Hot Millions (1968)

A Cockney con-artist just out of prison replaces an insurance company's computer programmer and sends claim checks to himself in various guises at addresses all over Europe. Meanwhile, he ... See full summary »

Director:

Eric Till

Writers:

Ira Wallach, Peter Ustinov

Stars:

Peter Ustinov, Maggie Smith, Karl Malden

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Peter Ustinov	...	Marcus Pendleton / Caesar Smith
Maggie Smith	...	Patty Terwilliger Smith
Karl Malden	...	Carlton J. Klemper
Bob Newhart	...	Willard C. Gnatpole
Robert Morley	...	Caesar Smith
Cesar Romero	...	Customs Inspector

Storyline

A Cockney con-artist just out of prison replaces an insurance company's computer programmer and sends claim checks to himself in various guises at addresses all over Europe. Meanwhile, he falls in love with inept secretary and frustrated flutist, Maggie Smith.

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Plot Keywords:

computer | con artist | impostor | brazil | computer cracker | 

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Taglines:

This is a picture of a perfect embezzler.

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime

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Certificate:

G

Details

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 January 1969 (Finland)

Also Known As:

A Máquina de Fazer Milhões

Filming Locations:

Apple Boutique - 94 Baker Street, Baker Street, Marylebone, London, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

106 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the film Maggie Smith takes Bob Newhart shopping where she is seen trying on clothes and buying an outfit for £20 at the Apple Boutique on Baker Street, London, a boutique owned and operated by The Beatles. The boutique, which was the first venture of their Apple Corps Ltd company, and featured a large psychedelic mural on the external wall, was only operated for several months in 1968 before being closed down and the contents given away to the public for free. Hot Millions provides one of the few rare filmed glimpses of the boutique's interior.

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Quotes

Patty: A woman's place is in the home... making money!

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Soundtracks

"This Time"
Words by Don Black
Music by Laurie Johnson
Sung by Lulu

User Reviews

Sir Peter Ustinov as a hacker, Dame Maggie Smith as a dolly bird - what's not to like?

Those who only remember the late Sir Peter Ustinov as Hercule Poirot or a professional raconteur would do well to seek out this charming piece of late '60s satire. Ustinov stars as a convicted embezzler (we first see him during his last day in gaol where he is preparing the prison governor's tax return) who, sensing that the future is in computers, poses (by means of a deft piece of identity theft) as a computer expert and sets out to infiltrate an American multinational.

Ustinov (who co-wrote the script) is on top form, as is the delightful Maggie Smith, here unusually cast as an accident-prone cockney-sparrow dolly bird. Bob Newhart also puts in an amusing performance as a suspicious executive who has designs on Maggie Smith. In addition, Karl Malden is satisfyingly sleazy as Ustinov and Newhart's womanising boss.

What do I particularly like about this film? Not only is it a well-thought-out 'caper movie' but it's also a touching little love story; Ustinov and Smith are very convincing as the two misfits stumbling into love (the whole scene involving the deck of cards is particularly effective.)

So, what is there not to like? Well, the script is no more computer-literate than most films (that is, hardly at all) even though it captures the feel of late '60s 'big iron' business computing quite well. Also there are a couple of small plot glitches that you're not likely to notice until the second or third viewing, but I consider these to be minor niggles.

As I said, this is a film which is well worth seeking out, and after you've seen it once you'll want to see it again at regular intervals.