Italian Job End Revealed

[Postmaster]

Michael Caine has finally revealed what happens at the end of The Italian Job, one of cinema's most famous cliff-hangers.

The question is: does he escape with the stolen gold?

In a BBC One documentary to commemorate his 70th birthday, Sir Michael explains the conclusion was to form a sequel - one never made.

At the end of the cult 1969 film, Caine's gang of robbers are left perched on an Italian mountain with their £4m haul.

They're left at one end of the getaway coach with the bullion at the other, dragging them over the edge.

As the credits roll, Caine's character, Charlie Croker, utters the line: "Hang on, lads - I've got a great idea..."

He told the Hollywood Greats programme: "The next thing that happens is you turn the engine on.

"You all sit exactly where you are till all the petrol has run out, which changes the equilibrium.

"We all jump out and the gold goes over the cliff, and at the bottom are the French mafia sitting waiting for the gold.

"And then we are off trying to get it back and that is the next movie.

"It was never made because the film didn't do well in America."

The Italian Job is now being remade as an LA heist with Mark Wahlberg.

Sir Michael turned down a £3m offer to play Bridger, the criminal mastermind previously played by Noel Coward.

[Polynikes]

webmaster: Michael Caine has finally revealed what happens at the end of The Italian Job, one of cinema's most famous cliff-hangers. The question is: does he escape with the stolen gold? In a BBC One documentary to commemorate his 70th birthday, Sir Michael explains the conclusion was to form a sequel - one never made. At the end of the cult 1969 film, Caine's gang of robbers are left perched on an Italian mountain with their £4m haul. They're left at one end of the getaway coach with the bullion at the other, dragging them over the edge. As the credits roll, Caine's character, Charlie Croker, utters the line: "Hang on, lads - I've got a great idea..." He told the Hollywood Greats programme: "The next thing that happens is you turn the engine on. "You all sit exactly where you are till all the petrol has run out, which changes the equilibrium. "We all jump out and the gold goes over the cliff, and at the bottom are the French mafia sitting waiting for the gold. "And then we are off trying to get it back and that is the next movie. "It was never made because the film didn't do well in America." The Italian Job is now being remade as an LA heist with Mark Wahlberg. Sir Michael turned down a £3m offer to play Bridger, the criminal mastermind previously played by Noel Coward.

Yeah, I saw that interview, what happens though if the fuel tanks turned out to be in the front of the bus?

[Steve Crook]

Polynikes: Yeah, I saw that interview, what happens though if the fuel tanks turned out to be in the front of the bus?

Then the bus becomes more stable & they can take the gold out while it's still up on the high road :)

[Polynikes]

SteveCrook: Then the bus becomes more stable & they can take the gold out while it's still up on the high road.

Errr No.

The BACK end of the bus was where the gold was and that was hanging over the cliff.

If the fuel tanks were at the FRONT of the bus, then as they emptied, then the weight of the bus would tip backwards....

[Jaxs]

For the sake of the story, the tank are in the back but in reality there are just forward of the rear wheels, large circular tanks each side of the vehicle. And as the wheels were hanging over the edge, it is feasible. I would have prefered if the gang had retained the gold but had to dodge the Mafia across Europe with another four cars or five cars with all the special effects now available....

Rgds

Jaxs

[French Lieutenant]

I saw the interview too, and I don't think he was talking about it seriously. He only came up with that in response to a jokey question from Jonathan Ross