Michael Caine announces his retirement from film acting: You don’t have leading men in your nineties

Michael Caine has announced his retirement from acting, bringing the curtain down on a glittering career that took him from London fish markets to Hollywood stardom with an unforgettable car chase in Turin.

The enigmatic stage and screen star, whose career spanned seven decades, in 160 films and a number of iconic roles, said he would retire after rave reviews for his latest film, directed by Oliver Parker.The great escapee.

Released earlier this month, the British film is based on true events and features Caine as Bernie Jordan, a World War II veteran who sneaks out of his care home and boards a ferry to attend the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy.

Although his performance was widely praised, Caine, who grew up in south-east London in the aftermath of World War II as the son of a fish market porter, has spoken of his decision not to pursue any further roles after that and to quit the work. His film acting career is at the highest level.

“I keep saying I’m retiring. Well, now I am,” he said in an interview with BBC Radio 4. today The programme, released on Saturday (October 14).

He added: “I thought, ‘I’ve got a picture where I play the lead and it’s getting amazing reviews.’

“The only parts I could get now are 90-year-old men. Or maybe 85,” he joked to presenter Martha Kearney. “So I thought I’d better leave with all this. I’ve gotten great reviews. What am I going to do to get through this?”

Referring to himself and director Oliver Parker Italian job The star continued: “We had a great time in the movie, and I thought, why don’t we leave now?”

“You don’t have 90-year-old leading men, you’ll have handsome boys and girls,” he added.

Since his first film role in 1950, Caine has starred in at least 160 films and won numerous awards, including the Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actor in 1986 (Hanan and her sisters) and 1999 (Cider house rules).

You can access unlimited streaming of movies and TV shows with Amazon Prime Video

Sign up now for a free 30-day trial

subscription

You can access unlimited streaming of movies and TV shows with Amazon Prime Video

Sign up now for a free 30-day trial

subscription

Elsewhere in the conversation, Cain discussed how he considered himself retired before accepting the role The great escapeeBut he was convinced to act again due to the quality of the script.

“Bernie’s character is an old Cockney soldier, and funnily enough, I am too,” Ken explained. “He fought in World War II, and I fought in the Korean War, so it’s a completely different state of mind, but it’s actually the same.

“I was retired when I was sent the script – I turned it down three times. But I kept falling in love with it every time I read it, and so I did it.

in The IndependentFor review great fugitive, Critic Clarice Loughrey cited Kane’s simpler moments as highlights of the film as a whole.

“Caine, as Bernie, lets his natural, imperious presence carry most of the performance. But there are times when Parker’s camera lingers quietly on his features, as Caine surveys the surroundings of Normandy, lost in the place that changed him and scarred him in so many ways. We feel his sadness, certainly, but Ken allows the briefest flash of terror to dance across his eyes – as if he has never left these shores.

You can read the full review here.