Cars and steps do not mix: why The Italian Job has a lot to answer for

<p>A driver who got stuck on the Spanish Steps in Rome is the latest in a series of similar vehicular misadventures</p><p>The 1969 caper The Italian Job spawned a Hollywood remake, helped drive the cool-factor of the Mini and launched decades of dad-jokes about bloody doors being blown off. It may also have inspired one driver who got stuck trying to travel down the Spanish Steps in Rome this week.</p><p>The film ended with Michael Caine teetering on the edge of a cliff in a coach, claiming to have a “great idea”. In Rome, the 80-year-old’s navigational error on his way to work ended with <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jun/17/man-80-gets-struck-trying-drive-down-the-spanish-steps-in-rome">emergency services having to bring in a crane</a> to winch his vehicle off the Italian capital’s landmark.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jun/20/cars-and-steps-do-not-mix-why-the-italian-job-has-a-lot-to-answer-for">Continue reading...</a>