Get Carter (1971)

A London gangster (Michael Caine) returns to his hometown in Newcastle to investigate the suspicious death of his brother. But local thugs are determined that he not find out the truth about his brother's death. Based on the novel JACK'S RETURN HOME by Ted Lewis and directed by Mike Hodges (FLASH GORDON). It's a stylish but brutal gangster film that was quite shocking for its day and still packs some punch. Criticized for its violence by the British critics, the movie fared better in the U.S. As the cold blooded gangster bent on revenge and without any remorse for his victims, Caine gives one of his very best performances. Its nihilistic ending is realistic as opposed to so many crime movies of the era that soften their endings. The gritty lensing by Wolfgang Suschitzky ((THEATRE OF BLOOD) brings an almost documentary feel to the movie. One of the best British films of the 1970s, the movie has built up a solid cult following in the ensuing years. An inferior remake with Sylvester Stallone in the title role came out in 2000. With Britt Ekland, Ian Hendry, Bryan Mosley, Alun Armstrong, Rosemarie Dunham, Tony Beckley and the playwright John Osborne.