A short introduction, a kind of living will where Michael and Stephen explain why anyone would want to watch and review every Michael Caine movie in chronological order (Spoiler: It's probably a cry for help).We talk about our love of Caine (no, not like that), our first exposure to him (no, definitely not like THAT) and marvel at how a man who's had more turkeys then Bernard Manning on the keto diet has somehow managed to maintain a career for over seventy years. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Caine storms upon the stage with Zulu, a film that nestles comfortably in the BFI's top British movies of all time and is a Christmas favourite for many unable to escape the allure of it's bright colours, scintillating action and the performance of that tall skinny Jagger impersonator who doesn't quite know to do with his hands, having not yet been visited by the pointy shouty fairy.But is it any good? Is Caine any good? Did he have a nice time on set? How strong are his bowels? All these questions and more are answered on the first episode proper of the Mark of Caine! See, we mentioned the name of the podcast! That's branding, baby! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The year is 1965, the place is swinging London and Michael Caine is stealing secrets and hearts as Harry Palmer in this tale of intrigue, brainwashing and tinned mushrooms. We take a deep dive into the Ipcress File and the face and glasses that launched, if not a thousand ships, at least two tug boats and a barge. Cooking as foreplay! Weird curtain-opening techniques! and what the hell is Rice a roni anyway? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
It’s Alfie! the movie that garnered Caine his first Oscar nomination and brought him to the attention of a truly global audience. He’s a fourth-wall breaking sex machine, a ladies man and a proper *****turns to camera* Look, as Lou Reed sang ‘those were different times’ and we had a real different time with Alfie. So, loosen your listening knickers, lie back and let Stephen and Michael have their way with you. Don’t worry, much like Alfie we’ll finish first. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Our hero dips his toe in the waters of farce with the 1966 comedy The Wrong Box. Co-starring Peter Sellers, Peter Cook, Dudley Moore, Tony Hancock and Leonard Rossiter this has to be a stone-cold laugh riot, right? Right?Does Caine continue his streak of classic movies or is this the first with more than a hint of Christmas dinner off it? Find out, now! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
It’s 1966, Michael Caine is storming Hollywood like a cockney Viking off the back of his Oscar nomination for Alfie and has actually been hand-picked for this role by Shirley McClaine.Caine plays a cat burglar who discovers that best laid plans can often go awry. So no real life parallels for him then. McClaine plays the Eurasian exotic dancer who helps him and Herbert Lom plays an Arab. Yup, it's the sixties alright.Farce, romp, caper - call it what you will, the studio called it Gambit and you’ll have to listen to this podcast to find out what we’d call it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Harry Palmer returns! But should he have bothered? Michael Caine is the admin James Bond in this 1966 classic that is basically about one man's attempt to get a car loan. No, really.It's got all the right ingredients: Cold War, defection, Nazis, multiple concussions. But is it a tasty tale? That metaphor works, right? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Michael Caine goes full Dixie in this film from Otto Preminger that approaches the racial tension of the Deep South with all the sensitivity of a clog dancer in a minefield. Jane Fonda, George Kennedy, Burgess Meredith, Faye Dunaway - what could go wrong? If you've listened to previous episodes you probably know the answer by know.Michael and Stephen discuss sax as foreplay, the worst screen kiss in cinema history and how quickly a father can recover from the tragic loss of his son (apparently, 3 minutes). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Our hero returns to the safe familiar bosom of Harry Palmer, after last week's unsuccessful tryst with Hurry Sundown. And speaking of bosoms, Ken Russell is behind the lens for this outing so the sauce levels are at an all time high. Sadly, no nude Caine but his legs get a brief airing. Billion Dollar Brain is, frankly, a bit mental and can be best summarised as an evil Colonel Sanders commanding an army of white supremacists, advised by an AI attempt to invade Russia via Finland (tale as old as time).Join Michael and Stephen as they discuss sperm armies, fully-clothed saunas and whether or not Palmer ever got his car loan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Our hero is back in the incapable hands of Brian Forbes, who directed him the filmic atrocity that was The Wrong Box. He’s a cat burglar. Again. But this time to be fair he does quite the burgling! In beige! Oh! nb This is awful. It’s a psychosexual thriller with Nazis, heists and a breast massage (Caine’s boobage) so vigorous it warrants an offical complaint to the International Association of Physiotherapists.It’s Deadfall, it’s Dreadful so D’Listen! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Oh ye Gods!! In this episode we explore a film publicly disowned by Michael Caine, routinely demolished by the critics carrying the destructive power to bury a lesser actor's career. But, it also has Caine's pitch-perfect Alan Partridge impression (Ann!!), another sighting of Sports Caine (some swimming) and a series of plot twists even more bewildering than his decision to take a gig in the Wrong Box. With apologies in advance to the estate of Anthony Quinn, this is Caine with Tony and Candice Bergen, looking bewildered in The Magus Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Desert Caine (Actually Spain)What's it about?Let us explainA secret missionCaine looks purtyWar is HellAnd so's Play Dirty Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
And here we are, finally, at one of the movies that maketh the man and the legend, one of the iconic films in the Halls of Caine: The Italian Job. it's got cars, gold, girls, boys, Noel Coward, chorus-line Mafia men. Is it Michael Caine's finest hour (or so)? Is it the movie that saves a young, wavering career or really a sign of acting wonders to come? We're just glad it's a good movie with chase scenes and some snappy one-liners, and also, the plot makes sense. We'll even forgive the presence of Benny Hill.... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Chocks away lads! Mick Caine takes to the skies in the Battle of Britain to give Jerry a good thrashing! But does this big-budget, historically accurate version of one of World War II's most significant episodes soar through the clouds to movie heaven or get turned into a fireball screaming down towards earth? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
It's sweaty, it's hot, it's wheezy, it's Michael Caine at war in the Far East, zig-zagging through the jungle with Cliff Robertson pursued by the Japanese with a radio transmitter broadcasting invitations to surrender every other minute. Sound like a dose? Listen to the verdict on Caine's first movie of the 70s. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
"Finally!" screamed the cinema-going public in 1971, "a movie about the Thirty Years War!".Yes, it's more box office gold as Michael Caine is joined by a stumbling Omar Sharif and a very attractive Brian Blessed in a movie about war, valleys, religion and really you've skipped this episode already haven't you.It's Caine at his best, doing an accent that travels more in one sentence than Michael Palin has done in a lifetime in a movie that has a message that no one wanted to receive.Listen here and live! While others die!**This is a quote from the movie! Synergy! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
It's 1971. It's gritty and grimy up north and Michael Caine is rough, bleak and completely brilliant in the magnificent Get Carter. Is this the greatest performance of his career? Is Jack Carter the character Caine could have become in a parallel life? Is Get Carter the worst tourist advert for any English city ever? Settle in for a deep dive into one of the greatest UK films ever made. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
After hitting a career high with Get Carter, where next for 1971's hottest property? Well, Michael Caine decides to give the world the Robert Louis Stevenson revival it was waiting for, tramping the heather and gazing upon the lochs, and doing a Scottish accent that will oblige him to issue a statement of apology to an entire nation. This is Kidnapped! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Elizabeth Taylor and Michael Caine together at last in this 1972 movie written by Ireland's own Edna O'Brien. She bought a house off the back of it. Nice to see someone emerge from this with something tangible anyway. Oh boy.He's the working class 'boy done good' architectShe's his boozy wife who's loud, brash and American.Also, Susannah Yorke is in this which is nice I guess.There's infidelity, shouting and spousal abuse (AKA box office gold). It's Zee and Co. Pod it up! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.