The greatest British film of all time starring Michael Caine is on TV this week | Films | Entertainment

Back in 1971, Michael Caine starred as Jack Carter, a London gangster who returns home to the North East of England after his brother’s death.

Suspecting there’s more to his sibling’s passing than meets the eye, Carter begins interrogations as he seeks revenge.

Based on Ted Lewis’ 1970 novel Jack’s Return Home, the film was intended to be a much more realistic portrayal of criminal violence than had previously been seen in British film.

Director and screenwriter Michael Hodges extensively researched the Newcastle criminal underworld, while Caine based his portrayal of Carter on gangsters he’d met in real-life.

Despite mixed reviews upon release, Get Carter became a cult classic in part thanks to praise from Quentin Tarantino and Guy Richie, who would go on to make classic violent gangster flicks themselves. The movie was voted the greatest British film of all time in a 2004 Total Film poll of UK movie critics.

Get Carter is on BBC Two at 11pm tonight and will be streaming on BBC iPlayer for a limited time afterwards.