User reviews

Oliver and Roderick Montpellier, two English brothers, make a bet that any man given a one million pound note, can live off the fat of the land just by showing off the good fortune of having it in his possession. Then, if by the end of a month, if he can show the intact bill, he will indeed be a man worthy of whatever fortunes might befall on him because of the sheer luck of proving the brothers right.

The lucky recipient of the note is one Henry Adams, an American in London who is just a poor man with no money, or prospects of a job in the near future. He tests his good fortune when he decides to dine at a modest restaurant. As the bill comes, he shows his one million pound note, which of course, the owner can't possibly change. The meal is free.

Henry Adams then discovers how he can go through his present situation relying on the fact that he is a millionaire, without really being one. He is given a set of smart clothes, a suite at one of the best hotels in town, and an introduction to high society, something that is not always available to Americans, even rich ones, as Henry appears to be.

This delightful comedy of 1954 was a total surprise. The film, made in England at the famous Pinewood studios, was directed by Ronald Neame. Based on a Mark Twain story, which we haven't read, it counts on the great work of Gregory Peck, a man that was one of the most charismatic performers during his years in the cinema. Mr. Peck is the whole movie; it's unimaginable to think of any other actor playing Henry Adams.

The supporting cast shows familiar faces of consummate English players who contribute to create the Edwardian atmosphere. Ronald Squire and Wilfrid Hyde-White are the Montpellier brothers, whose bet trigger the action. Reginald Beckwith is the mute valet who sticks by Henry through thick and thin. Jane Griffiths plays Portia, the woman that conquers Henry Adams heart. Also in the cast we saw Hugh Griffith, in a non-credited role. Joyce Grenfell, another delightful character actress, has some brilliant moments as the Duchess of Cromarty.

An enjoyable movie. Catch if it ever plays on your classic movie channel. You won't be disappointed!

Arriving home, with a long day of work behind me, and another ahead, I was in the mood for something friendly and undemanding. Ronald Neame's 'The Million Pound Note (1953)' was exactly what the doctor ordered. This lightweight British comedy is, for one, wholly and absolutely pleasant: notice how there is not a single villain in the entire film, every character likable in their own, distinctively-British way. The old family friend, whom we are certain is a grumbling and untrustworthy shyster, turns out to be an honest entrepreneur. The man who arranges to deprive Henry Adams (Gregory Peck) of his wealth is merely a doddering old eccentric who just wants to show some patriotism for a personal lark. This is the sort of film whose conclusion is never in any doubt: Peck will get the girl, achieve happiness, and learn to live without the extravagance to which he thought he would become accustomed. Frankly, I can't imagine the film ending any other way.

When penniless American stowaway Henry Adams (Peck, probably on his way to Italy to film 'Roman Holiday (1953)') requests a small loan from the US embassy in London, he is flatly denied by an indifferent official. However, a pair of childish millionaires (Ronald Squire and Wilfrid Hyde-White) have an even greater plan for him. They loan Henry a rare million pound note, which he is forbidden to cash in, for just a one month engagement. Pretty soon, every store and hotel owner in the city is tripping over themselves to offer him free services, irrationally smitten with the honour of serving a wealthy American, however unorthodox his dress manner may be. Of course, the arrival of "millionaire" Henry Adams doesn't go unnoticed in the high societies of London, and Portia Landsdowne (Jane Griffiths) is soon love-struck with the humble American, though his apparent wealth hinders rather than aids their love affair. Will the couple be together by the film's end? You don't need me to tell you.

Though I had expected 'The Million Pound Note' to be a slightly wooden comedy, it was great to find the film regularly inciting a hearty chuckle. Two moments stand out above all the others. Firstly, Gregory Peck opening the brothers' envelope for the first time to pay for a hearty meal, and dazedly apologising for not having anything smaller (the store-owners accept Henry as an "eccentric millionaire" and offer the meal for free). Secondly, the charity auction event in which the famous American millionaire carefully counts the coins in his hand to bid £82 12s, before inadvertently bidding £5000 for a rather commonplace vase. As lightweight as it may be, the film also aims a few modest jabs at the superficiality and hypocrisy of British society, most of the characters welcoming Henry Adams only when under the impression that he is absurdly wealthy; there's a harsh but all-too-true irony in the fact that Henry can only secure a cash loan once the American embassy believes that he doesn't need it.

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.

A rare foray into British films for Gregory Peck, and the journey seems to have done him good as this film shows him in one of his better performances (alongside Roman Holiday and To Kill a Mockingbird).

Henry Adams is given the million-pound note of the title and is challenged to keep it, intact, for a month. And that's the whole premise of the film - but along the way there is a chase along a windswept street, a dumb strongman, a rich girl, a gold mine, Joyce Grenfell, a bet, and a rather snooty tailor.

The film manages to poke fun both at the Americans and the British, as well as highlighting the class differences still prevalent in this country even today. Henry Adams' plight could be the one of any lottery winner in 2007, although this being movieland, all works out for the best in the end.

Interesting to compare with Mr Deeds Goes To Town, another film about a dotty philanthropist who comes into sudden wealth.

Gregory Peck is a "Man with a Million" in this 1954 British film directed by Ronald Neame. Besides Peck, the stars are Ronald Squire, Wilfrid Hyde-White, Hartley Power, Maurice Denham, Bryan Forbes, and Portia Lansdowne.

