The Wrong Box (1966)

In Victorian England, a fortune now depends on which of two brothers outlives the other, or can be made to have seemed to do so.

Director:

Bryan Forbes

Writers:

Robert Louis Stevenson (suggested by a novel by), Lloyd Osbourne (suggested by a novel by)

Stars:

John Mills, Michael Caine, Ralph Richardson

Won 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
John Mills	...	Masterman Finsbury
Ralph Richardson	...	Joseph Finsbury
Michael Caine	...	Michael Finsbury
Peter Cook	...	Morris Finsbury
Dudley Moore	...	John Finsbury
Nanette Newman	...	Julia Finsbury
Tony Hancock	...	Detective
Peter Sellers	...	Doctor Pratt
Cicely Courtneidge	...	Major Martha
Wilfrid Lawson	...	Peacock - the Butler
Thorley Walters	...	Lawyer Patience
Gerald Sim	...	1st Undertaker
Peter Graves	...	Military Officer
Irene Handl	...	Mrs. Hackett
Norman Bird	...	Clergyman

Storyline

A tontine is established for twenty boys in 1818 England, a tontine being a kind of insurance wager in which money is invested by each participant, to grow with interest, with the last survivor to get the substantial payout. We watch the group dwindle until only two elderly brothers are left in 1882. One brother is watched by his nephews who will keep him alive at all costs. The other lives in ill health and poverty as the only support of his perpetually confused grandson. Statues and bodies are switched, in the wrong boxes, until everyone is sure that one (or both) of the brothers has died. Now if they can only make it seem as if the other brother died first, over a hundred thousand pounds sterling (in Victorian England, when a pound was a pound) will be theirs.

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Plot Keywords:

tontine | falling into an open grave | wooden crate | wooden barrel | steam locomotive | 

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Taglines:

Virtuous maidens...cunning cousins...dastardly deeds...bodies in barrels...and boxes and boxes of boxes!

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English Swahili

Release Date:

1 July 1966 (UK)

Also Known As:

13.000.000 dollaria zitoun klironomo

Filming Locations:

Englefield Green, Surrey, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Salamander Film Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Cicely Courtneidge: As Major Martha.

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Goofs

The Victorian-age London houses have TV antennae on them.

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Quotes

Peacock: How's your grandfather this morning?
Michael Finsbury: He says he's dying, Peacock.
Peacock: Oh, he always says that.
Michael Finsbury: But Peacock, he wants to see his brother Joseph...
Peacock: He must be dying.

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Crazy Credits

One poster has 'of "Ipcress File" fame' after Michael Caine's name.

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Connections

References Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949)

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Soundtracks

A Bird in a Gilded Cage
(1900) (uncredited)
Music by Harry von Tilzer
In the score for Michael and Julia's kissing scenes

User Reviews

Misadventures and wry wit galore!

I've recently bought this video not only to hear the music, which I do enjoy, but to be honest, it's the amusing shenanigans of the fortune seekers which I find so amusing. What will they think of next! Of course Michael Caine is his charming, adorable self, and his lady love, Julia, is captivating in her Victorian role of modesty personified, such a charming couple. I never thought John Mills could be so funny as he plays his role to the hilt, being very active for an ailing elderly family member. Peter Sellers' role as the absentminded Dr. Pratt would be hard to top as a performance. He certainly has a way with kittens and ink! It's the highlight of the movie, I'd say. The ending is hilarious and I'm still trying to figure it out as there's confusion galore. Altogether a very enjoyable film that you won't forget.