A small masterpiece of modern British cinema, Get Carter continues to hold the attention of film fans, both serious and casual, alike. Originally released in 1971, Mike Hodges’ (Pulp, Flash Gordon, Damien: Omen II) debut feature is an unflinching portrayal of a corrupt underworld and moral ambiguity, rich in both plot and subtext. Effortlessly cool Michael Caine stars as nonchalant gangland enforcer Jack Carter, on a mission to uncover the truth behind his brother’s death.
As the plot unfolds, the veil is lifted on a seedy world of northern gangsters, shady businessmen, and sexual violence, set against a background of industrial decay. Events are only occasionally lightened with memorable one-liners delivered with an off-hand air of cynicism that is the film’s trademark, and Roy Budd’s iconic score.
To celebrate its 50th anniversary, the British Film Institute and Warner Bros. commissioned Silver Salt Restoration to remaster this classic in 4K Ultra HD. The deluxe package was released in the UK in July 2022 and in the US in August 2025, to universal acclaim. An accompanying 80-page booklet noted Silver Salt’s contribution to preserving and revitalising this iconic film.
The original camera negative was scanned at 16-bit 4K resolution by Warner Bros. Motion Picture Imaging using a Lasergraphics Director scanner. Extensive picture restoration was then undertaken by Silver Salt Restoration, removing any instances of physical damage, scratching, and negative/positive density defects. This was followed by full HDR (high dynamic range) colour grading.
Shortly after the film’s original release in 1971, a couple of very small sections of the original negative were replaced with sections of duplicating negative, most likely due to damage. Thankfully, YCM (yellow, cyan, and magenta) protection Promaster elements had been made from the original negative prior to these sections being removed, and they were re-combined and used to replace the duplicating negative sections.
Elements created for previous releases of the film dating from 1971, 1999, and 2004 were examined to determine the final look and the film is now presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1 with Dolby Vision and HDR 10 playback. The original English language audio was remastered by Warner Bros. and is presented here in its original mono configuration.
Throughout the entire process, director Mike Hodges was consulted, and he signed off the final restoration. Sadly, it was to be one of Hodges’ final projects, for he passed away a few months after its release.
Mark Bonnici, MD of Silver Salt Restoration, said: “Remastering Get Carter exemplifies our commitment to the highest standards of film preservation. Working in partnership with the BFI and Warner Bros., we combined advanced remastering technology with utmost respect for the film’s original creative vision, ensuring that this landmark of British cinema will continue to be enjoyed by audiences worldwide for generations to come.”
