Is The Italian Job really the best British film ever?

NEARLY 50 years have passed since it was released – but The Italian Job’s car chases, oneliners and its cliffhanger ending are still proving a hit.

For the 1969 crime caper has been named the greatest British film ever made.

The movie – which stars Michael Caine as criminal Charlie Croker – won the top accolade after a survey of 2,000 UK moviegoers, with The Full Monty coming second and another Michael Caine classic, Zulu, in third.

Also in the top ten were Love Actually in fourth, followed by 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, and Billy Elliot.

The Italian Job also won the award for Most Iconic Scene in a British film, for Sir Michael’s line: ‘You’re only supposed to blow the bloody doors off!’

The 84-year- old star himself was named best British actor in the poll, with Anthony Hopkins in second followed by Sean Connery, the late Alan Rickman and Ian McKellen. The top actresses were Judi Dench and Maggie Smith, who came sixth and seventh. Laurence Olivier, Alec Guinness and Helen Mirren completed the top ten film stars.

Anna Smith, chairman of the 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. Both films helped define an exciting era in British culture.’

The survey was commissioned by Vue cinemas to celebrate the re-launch of the Leicester Square branch, first opened in 1938. Dean Cross, of Vue, said: ‘The Italian Job is a testament to British film-making, a moment when the best of the best came together to create cinema magic.’