The Italian Job (1969 version) [NEW SPOILER ALERT!]

[Lx_Nen]

Nearly 40 years after the film's release, Sir Michael Caine (who played the lead role) has revealed the mystery behind the film's last line, he first hinted at the answer to the mystery talking to the BBC while making a documentary to celebrate his 70th Birthday, but gave fuller details at the 2008 Visit London Awards this week - where he was named London's favourite Londoner.

The 1969 film ends with a gang of gold thieves hanging over a ravine in a bus. Every step they take towards the loot threatens to tip them into the abyss."Hang on lads, I've got a great idea," says Sir Michael's character, Charlie Croker... and then the credits roll.

*Spoiler Alert! - he actually did have a plan, and some of it was filmed, but never used!*

He would have saved them by switching on the engine, and burning off petrol until the bus righted itself. "I crawl up, switch on the engine and stay there for four hours until all the petrol runs out," he said. "The van bounces back up so we can all get out, but then the gold goes over. There are a load of Corsican Mafia at the bottom watching the whole thing with binoculars. They grab the gold, and then the sequel is us chasing it."