It is the ultimate cliff-hanger mystery that has intrigued film lovers and armchair engineers since The Italian Job came out: what happened to the coachload of gold perched precariously on a knife edge at the end of the film?
Now Sir Michael Caine, the star of the 1969 cult British crime caper, has revealed the answer.
In the closing moments of the film the British gang is seen in high spirits travelling from Italy to Switzerland.
Their coach careers along a winding mountain road while the crooks celebrate in the back.
But the driver sends the vehicle into a skid and the back end of the coach is left teetering over the edge with the #4 million cargo of gold slipping towards the rear doors.
Charlie Croker the gang leader played by Sir Michael - issues his famous final words: "Hang on a minute, lads. I've got a great idea... and the credits roll.
Now Sir Michael, 75, has disclosed that an ending was filmed with the gang escaping, but the gold tumbling into the ravine.
He 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 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."
But the producers decided against using the scenes, leaving filmgoers with the famous cliffhanger ending.
Sir Michael made the disclosure at the 2008 Visit London Awards at the Royal Albert Hall after he was voted the capital's favourite Londoner.
But his comments are unlikely to stop the debate on the subject.
The Royal Society of Chemistry is holding a competition to find the most original and elegant ending to the film.
Such is the interest that it has already had more than 750 entries.
The winner is expected to be announced in January.
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