The Italian Job Quiz | Movies

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The original story idea for "The Italian Job" came from which writer?

Answer: Ian Kennedy Martin

Tough one to start with. Ian Kennedy Martin, brother of "The Italian Job" screenwriter Troy, came up with the original story idea. In various interviews for the 40th anniversary re-release on DVD, Troy Kennedy Martin admitted that he had bought the script idea from his brother Ian, a successful TV scriptwriter. Ian's version was set in London and featured a jewelry heist.

2. Although it is one of his defining roles, Michael Caine was not Paramount's first choice for Charlie Croker. When they heard from the British producers that Caine was proposed for the role, Paramount's US bosses suggested that he be replaced by which other star?

Answer: Robert Redford

Despite pressure from Paramount to replace Caine with Redford and make the film more friendly to the US market, producer Michael Deeley (who also went on to produce the Deer Hunter) stood firm.

3. Right, onto the film itself... The opening song ("On Days Like These") features which singer?

Answer: Matt Monro

Although Quincy Jones wrote the score, it was Matt Monro who recorded the atmospheric tune we hear as Beckerman drives his Lamborghini Miura through the Italian Alps. Monro also recorded the title track for "From Russia With Love". Jack Jones, of course, sang the tune to TV's "The Love Boat". Tom Jones recorded the title track to Bond movie "Thunderball", starring Caine's good friend, Sean Connery.

4. When Charlie Croker is released from prison, his girlfriend Lorna picks him up in a stolen diplomatic car (not a good start on his first day out of jail). But from which ambassador did she "borrow" it?

Answer: Pakistani

Despite being outraged that Lorna might have been unfaithful to him with the Pakistani ambassador, Charlie doesn't seem to mind when her coming home present to him is a room full of girls.

5. Which British TV comedy actor has a cameo as the prison governor?

Answer: John Le Mesurier

John Le Mesurier's best known role is Sgt. Wilson in the British TV Comedy "Dad's Army". Arthur Lowe was, of course, his commanding officer, Captain Mainwairing.

6. Car makers, Fiat, are due to make a payment in gold bullion to the Chinese government in order to fund a new car plant in China. Charlie's plan is to steal this gold, but how much is it worth?

Answer: 4 million US dollars

When Charlie mentions the amount of 4 milion to Mr Bridger, Bridger is delighted, assuming it is in pounds (UKP). In 1969, 4m UKP would have been about 9.6m dollars (USD), as the exchange rate was 2.41USD to the pound. In fact, it's 4m USD, which would have been about 1.66m UKP, still a considerable amount back then.

7. When Charlie introduces the gang to each other, he describes one gang member thus: "he's just done three years in Parkhurst, and is as honest as the day is long." But which gang member?

Answer: Bill

According to the documentary on the 40th anniversary DVD, the office used in this scene was in the same building as the home of disgraced British novellist and politician Jeffrey Archer.

8. And which gang member is played by Michael Caine's brother, Stanley?

Answer: Coco

Stanley Caine, who played Coco, also appeared with his brother in "Billion Dollar Brain" (1967), the third of the Harry Palmer movies, and "Play Dirty" (1968). In "Brain", Stanley plays a postman who delivers a box of eggs to Michael (a key plot point, but a tiny role) and in "Play Dirty", he is a Gestapo Officer.

9. When the gang travel through the Alps, they are stopped by the Mafia, who threaten them by trashing their cars. Which Italian star of the 1950s and 1960s plays the Mafia leader, Altabani?

Answer: Raf Vallone

Raf Vallone had a fifty year career in both Europe and America, featuring in films such as "El Cid" (1961) and "The Godfather Part III" (1990). He retired from the movies in 1990 and died at home in Calabria, Italy, in October 2002, aged 86. Vallone and Rossano Brazzi (who played Beckerman) were hired to give the film appeal in continental Europe. (sources: imdb.com, Italian Job DVD).

10. Star Noel Coward (Mr Bridger) only appeared in the film because he was persuaded to by his daughter.

Answer: False

Coward was persuaded to come out of retirement by his adopted son, director Peter Collinson. It was to be his final film. His triumphant scene where he celebrates Croker's victory had to be filmed in stages because Coward was too ill to move more than a few feet at the time.

