Nice summary and analysis—it was (or should have been) a standout film, maybe too downbeat, and part of that long line (Room at the Top, Alfie, Espresso Bongo, Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner, even some of the war movies like King Rat and The Long Short and the Tall) that defined the wonderful (I was young) hard-ass British 1960s assertiveness—no holds barred, and tough shit if it bothers you. ..a weird kind of revival of British cinema, invigorating and scary!
Remember it well, because Nicol Williamson was so unusual looking for a ‘film star’! And, of course, it seemed of a pair with Get Carter, which I definitely saw on TV when we had only three channels. Carter endures, yet this one has fallen into obscurity, which can only be because of Caine’s presence in the former, no?
On Get Carter, have you read Nick Triplow’s brilliant biography of Ted Lewis, Getting Carter? It really is fabulous, and paints a vivid picture of a highly creative man who was, as so many burdened by such artistry often are, tortured and destroyed by alcoholism. Really do recommend it if you haven’t yet done so.
Yes, read the Triplow bio of Lewis and it is great. I think that at least part of Get Carter's popularity is the way that it was associated with the whole Cool Britannia movement in the 1990s. I wrote about why Get Carter is still so popular for the US site CrimeReads on its 50th anniversary here: https://crimereads.com/fifty-years-later-get-carter-is-still-the-iconic-british-gangster-film/
Love Get Carter (& the book/s it’s based on) but never heard of The Reckoning - I’ll search it out
Never heard of this one, will be checking it out this weekend! Thanks 🙏
Great review. I love Get Carter & saw it again a week ago. I just found The Reckoning on YouTube. 👍
Thanks for that recommendation. I have not seen it! It sounds good based on your description and looks good based on the trailer->https://youtu.be/Xmurr4D74fA?si=doYppY7EAsiFoRZa
Cheers, Bob. I am fairly certain you would like it.
And of course Get Carter was a defining movie.
Nice summary and analysis—it was (or should have been) a standout film, maybe too downbeat, and part of that long line (Room at the Top, Alfie, Espresso Bongo, Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner, even some of the war movies like King Rat and The Long Short and the Tall) that defined the wonderful (I was young) hard-ass British 1960s assertiveness—no holds barred, and tough shit if it bothers you. ..a weird kind of revival of British cinema, invigorating and scary!
Saw it sometime in the 70s, possibly on TV?
Remember it well, because Nicol Williamson was so unusual looking for a ‘film star’! And, of course, it seemed of a pair with Get Carter, which I definitely saw on TV when we had only three channels. Carter endures, yet this one has fallen into obscurity, which can only be because of Caine’s presence in the former, no?
On Get Carter, have you read Nick Triplow’s brilliant biography of Ted Lewis, Getting Carter? It really is fabulous, and paints a vivid picture of a highly creative man who was, as so many burdened by such artistry often are, tortured and destroyed by alcoholism. Really do recommend it if you haven’t yet done so.
Yes, read the Triplow bio of Lewis and it is great. I think that at least part of Get Carter's popularity is the way that it was associated with the whole Cool Britannia movement in the 1990s. I wrote about why Get Carter is still so popular for the US site CrimeReads on its 50th anniversary here: https://crimereads.com/fifty-years-later-get-carter-is-still-the-iconic-british-gangster-film/