The Heist Movie

27-11-2008This Month 27th Nov 10:25

Over the years the heist movie had given cinema go-ers some of the most memorable big screen moments, characters and face offs and still remains as popular today as it ever was.

And it seems that Hollywood hasn't got bored with the formula of break into an almost impossible to open vault and steal something that doesn't belong to you with the release of Flawless this week.

Not only does the heist movie return to the big screen with this picture but Michael Caine comes home to this genre of movie as the brains behind the whole operation.

So here at FemaleFirst we looked at some of the most memorable heist movies.

The Italian Job

'You were only supposed to blow the bloody doors off,' no list of top quality heist movies would be complete without a mention of the genre's most famous film 1969's The Italian Job and Charlie Crocker.

Before being murdered by the Mafia, criminal genius Robert Beckerman (Rossano Brazzi) masterminds a plan to steal $4 million worth of gold bullion from an armoured car in Turin, Italy. The ambitious heist is taken over by Beckerman's friend and smalltime crook Charlie Croker (Michael Caine), who organizes a motley group of thieves bankrolled by jailed kingpin Mr. Bridger (Noel Coward).

To pull off the plan, the gang must tie up traffic in the centre of the city to divert attention from the robbery, block police pursuit, and ultimately make off with their booty undetected.