28 July 2022

Review: Get Carter: 4K Ultra HD Edition

4K UHD Blu-ray: Get Carter (1971)

Based on Ted Lewis’s 1970 novel Jack’s Return Home, Get Carter tells the story of Jack Carter (Michael Caine), a London based gangster who returns to his hometown in Newcastle to find out about his brother’s supposedly ‘accidental’ death. Disobeying the London gang’s boss to stay put, he travels up North on the train to find out what happened.

In the BFI’s accompanying booklet for Get Carter, Alex Cox (of Videodrome fame) describes the film as ‘nasty’ (along with all the other ‘good’ UK gangster films) and I agree, from Brighton Rock to Dead Man’s Shoes, UK Gangster films are violent and sordid and very entertaining.

Filmed around a 1970 grimy Newcastle upon Tyne, Gateshead and County Durham, Hodges, the film’s producer Michael Klinger and star Michael Caine wanted to put a more realistic portrayal of ‘one punch and you’re down’ violence on screen than Hollywood fluff. Helped by the grimy, 70s brown décor of cinematographer and documentary film maker Wolfgang Suschitzky who gave the scenes a naturalistic look.

The story itself is in the best tradition of the UK Gangster genre ,grimy and sordid. Jack Carter has lived in London for years in the employ of organised crime bosses the Fletchers, and Jack is having an affair with Gerald’s girlfriend Anna (Britt Ekland) and plans to run away to South America with her. But first he has to go to his brother Frank’s funeral in Newcastle. Apparently he died in a drunk-driving car accident. Jack stays in Frank’s house, and we see Franks open coffin in the living room. At the funeral, Jack meets his teenage niece Doreen and Frank’s married part-time mistress Margaret (who we find out is also a porn star). From here the story of Frank’s demise unfolds taking Jack on a journey of revenge, violence, sexual exploitation and death.

I think among film fans, Get Carter can be described as a sacred film of British Cinema. That edginess, the story itself, along with the cream of UK actors made it an instant classic. Michael Caine, already a ‘film star’ unleashes a performance of such blue eyed iciness, his face unchanging, his posture assured, he IS Jack Carter, gangster and murderer in a black trenchcoat. Watching the scene where he ‘sex’ talks to Anna on the phone in front of his older landlady as she rocks in a rocking chair as he stares at her still makes for very uncomfortable viewing (he later sleeps with her and this leads to the infamous ‘naked with a shotgun scene). He is not only chilling, but completely believable, he will not stop until he finds out the truth. There are so many outstanding moments in this film, from the iconic dialogue (‘you’re a big man, but you’re out of shape’) to just the ‘feel’ of it.

This really is as good as everyone says it is, not only a real classic of UK cinema, but also a cracking film to watch.

This new 50^th anniversary 4K release from the BFI is beautiful, the opening sequence shows the London lights colours ping and the grime is truly drab. Hearing Roy Budd’s fantastic soundtrack is a treat too. Then there are some amazing extras that makes this an absolute “must buy”.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

Limited edition 2-disc set
4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)
Newly recorded introduction by Michael Caine (2022, 3 mins)
Audio commentary featuring Mike Hodges, Michael Caine and Wolfgang Suschitzky (2000)
Newly recorded audio commentary featuring Kim Newman and Barry Forshaw
Isolated score by Roy Budd
Mike Hodges in Conversation (2022, 60 mins): the director discusses his career in this interview recorded at BFI Southbank
The Sound of Roy Budd (2022, 17 mins): film music expert Jonny Trunk explores the varied career of Roy Budd, and revisits Budd’s iconic, minimalist score for Get Carter
Roy Budd Plays ‘Get Carter’ (1971, 4 mins)
BBC Look North location report (1970, 5 mins): surviving footage of a 1971 report on Get Carter’s making, from the BBC’s regional news programme
Don’t Trust Boys (2022, 22 mins): actor Petra Markham reflects upon her career on stage and screen, and recalls her role in Get Carter
Klinger on Klinger (2022, 24 mins): Tony Klinger recalls and evaluates the career of his father, Michael Klinger, Producer of Get Carter
The Ship Hotel – Tyne Main (1967, 33 mins): Philip Trevelyan’s evocative documentary film about a pub on the banks of the River Tyne
International trailer (1971)
Rerelease trailer (2022)
Michael Caine’s message to premiere attendees (1971, 1 min)
Script gallery
80-page book featuring new writing by Mark Kermode, Tim Pelan, John Oliver and Jason Wood. Also includes Alex Cox’s intro to the film’s Moviedrome screening in 1990, stills, and notes on the restoration by the BFI’s Douglas Weir
Double-sided poster featuring the original UK quad and 2022 rerelease artwork
A set of four postcards featuring iconic scenes from the film
Newly created English subtitles for the Deaf and partial hearing
Newly created audio description track