Michael Caine Reveals Real Ending To ‘The Italian Job’

The Italian Job is one of my favorite films of all time. I am, of course, referring to the original movie starring Michael Caine from 1969, which featured the greatest car ever made: the mini. The remake with Mark Wahlberg paled considerably in comparison.

But there’s always been one thing that has stumped me, along with the millions of other fans who have watched the film over the past 40 years. What the hell is up with the ending? Yes, it’s a brilliant cliffhanger in the most literal sense of the word, but I want to know what happens!

Thankfully, the truth can now be revealed, with Michael Caine deciding to end the intense speculation and guesswork by telling us all how the movie was originally meant to end. At the 2008 Visit London Awards, Caine told Digital Spy:

“In the coach, I crawl up, switch on the engine and stay there for four hours until all the petrol runs out. The van bounces back up so we can all get out, but then the gold goes over.”

So, while the gang escape with their lives intact, the gold ends up at the bottom of the ravine where it is undoubtedly collected by the Mafia. Okay, I admit, the ending which made it to celluloid was better, leaving us all in suspense. A suspense I’ve now ruined for myself and everyone else reading this. Damn.