The Italian Job ending is blown open by Michael Caine
ONE OF the most famous – and literal By Mark Reynolds – cliffhangers in entertainment history has finally been resolved.
Nearly 40 years ago the classic movie The Italian Job ended with a coach load of crooks and their stolen hoard of gold bullion dangling over the edge of a cliff.
Now the film’s star, Sir Michael Caine, has put audiences out of their misery and revealed what happened in the original ending – right after he utters the immortal line, “Hang on lads, I’ve got a great idea…”
In the movie’s closing moments, the coach is speeding along a winding mountain road when the driver, distracted by the gang’s celebrations, loses control of the vehicle.
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The coach skids and comes to a halt teetering over the cliff edge, with the gold bars slipping towards its back doors.
Speaking at the 2008 Visit London Awards, Sir Michael – whose other famous line from the film was “You’re only supposed to blow the bloody doors off” – revealed the final minutes of the movie which were edited out.
Sir Michael, 75, said: “In the coach, I crawl up, switch on the engine and stay there for four hours until all the petrol runs out.
“The van then bounces back up so the gang can all get out, but then the gold goes over the cliff.
“There are a load of Corsican Mafia at the bottom watching the whole thing through binoculars.
They grab the gold, and then the sequel to the film was going to be us chasing after it.
“They grab the gold, and then the sequel to the film was going to be us chasing after it.”
The actor was at the ceremony at London’s Royal Albert Hall after being voted the capital’s favourite Londoner.
He beat Sir Alan Sugar, Jamie Oliver, Joanna Lumley, Paul Merton and Leona Lewis.
He said he was delighted to have been chosen for the award.
“It is extraordinary and completely unique as I did not have to do anything to get it,” he added.
