Michael Caine looks at the 10 movies that shaped his career

Screen legend Michael Caine marks 50 years as a leading actor this year.

Following roles in numerous TV series in the early 1960s and a supporting part as Lt Gonville Bromhead in Zulu, it was in 1965 that Michael’s career really took off, when he landed the part of Harry Palmer in The Ipcress File.

Michael was nominated for a Bafta, and followed that up a year later with the title role in Alfie, which earned him the first of his six Oscar nominations.

Now 82, Michael looks back on his career, with 10 films that have shaped his life.

1. The Lone Ranger

“I was obsessed with the cinema, growing up,” says Michael.

“There was no TV then but from the age of three, we used to have what was called the thruppeny rush on a Saturday morning.

“It was only kids. I was taken there by two older boys, and the Lone Ranger came on and from then on, I wanted to be a movie actor, not necessarily The Lone Ranger.”

2. Alfie in Alfie (1966)

“To be a movie star, you have to carry a movie,” Michael explains. “And to carry a movie where you play the title role is the supreme example. The third thing, for a British actor, is to do it in America.

“The fourth is to get nominated for an award. That picture did all four things for me.”

3. Charlie Croker in The Italian Job (1969)

When Michael made The Italian Job in 1969, with its famous car-chase scene, he couldn’t actually drive.

“I did a bit of the driving but only in a controlled area,” he explains.

“The dangerous bits were all done by the wife of Remy Julienne, the leader of the wonderful stunt team we had, because she had short blonde hair and looked like me from the back.

“She was a better driver than any of the guys, so I came out of it looking very good.

“A little bit feminine, but a very good driver!”

4. Milo Tindle in Sleuth (1972)

“Laurence Olivier wrote me a very nice letter before we started the film, saying: ‘It has occurred to me, as I am a lord, you may be wondering how to address me when we meet,’” explains Michael.

“‘When we do meet, Michael, from the moment we shake hands, I will be Larry for ever more’, which was lovely. He put me out of any sort of worry socially but the idea that he had to do it is extraordinary and explains a very difficult thing, the class system in England.”

5. Peachy Carnehan in The Man Who Would Be King (1975)

“I moved to Los Angeles in 1979, and you have to be able to drive there, so I took my test on an automatic,” Michael recalls.

“Before I took the test, the man in the office was very formal and told me the guy who’d be doing the test was sitting outside in the car, I was only to say good morning and to follow his instructions thereafter.

“I went outside and got in the car and the guy looked at me and said: ‘I loved you in The Man Who Would Be King. You’re going to have to be rubbish to not pass this test.’

“So at the age of 50, I passed the test but I was never very good, and when I turned 70, I gave it up.”

6. Dr Frank Bryant in Educating Rita (1983)

“Julie Walters was sensational in Educating Rita, really fantastic,” Michael gushes.

“And she is a nice person as well, which is a bonus. That film is also the performance I’m most proud of.”

7. Lawrence Jamieson in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988)

“I knew I’d have to be the straight man next to Steve Martin,” says Michael.

“He was being outrageous and I’m acting as though nothing is wrong. If I tried to be funny, it wouldn’t be funny. I told myself: ‘Just be natural.’”

8. Harry Palmer in Bullet to Beijing (1995)

After a career lull following his Oscar win for Hannah and Her Sisters in 1987, Michael resurrected the Harry Palmer character for this made-for-TV movie.

“It was my worst professional experience ever,” he says.

“The filming was a joke. The final blow came when we were shooting in the Lenfilm studio in St Petersburg.

“I wanted to go to the toilet and they directed me to it. I could smell it 50 yards away and it was the filthiest lavatory I have ever seen.

“I went outside and relieved myself against the sound stage, which I noticed several other men had done before.

“‘So this is where my career has ended,’ I thought to myself.”

9. Alfred the Butler in The Dark Knight (2008)

“You spend your life as an actor making pictures and wondering if they’re going to be a hit,” says the star.

“I’ve made six films with Christopher Nolan and every one has been a hit. I remember the first time he came to me with a script.

“I asked what it was and he said: ‘Batman.’

“I thought to myself: ‘Well, I’m too old to play Batman. What does he want me to play?’

“He said: ‘I want you to play the butler.’

“I thought: ‘What will the dialogue be like? ‘Dinner is served?’

He said: ‘No, Michael. Read the script.’ Alfred wasn’t the butler he was the foster father for Batman. So now whenever Christopher asks whether I want to do a movie, I say: ‘Yes.’ When he says: ‘Do you want to read the script?’ I say: ‘No.’”

10. Clarence in Is Anybody There? (2008)

In this film, Michael played an elderly magician living with dementia.

“The London tailor Dougie Hayward whom he based his Alfie character on was one of my closest friends and he died of symptoms relating to dementia,” recalls Michael.

“I’d been four years with it, not day in day out, but waiting for the day when I’d walk in and Dougie would ask me who I was. One day he did.

“So it’s as accurate a portrayal as I could do with my talent taken from extreme close-up experience.”