The movie "The Italian Job", released in 1969, enjoys cult status not only among classic car enthusiasts and Mini fans, because it is not a car movie, even though the vehicles play a central role in the British film. In principle, the film, which lasts just over 90 minutes, is a gold heist story. The robbery was planned by an Italian, but after his death right at the beginning of the film, the British thief Croker inherits the plan and puts it into action in the Italian city of Turin with some resistance.
50 years on
Author Matthew Field is a true fan of this now 50-year-old film, which has retained its cult status to this day. Over the years, he has interviewed countless people who played a role in filming and financing the movie and has now put this puzzle together into a book for its 50th anniversary that takes you on an exciting journey and tells you many things you probably didn't know before.
Milan and not Turin was originally intended as the location for the Italian scenes and it was probably thanks to Agnelli, the Fiat boss, that the scenes in the Italian metropolis were as exciting as they are in the movie. The original script also called for an Iso Grifo instead of a Miura in the opening scene.
Not just cars
Although the cars play a central role, the people in the movie are at least as important to the author Field. Many of the many conversations he had are reproduced in the book, shedding light on certain aspects (e.g. the choice of vehicle, location decisions, etc.). This makes for fascinating reading.
Excerpts from the first drafts, shooting schedules and other film-related documents provide an insight into how work was carried out at the time.
But also cars
The very first scene of the film features a car that is still one of the icons of sports car construction today, the Lamborghini Miura. The film's budget was not sufficient to purchase one of these rare mid-engined sports cars, so a car was borrowed from Lamborghini. This was simply taken off the production line before it was delivered to the customer. The speedometer was disconnected so that it stopped at 0 km. However, the car actually covered 2,500 km, partly loaded with heavy cameras, before it was delivered to the customer. And it has survived to this day and is now owned by collector Fritz Kaiser.
It was only recently, however, that its identity could be established beyond doubt. In the film, it is destroyed by a snowplow in the opening scene; Lamborghini supplied a wreck for this purpose, but it had to be purchased by the film company. It disappeared the night after filming and has not been found since. This is also revealed in the book.
The Minis
More important for the plot, however, are three Mini Cooper S cars, which are used as getaway vehicles in the movie and transport all the gold through Turin. They drive through galleries, sewers, jump over roofs and through the steep bends of the Lingotto factory.
All of this is traced in detail in the book. Among other things, it gives an insight into the work of Remy Julienne, who directed and drove the stunts. You also learn that none of the six Minis that were used still exist today. And we are informed that all the cars, including the two E-Types and the two Aston Martin DB4 Convertibles, were driven back to Italy and back (provided they survived the filming).
In addition to the vehicles already mentioned, there were also hordes of Fiat, Alfa Giulia police cars and several Fiat Dino Coupés used by the Mafia.
If the vehicles survived, there is also more information about them in the book
Great pictures
The 336-page book is designed as a "coffee table book" and therefore delights with a generous selection of pictures. There are photos of the filming, portraits of the crew and actors, as well as film posters and stills from the movie. Anyone who likes the movie will also love the book and even those who don't understand a word of English will enjoy it.
This book is certainly not primarily aimed at car enthusiasts, but rather at movie lovers. But anyone who can appreciate the end-of-sixties film "Italian Job" will also like this book.
Bibliographical information
- Title: Self Perservation Society - 50 Years of The Italian Job
- Author: Matthew Field
- Language: English
- Publisher: Porter Press International
- Edition: 1st edition May 2019
- Format: Hardcover, 29.3 x 24.6 cm
- Size: 336 pages, over 400 illustrations, some in black and white
- ISBN: 978-1-907085-86-4
- Price: £ 45
- Buy/order: Online at amazon.co.uk, online at the publisher Porter Press International or in bookstores. For Swiss customers, the book is also available from Dönni Classic Cars for CHF 62.00 (part number GBD666)
(a Collector's Edition with additional material and elaborate presentation is also available)
