.

Nor can I. But may I suggest William Friedkin's >Sorcerer<, as a very good remake of Clouzot's >La salaire de la peur<?

Great feedback, thank you guys - I really want to see it. Where can I get it from as I looked in my local HMV and it wasnt in stock???

This was the same for Long Good Friday, which is another film I want to see.

Many thanks.

JOn

Amazon.co.uk

and putting

Get Carter

into the search engine brings up this picture as well as availabilty and pricing information -as first option.



ATB from George

Of course its a great film but will it be worthwhile holding out for the Blu Ray version? Not released yet I think

Some classics have transferred well to HD, e,g Cool Hand Luke, Bullitt?

B

Only if you are going Blu Ray ...

It is not that sort of film.

Something like Lawrence Of Arabia, would be worth getting in Hi Def, if Hi Def is your bag ...

It would not be my aim, but getting a DVD of Lawrence Of Arabia would not be either ...

ATB from George

"Its not that sort of film"? HD looks great on all types of film, not restricted for films full of CGI and/or wide landscapes. The sound is often better too don't forget.

For the older films the issue is how well the transfer often depending if they have been remastered first before going to HD print.

But yes, if it aint your bag then...anyone else?

If you look at what I have written, then you will see that Get Carter is a film that I think is worth getting. Perhaps not at the top of my current list of films to get, but I provided a link to where it may be obtained ...

Laurence Of Arabia, however, is definately not a film that I would want to watch more than the once - and that was years ago - but it would definately gain in impact if the picture was of the best possible quality!

It is just that Get Carter is far more about plot-line psychology, and tension - far more than being, in my view, a film which is much affected in its impact by picture quality, once the standard of the normal broadcast quality is equalled. I would say getting it in HD would be a wasted effort ...

ATB from George