What Does “Fine” Stand For in the Italian Job?
The 1969 classic caper movie – “The Italian Job” – is a heist film with a twist ending. The movie centers around British gangsters who attempt to steal gold from an Italian bank. As the movie reaches its climax, the gangsters are in the middle of the getaway when the leader of the gang, Charlie Croker, utters a famous phrase: “Hang on a minute, lads. I’ve got a great idea. Let’s do it for England! Let’s do it for London, for the hatch, the match and dispatch. All right, mates? Let’s do it! It’s the Italian Job!“
Despite the movie being more than fifty years old, this phrase has been widely used in popular culture since its release, and has even become a catchphrase in its own right. But what exactly does the word fine mean in this context?
What Does “Fine” Mean in the Italian Job?
The original script uses the phrase “hatch, match and dispatch” to explain the plan to the gang. In context, this phrase means that the plan involves stealing the bank’s gold, making sure that it is all split amongst the gang members and then escaping quickly (“dispatch”).
In other words, the phrase “hatch, match and dispatch” refers to a heist that was carefully planned (“hatch”) and executed properly (“match”), resulting in a successful escape (“dispatch”). The phrase is also synonymous with perfection – as in, if everything goes according to plan then the heist is a “fine” success.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the word fine in the phrase “the Italian Job” is an acronym for the three-part plan of a successful heist: hatch, match and dispatch. This phrase has since become popular in popular culture, inspiring subsequent films and books that involve heists and robberies.