In his 1993 autobiography "What's It All About?", Caine says that Coward was given free room and board for life by London's Savoy Hotel in recognition of one evening during WWII when Coward kept the hotel guests entertained during a bombing raid.

11. Professor Peach, the computer expert, helps the gang crash the traffic system. Charlie Croker and Camp Freddie exploit his one weakness to persuade him to join their gang. What is he addicted to?

Answer: larger ladies

Professor Peach is, indeed, addicted to ladies of ample proportions. In fact, when we first meet him, he's already in a sanatorium because he's been trying to force his advances on his sister's frightening maid.

12. In which Italian city does the job take place?

Answer: Turin

Turin (Torino) was chosen because it had one of the world's most sophisticated traffic systems at the time. According to the City of Turin website (http://www.comune.torino.it/english/), it was the first capital of Italy from 1861 to 1864. It is also home to two of the best football (soccer) sides in the world: Juventus and Torino.

13. What colour are the Minis used in the job itself?

Answer: red, white and blue

Michael Caine states in his 1993 autobiography "What's It All About?" that the makers (BMC) were short-sighted in seeing the marketing opportunity and would not give the production any Minis for free - only at cost.

14. Just before the job takes place, Charlie and the gang run through the details. When one gang member inadvertently uses the word "square" (as in town square), Charlie corrects him. What word should he have used?

Answer: piazza

Piazza is, of course, Italian for town square. You can still see most of the locations used in the film. According to the official Italian Job Rally site (http://www.italianjob.com/), the church steps the Minis descend is directly in front of the weir they drive across, although it does not appear this way in the film. One site you cannot visit is the sewer pipe, which is the Birmingham-Coventry Main Sewer.

Not complete at the time, it is now fully functioning.

15. When the UK's Channel 4 made a TV documentary in 1998 about "The Italian Job", focusing on the stunt driving team of Remy Jullienne, they uncovered a scene that had been cut from the original chase. It is also on the 30th anniversary UK DVD. In it, the Minis waltz around a ballroom. Which piece of classical music is featured in this scene?

Answer: The Blue Danube Waltz

The scene had to be cut because it affected the pacing of the chase, but it is included on the recent DVD release in both the UK and the US.

16. There is a sporting event taking place which has made the traffic even worse than it would be normally. What is it?

Answer: an international football (soccer) match

The members of the gang who do not escape in the Minis drive away in a van decked out with slogans of support for England. The 1968 Olympics were held in Mexico City and famously featured black American athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos making a silent protest against civil rights abuses at the men's 200m ceremony (source: http://www.teachervision.com/lesson-plans/lesson-2336.html).

17. Michael Caine did his own stunt driving.

Answer: False

All the stunt driving was done by members of Rene Jullienne's team. Charlie doesn't drive, he's a passenger in one of the Minis. It would still have been difficult for him to do his own stunt driving, as Michael Caine did not pass his driving test until the 1980s.

18. What is written on the side of the bus that transports the Minis and the gold?

Answer: Croker's Coach Tours

Following "The Italian Job", Harry Baird (Big William the driver) worked mainly in spaghetti westerns (source: imdb.com)

19. The end theme tune is known as "The Self Preservation Society" and features Michael Caine on backing vocals.

Answer: False

Michael Caine's voice can be clearly heard in the chorus, but the track's title is "Get A Bloomin' Move On" and not "The Self Preservation Society". It was written by lyricist Don Black.

20. An easy one to end with: in the remake of "The Italian Job", released in 2003, who plays Charlie Croker?

Answer: Mark Wahlberg

Set in Los Angeles (but still called "The Italian Job", for some reason), it stars Mark Wahlberg as Charlie Croker. Charlize Theron plays Stella, the daughter of John Bridger (Donald Sutherland). Seth Green is the Professor Peach-type computer geek. In a role which does not exist in the original, Edward Norton plays Charlie's former partner. (sources: imdb.com, countingdown.com)

Source: Author joanna241

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor ladymacb29 before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

The Italian Job Trivia Quiz

Many people, including comedian Eddie Izzard, consider "The Italian Job" to be one of their favourite films. But much do you know about this Michael Caine classic?

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