This gritty Northern gangster film, set in Newcastle, was originally a book by the author Ted Lewis entitled 'Jack's return home' written in 1969. The director Mike Hodges, whose other films include Pulp (also starring Michael Caine), The Terminal Man and Flash Gordon, received the script in January 1970.

Production began in Feburay with the film ready for release by October that year, locations, screenplay, actors cast and the film shot in an amazing 32 weeks. Hodges felt that Newcastle would be a good place to film as he had spent time around the docks when in the Navy. Almost all landmarks in the film have long since gone from Newcastle. Many saw the part of Jack Carter as a 'shit', so Mike Hodges was astonished that Caine would risk his career. Many London buses had matching posters saying 'Caine is....' on one side of the bus, while the other poster said '....Carter'. MGM wanted other stars along side Caine, but thank god all those Geordies were not replaced by Americans!

The New York Times wrote of the 'fruity cast of supporting players'. Many in Britain, unlike in America, didn't take the film seriously. Backers were angry that Hodges wanted to kill off Carter as they saw the chance of a sequel beckoning.

The film was a hit. Many queued around the block in the cold to see the already cult British gangster film. Critics today still see the production as ground breaking and one of the best British films of the late 20th century.

The Film Get Carter was re-realised in 1999 in a very limited number of cinemas, only two in London. At the UCI whitleys and the UCI Plaza. Look out for the 1999 reissue posters that can swap hands for up to £40.

By Mark Dear