I Like Money (1961)
"Mr. Topaze" (original title)

Mr. Topaze ('Peter Sellers' ) is an unassuming school teacher in an unassuming small French town who is honest to a fault. He is fired when he refuses to give a passing grade to a bad ... See full summary »

Director:

Peter Sellers

Writers:

Marcel Pagnol (play), Pierre Rouve

Stars:

Peter Sellers, Nadia Gray, Herbert Lom

Cast

Credited cast:
Peter Sellers	...	Auguste Topaze
Nadia Gray	...	Suzy
Herbert Lom	...	Castel Benac
Leo McKern	...	Muche
Martita Hunt	...	Baroness
Michael Gough	...	Tamise
Anne Leon	...	Mrs. Tamise
Billie Whitelaw	...	Ernestine
Joan Sims	...	Colette
John Neville	...	Roger
John Le Mesurier	...	Blackmailer
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Michael Sellers	...	Gaston
Pauline Shepherd	...	Lilette

Storyline

Mr. Topaze ('Peter Sellers' ) is an unassuming school teacher in an unassuming small French town who is honest to a fault. He is fired when he refuses to give a passing grade to a bad student, the grandson of a wealthy baroness. Castel Benac (Herbert Lom), a government official who runs a crooked financial business on the side, is persuaded by his mistress, Suzy (Nadia Gray), a musical comedy actress, to hire Mr. Topaze as the front man for his business. Gradually, Topaze becomes a rapacious financier who sacrifices his honesty for success and, in a final stroke of business bravado, fires Benac and acquires Suzy in the deal. An old friend and colleague, Tamise (Michael Gough) questions him and tells Topaze that if what he now says and practices indicates there are no more honest men.

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Plot Keywords:

remake | based on play

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Taglines:

From Teacher To Tycoon In Ten Light-Fingered Lessons!

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

September 1962 (USA)

Also Known As:

I Like Money

Filming Locations:

MGM British Studios, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Dimitri De Grunwald Production

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The British Film Institute has the only known copy of this film.

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Connections

Version of Topaze (1933)

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Soundtracks

"I Like Money"
Music by George Martin
Lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer

User Reviews

Peter Sellers' forgotten film

A few know that Peter Sellers once-apart from starring-directed a film! This was "Mr.Topaze" or "I Like money"(as it was screened by that name in the US). Actually, it is not a masterpiece, but not a poor film too, as the reviews of its time claimed. Peter plays a naive teacher, a man of spirit who is corrupted by money and power. What is very interesting is that the film has quite many "serious" moments and Peter depicts the teacher with accuracy. What's more, the film's finale isn't comic at all. Pity this film was never released on VHS on DVD(but it is never too late, is it?)!