The Scarface star's former manager, Stevie Phillips, recounts the embarrassing incident in her new autobiography, Judy & Liza & Robert & Freddie & David & Sue & Me...: A Memoir, revealing Pacino tried to impress production director Hal Prince by belting out a rendition of Guys and Dolls hit Luck Be a Lady - only to forget his lines and be booted offstage.

According to the New York Post, she writes, "Al sang: 'Luck be a lady tonight... Luck be a lady tonight... Luck be a lady tonight...' The lyrics had moved on, but Al had not.

"The stage manager was now coming out with the hook, a heavy right arm with which he 'escorted' Al off the stage. Al innocently asked: 'So how do you think I did...?' At last I said, 'Al, I don't think a musical is your thing.'"

The lead role eventually went to Herschel Bernardi, who earned a Tony Award nomination for his performance in the Kander and Ebb musical. Anthony Quinn went on to lead the cast in a Broadway revival in 1983.

Pacino later conquered the Great White Way in a series of dramatic roles, including Does a Tiger Wear a Necktie?, Camino Real, Salome and William Shakespeare play King Richard III.

He only recently tackled his singing fears in the film Danny Collins, in which he plays an ageing rock star.