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Overview
The Million Pound Note is a British comedy romance film first released in 1953,
directed by Ronald Neame.
The film is based on a story by Mark Twain and stars Gregory Peck, Ronald Squire, Joyce Grenfell, A.E. Matthews and Maurice Denham.
It has also been released under the title: Man with a Million.
Our overall rating for this film is: good.
Synopsis
1903, London. Stranded in England and without a penny to his
name, American Henry Adams is surprised when two wealthy brothers
invite him into their house and give him an envelope containing some
money. When he opens the letter at an agreed time, Adams can
hardly believe what he sees: a bank note for one million pounds.
There is also a message telling Adams that if he returns the banknote
in a month’s time he will be given a well-paid job. What he
doesn’t know is that he is object of a curious experiment. Just
as one of his benefactors predicted, the mere fact that Adams possesses
the banknote convinces people to extend him credit and treat him as
though he were a millionaire. He gets a new wardrobe of clothes
and the best suite in an exclusive hotel without parting with a
farthing. Even the aristocracy looks kindly on him and he has soon
won the heart of the niece of the Duchess of Cromarty. Can there
be no end to Henry Adams’s good fortune...?
Film Review
In an early comedic role, Gregory Peck appears to relish every moment
in this quirky social satire from director Ronald Neame. The
multi-talented Neame had only recently turned to directing having
established his reputation as a cinematographer and screenwriter,
notably on some of David Lean’s early films. Neame’s keen visual
sense is apparent in the film’s lush colour photography and design,
which make this one of cinema’s gaudiest depictions of Edwardian
England.Although Peck is not a natural film comedian and occasionally looks uncomfortable when called upon to play physical comedy, his charm and charisma carry him through. It helps that he is has a talented supporting cast, which includes such well-loved British performers as Joyce Grenfell and Wilfrid Hyde-White, who manage to warm the cockles of anyone’s heart. Inspired by a little-known story by the great American writer Mark Twain, the film is both an entertaining divertissement and an effective satire on the absurdities of capitalism. © filmsdefrance.com 2009 Write a review for this film...User Comments
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Credits
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