IMDb on iPhone and iPod touch Learn more Learn more Download from the App Store
IMDb > The Million Pound Note (1954)

The Million Pound Note (1954) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 4 | slideshow)

IMDb Holiday Movie Guide

Overview

User Rating:
6.7/10   1,081 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 66% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
Mark Twain (story)
Jill Craigie (writer)
Contact:
View company contact information for Man with a Million on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
18 June 1954 (USA) more
Genre:
Tagline:
Great fun... you can bank on it!
Plot:
Two rich British men offer a penniless American a loan, without telling him that the amount is £1,000,000, and this in the form of a single banknote. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
User Reviews:
A Million Pound Guinea Pig more (13 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Also Known As:
Man with a Million (USA)
more
Runtime:
90 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The prop £1,000,000 note was larger in both size (about 7 x 9 inches) and value than any real note produced by the Bank of England up to that time, even notes for internal use. However, the bank still imposed strict regulations, which were violated when posters advertising the movie showed a reproduction of the note. This had to be covered over before the posters were allowed to be used. more
Goofs:
Anachronisms: When Henry Adams is chasing the bank note you can clearly see modern telephone manhole covers on the pavement and television aerials on the rooftops. more
Quotes:
Mr. Reid: Now what about a cycling suit, Mr. Adams ? Cycling is all the rage nowadays. And then of course there is Ascot.
Henry Adams: I'm not gonna do any cycling and I'm not gonna do any Ascotting. Sailing is my hobby.
Mr. Reid: Ah ! The sport of kings. Very right and proper for a personage such as yourself.
Henry Adams: I thought racing was the sport of kings ?
Mr. Reid: [unperturbed] Then it ought to be sailing !
[to his assistant]
Mr. Reid: Nip in the waist a bit.
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Trading Places (1983) more
Soundtrack:
The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
6 out of 6 people found the following review useful.
A Million Pound Guinea Pig, 3 August 2008
6/10
Author: bkoganbing from Buffalo, New York

The Million Pound Note finds its way into the hands of a penniless American sailor who hasn't a pence to his name as he arrives in the United Kingdom at the turn of the last century. Gregory Peck who plays the sailor by chance runs into two elderly English brothers, Ronald Squires and Wilfrid Hyde-White, both filthy rich and are having an academic discussion around money.

They give Peck a million pound note from the Bank of England and the idea is to present himself as an eccentric American millionaire and for one month live off the reputation of that note. Peck's not to pay one shilling or break the note in any way. He's to live strictly on credit for that month, live I might add in a posh London hotel, typically posh for the 1900 or so.

Before I watched The Million Pound Note tonight I saw a variation on the same theme in Pretty Woman. Julia Roberts goes to a chic Rodeo Drive store in Beverly Hills and the first time arriving in her hooker working clothes, she's shown the door, but quick. But as Richard Gere said to her, they don't respect people, but credit cards yes, the higher the spending limit, the better.

The Million Pound Note was Gregory Peck's first venture into comedy and if you're looking for a lot of gags and belly laughs, skip this film. What you will find is a nice piece of whimsical humor where Peck's essential decency is kind of turned on itself for laughs. He's perfectly willing to be an guinea pig as the two old gents will give him enough money to get back to America.

But in this as in so many films, Peck doesn't count on falling in love with young aristocrat Jane Griffiths. She doesn't mind him being penniless or so she tells him, but snooty aunt Joyce Grenfell sure does when word comes out Peck's a fake.

The Million Pound Note is a good film with Peck in a perfectly suited character for himself. And it proves the old adage that millionaires are eccentric and paupers are just crazy.

Was the above review useful to you?
more (13 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Million Pound Note (1954)

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
Libeled Lady Sullivan's Travels Howards End Special Agent K-7 Shooting Fish
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
IMDb Comedy section IMDb UK section Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.