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An impoverished American sailor is fortunate enough to be passing the house of two rich gentlemen who have conceived the crazy idea of distributing a note worth one million pounds. The sailor finds that whenever he tries to use the note to buy something, people treat him like a king and let him have whatever he likes for free. Ultimately, the money proves to be more troublesome than it is worth when it almost costs him his dignity and the woman he loves.
CinemaSerf
Dec 29, 2024 · via TMDB
When two wealthy old buzzards - Ronald Squire and Wilfrid Hyde-White espy the poverty stricken American "Adams" (Gregory Peck) they invite him into their home and give him an envelope. He is promised it contains money and so he promptly sits down to a much needed meal. When payment is duly demanded, he reveals the contents of the letter. A £1,000,000 pound note. It's real, but nobody can cash it. Nobody has the change. Indeed, quite quickly he discovers that the very sight of the thing is sufficient to open doors of credit at just about everywhere in London. A swanky hotel, fine tailoring and dining all beckon. High society welcomes him with open arms and that might even provide him with an opportunity to court the otherwise inaccessible "Portia" (Jane Griffiths), thd daughter of the haughty "Duchess of Cromarty" (Joyce Grenfell). His deal with his two sponsors, so to speak, is that he must keep the note intact for one month and if he does, well there's a real glittering prize awaiting him. It's all going really rather well but he's overlooked one small thing. The previous owner of his hotel suite - the "Duke of Frognal" (AE Matthews) was none to pleased about being relegated to lesser accommodations, and so enlists the help of an housemaid to purloin said banknote. When "Adams" and his loyal, mute, retainer cannot present it to their creditors, well let's just say all the goodwill evaporates and things all start to look distinctly dodgy! This is quite a cheery and enjoyable adaptation of the Mark Twain story that sees Peck on jovial form amidst a fine cast of British character actors. The narrative takes an unswerving, but light-hearted, swipe at the hypocrisy and venality of society - at all levels as well as at the double standards that prevail across the board when those who have money (or are perceived to) don't really need it and those who are desperate for the stuff can't get near enough to it to buy basic essentials. The shallowness of many of these characters is writ large and entertainingly and though I did find the denouement a bit rushed, I did rather enjoy the irony of the conclusion. Peck looks like he enjoyed making this, as did the permanently sozzled Matthews and the on-form Grenfell and I did quite enjoy watching it.
User reviews courtesy of TMDB.
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Gregory Peck
Henry Adams
Ronald Squire
Oliver Montpelier
Joyce Grenfell
Duchess of Cromarty
A.E. Matthews
Duke of Frognal
Maurice Denham
Jonathan Reid
Reginald Beckwith
Rock
Brian Oulton
Lloyd
John Slater
Parsons
Hartley Power
Lloyd Hastings
George Devine
Chop House Proprietor
Bryan Forbes
Todd
Gudrun Ure
Renie
Hugh Wakefield
Duke of Cromarty
Wilfrid Hyde-White
Roderick Montpelier
Jane Griffiths
Portia Lansdowne
Ronald Adam
Samuel Clements
Hugh Griffith
Potter
Christopher Hewett
Irate Investor
Ernest Thesiger
Mr. Garrett, Bank Director
Larry Dann
Boy
Andrew Faulds
Chief Assistant at Tailor Shop
Willoughby Goddard
Stockbroker
Harold Goodwin
Horace
May Hallatt
Hysterical Woman at Bumbles Hotel
Joan Hickson
Maggie
Hugh Latimer
Bumbles Hotel Receptionist
Eliot Makeham
Consulate Official
Percy Marmont
Lord Hurlingham
Gibb McLaughlin
Sir William Collinge
Laurence Naismith
Walter Craddock
Hal Osmond
Arthur
Mona Washbourne
Mum with Pram
Ian Wilson
Photographer
Geoffrey Unsworth
Director of Photography
Robert Asher
Assistant Director
Ronald Neame
Director
Earl St. John
Executive Producer
John Bryan
Producer
Jill Craigie
Screenplay
Mark Twain
Story
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Jun 18, 1954
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Wasting, sinking, dazzling, floating
2024
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1926
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Evil Dead II
1987 · 14 wins
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2008 · 14 wins
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1978 · 13 wins
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2000 · 12 wins
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1981 · 11 wins
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Guess the movie from a clue — tagline, plot, cast and more. Pick from four posters.
What movie experience do you prefer?
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