Get Carter (1971) on Netflix
Word of his brother Frank's death brings Jack Carter back from London to Newcastle. The official account of the death does not satisfy him, and he questions Frank's friends.
- Watch on NetflixThis title is not on Netflix right now. Please check back later for updates.
- Watch on Prime
- Watch on NordVPN
- Netflix4.0/5
- IMDb7.3/1039,171 votes
- Rotten Tomatoes86%
Trailer
Plot summary
Jack Carter has spent years in London working for the crime bosses Gerald and Sid Fletcher, and he is involved with Anna, Gerald's girlfriend. The two intend to leave for South America. Carter first travels to Newcastle and Gateshead for the funeral of his brother Frank. His employers warn him against causing trouble, since they are friendly with the Newcastle mob. The account of the death given to him does not satisfy Carter, so he starts asking questions of his own. At the funeral he meets his teenage niece Doreen and Frank's girlfriend Margaret.
Cast
Did you know?!Facts and trivia about Get Carter (1971)
Can contain spoilers, watch the movie first.
- Get Carter was the last project approved by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's Borehamwood division before the studio closed it, after producer Michael Klinger made a deal with the ailing MGM to finance and release the film.
- Roy Budd's theme for Get Carter, "Carter Takes a Train", was recorded on a budget of just £450, with Budd and his jazz trio playing live to picture and Budd simultaneously playing a harpsichord, a Wurlitzer electric piano and a grand piano to avoid paying for overdubs.
- Director Mike Hodges wrote the screenplay with Ian Hendry in mind for the lead role of Jack Carter, but discovered that producer Michael Klinger had already signed up Michael Caine for the part.
SPOILER
MGM executives initially protested against Hodges's decision to have Jack Carter killed at the end of the film, because they wanted the character to survive in case Get Carter was successful enough to warrant a sequel.- Ian Hendry's alcoholism and poor condition were obvious on set in Newcastle, so Hodges shot the film's climactic chase first as a precaution in case Hendry had to be replaced and the rest re-shot; Hodges and Caine also used his resentment of Caine to add tension.
- South African censors cut out Britt Ekland's phone sex scene, shortening her already brief role, but her name was left on the poster, leaving filmgoers wondering why she was advertised as appearing.
- Later British films including The Long Good Friday, Face and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels borrowed from Get Carter's blueprint, and Steven Soderbergh said he envisioned his 1999 film The Limey as "Get Carter made by Alain Resnais".
