Orig. Italian Job: Cult in the US, not the UK?

[Paul]

According to some 'experts' in this article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertain...lm/3152596.stm The original Italian Job is a cult in the USA and not the UK.

I think that's tosh!? Opinions?

[mini mad]

i was under the impression that a cult film was so called because it has built up a huge following ,which the original italian job certainly has in the uk.

[Root Ginger]

You've gotta be kidding me right?

I thought it was the other way round. Cult over here and not in the US.

All I can say is Stephen Dowling must be a right cult

[Sejanus]

I was about to say what a load of crap, but having read the article I think it may have a point. It seems from what I've heard that the popularity and fame of the Italian Job is fairly widespread in Britain whereas in the US few have heard of it. But those few who have heard of it in America love it and are devoted fans. That seems more cult like to me. It might be a bit strong to say that in Britain it's a piece of pop culture like, hmm, say "Airplane" over here, but it seems close to that. In America the Italian Job fans are few, but fervent. It did, however, get voted as the best movie ending of all time on some radio survey over here recently.

[ButtonIt]

I'd definitely say it has proper "Cult" status in the US because the people that like it really love it, no-one else has heard of it so they then think of the fans as "weird". Over here it's just a f*ckin brilliant film which is loved by (almost) everyone.

[Paul]

Quote: Originally Posted by ButtonIt

I'd definitely say it has proper "Cult" status in the US because the people that like it really love it, no-one else has heard of it so they then think of the fans as "weird". Over here it's just a f*ckin brilliant film which is loved by (almost) everyone.

Eloquently put.

[milliethemini]

This reminds me of a few years back, when anything Monty Python was a big deal in North America, and it had a bigger 'cult' following there than in the UK.

With regards to the original Italian Job, there are many subtle and not-so-subtle references in that movie that most North Americans who saw this movie would not have picked up on, or understood (except us Canadians, of course!!!)

The original Italian Job is first and foremost a movie about British pride, about British patriotism, British ingenuity and the British can-do spirit. (well, more English than British, but I digress) This during a time when the British economy was in the doldrums (late 60's, most of the 70's and early 80's), the British Empire was but a nostalgic memory and the Yanks were pervading much of popular culture in the UK (Beatles and the Stones notwithstanding).

That's why it was important that the crew, the vehicles (Minis, Land Rovers, Aston Martin, Jaguars) and even the reason for them being in Milan (a soccer match between England and Italy) was all-English. The significance of which would be mainly lost on a non-British audience.

Hence, I think that people who love the original Italian Job love it for more than just the Mini stunts, they love it for it's patriotism, can-do spirit, and it cheery optimism. In contrast, the remake is just a straightforward heist and revenge movie, with the MINI as one of it's stars. No doubt the remake has more international appeal because of this, but I doubt it will acheive cult status merely on the basis of this.

By the way, the scene I remember the most from the original is the opening credits, with that absolutely gorgeous Lamboghini Miura travessing the corners up that windy Alp mountain road, to the strains of that beautiful music score!!!

[BruceK]

Great discussion. I've been a rabid fan of the original Italian Job since the mid-1970s when I caught it on late night TV. Then I had to wait 8 years before I was able see it again on TV. You see, kids, way back in the dark days before the advent of cable/satellite TV or VHS movies, getting to see a movie more than once was a real treat - especially since the Italian Job was a "foreign" film. Yeah, we could count on seeing the Sound of Music or the Dirty Dozen every year on regular TV, but movies like the Italian Job were really rarities.

Things are so much better now. Last week I bought the boxed DVD set of the original Italian Job movie and the new one. I can now retire my old VHS copy of the movie and see it in glorious wide screen clarity.

I've been meaning to ask this for 20 years: What' s the deal with Camp Freddy? Is he just supposed to be a gay criminal, or is there some other uniquely British thing about him?

[smartbomb]

I saw the Italian Job (03) in the states last month, and met some pretty enthusiastic MINI owners too. I'd say the film is pretty popular over there and the MINI owners love the fact that it stars their cars ! It seems to have sparked an interest in the original which is no bad thing. The problem with the original is it's Britsihness which doesn't travel too well. Has a smaller audience...... Just try watching Ali G with some Americans to see how much is lost over the Atlantic !

[Root Ginger]

Bruce K. It's quite difficult to explain the camp comedy thing. To say someone is camp is someone who acts in a stereotypical gay way. Girlie voice, mincing walk, girlie hand gestures and was normally combined with double entendres.

Many comedy programs, films and even light entertainment shows had camp characters in them in the 60's and 70's. It was a staple of British comedy. There was John Inman in Open all Hours and various charaters in Monty Python, in fact pretty much every comedy show had a camp character in it.

As to whether they are gay or not is never really said. It would have been considered too shocking to have an openly gay person on a show and with the public at large becoming more aware of homosexuals in their surroundings, it served to make fun of these people in a typical British way.

Whether these characters were actually supposed to be gay, or just straight guys who acted in an overtly feminine way is another matter and I guess that was left up to your imagination to decide!

[smartbomb]

Didn't the British invent camp ?

[Paul]

Quote: Originally Posted by smartbomb

Didn't the British invent camp ?

Isn't camp a kind of coffee?

[smartbomb]

Camp Coffee...
Sounds like a competitor for odd named products !
Anyone remember Bum crisps ?

[sqonky]

i'd say that it is a cult just because few have heard of it- rather like clockwork orange. I bought it in the uk 2 years ago (DVD) having seen the original on the big screen when first released (very old!)....however although it is traditionally British (a bit st. trinians maybe?), i prefer the newer version now, seems more polished somehow.......and I always loathed the ending in the original!

btw I think "camp freddy" was so named because of his flamboyant dress style, as he didnt act camp - (ala john inman / graham norton etc) .......

[obehave]

Quote: Originally Posted by Ginge

Bruce K. It's quite difficult to explain the camp comedy thing. To say someone is camp is someone who acts in a stereotypical gay way. Girlie voice, mincing walk, girlie hand gestures and was normally combined with double entendres.

Many comedy programs, films and even light entertainment shows had camp characters in them in the 60's and 70's. It was a staple of British comedy. There was John Inman in Open all Hours and various charaters in Monty Python, in fact pretty much every comedy show had a camp character in it.

As to whether they are gay or not is never really said. It would have been considered too shocking to have an openly gay person on a show and with the public at large becoming more aware of homosexuals in their surroundings, it served to make fun of these people in a typical British way.

Whether these characters were actually supposed to be gay, or just straight guys who acted in an overtly feminine way is another matter and I guess that was left up to your imagination to decide!

OK?? How did camp comedy get associated with gay anything?? You lost me. The Crosby/Hope "Road" pictures were about as "campy" as you can get. The mincing fairy bit is just that , a bit. It's only one small part of camp comedy. That's as inaccurate as saying soccer club spirit is all about brawling skinheads. Just not true.
Camp is more along the lines of comedy making fun of itself right up to the point of absurdity. Once past that line you get into Jackass and Tom Green comedy (<- that's an oxymoron isn't it? Tom Green.... comedy)

No this isn't some homophobic rant. I'm just saying you're associating camp comedy with just one aspect of it, not the whole picture.