An out of work, broke American sailor, Henry Adams (Peck) is given a one million pound bank note by two men who have made a bet. If Adams can return the note in one month, intact, the two gentlemen will help him find work.

Turns out that all he has to do is show the note, and he's showered with clothes, a swanky hotel room, and introductions into high society.

This is a slight but entertaining film about the power of money or even implied money. When Adams goes to get help from the consulate originally, they can't do anything for him. When he shows the note, they offer him a loan. It rings true in today's economy, where wealthy people have no problem getting loans from a bank, but if you really need one - forget it! Peck is young, very handsome, and quite good. All in all, this isn't much, but it is a good watch.

Based on Mark Twain's novel, 'The Millionaire Pound Note' takes an interesting satirical look at the hypocrisy stemming from class distinction in the 50s England. England is a country where class and wealth are given extreme significance, especially among the rich. The film shows the hypocrisy that existed among these people, how the rich are quick to change face when in an instant they find out that you're a man of wealth and how within the next moment they revert back to their condescending selves when all wealth is lost. Interestingly, 'The Millionaire' also briefly looks at how the English perceived Americans in that era. Rich Americans were welcomed as outsiders and the poor were quickly shunned away. The fact that he's an outsider either makes him more appealing or the complete opposite. The story sticks to the main theme by emphasizing on the hypocrisy of the upper class society but at the same time it also creates a balance that prevents the movie from being a mockery of the British society. The movie drags at some point but the love story appears at the right time and there is plenty of comedy to keep one entertained. A charming Gregory Peck totally nails the part and the luminous Jane Griffiths is a treat. Reginald Beckwith, as Peck's sidekick Rock is amusing. The ending is a little predictable but the director does an overall good job by rounding it up and presenting his points.

Also known as Man With A Million, The Million Pound Note is based on a short story by Mark Twain called "The Million Pound Bank Note". It's directed by Ronald Neame {The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie/The Poseidon Adventure } and stars Gregory Peck {To Kill A Mockingbird/Cape Fear}, Ronald Squire, Joyce Grenfell, Jane Griffiths & Reginald Beckwith .

It's Edwardian England and American seaman Henry Adams ( Peck) is stranded and down on his luck. That is until he becomes embroiled in an unusual wager between two wealthy, eccentric brothers, Oliver (Ronald Squire) and Roderick Montpelier (Wilfrid Hyde-White). Giving him an envelope, they tell him that it contains some money but that he must not open it till 14.00. Thinking they are crack pots he goes along with it anyway, and much to his amazement the envelope contains a one million pound note (£1,000,000). It transpires that Oliver believes that the mere existence of the note will enable Adams to obtain whatever he needs without spending a penny, while Roderick contends that it would actually have to be spent for it to be of any use. Hence the bet is on and a promise of a job for Henry if he can go for a month without breaking into the note.

Chirpy yet astutely cynical is The Million Pound Note. The laughs come courtesy of the ridiculous way that people react to money and those that have plenty of it. As Henry {a wonderfully cast Peck} moves from penniless bum to upstanding wealthy gentleman, without spending anything, the moral of the story is blatantly obvious. Very much a forerunner to the Eddie Murphy starrer Trading Places in 1983, it also has similarities with Twain's own The Prince And The Pauper, themes that always produce interesting results as regards the human condition. There's the obligatory romance angle in the piece, which thankfully doesn't cloy the picture at all, and Neame has an array of interesting characters from which to keep the story zippy {watch out for a delightful turn from Reginald Beckwith as Rock}. A real safe recommendation this one, across the board it works well, both as a comedy, and as a wry observation. 7/10

I almost gave this film a 7--it was very close. This film is based closely on the Mark Twain story of the same name.

The film begins with Gregory Peck--alone and penniless in London. He doesn't even have the money for a meal or a place to stay. It's so bad that when a little kid throws a partially eaten pear on the ground that he's tempted to pick it up and eat it...when out of the blue, two gentlemen call to him from the balcony above. He is escorted up and they treat him kindly. After inquiring about his circumstances, they assure him that they'll make him a loan and not to worry. They hand him an envelope and instruct him to go buy himself dinner.

A cursory look in the envelope shows that there is indeed money inside, but when it comes time to pay the bill, he discovers that it's a million pound note (a fictional amount, by the way) and the people in the restaurant cannot possibly make change. However, they don't seem the least bit interested in his paying and immediately extend him any credit he wants. The note along with the money, by the way, tells him that he's to have the money at no interest and he's expected to return it in one month.

Later, when he goes to buy a decent set of clothes, they treat him like a bum--until they see the million pound note--at which case, once again, he's given unlimited credit and they dote on him. The same thing then happens when he goes to stay at a fancy nearby hotel. Word soon spreads all over London and now suddenly EVERYBODY wants to be his friend and extend him credit.

There's a lot more that occurs in the film--particularly in regard to how the Brits view social class and wealth as well as the whole idea of being a celebrity for celebrity's sake. It's all rather droll and mildly amusing, though not as wonderful as it could have been. I am having a hard time putting my finger on why, as Gregory Peck was terrific. Perhaps it's the way everything comes together perfectly in the end--regardless, it's a very good film but one that left me feeling a tad...well...flat.

Imagine a cross between Brewster's Millions and Trading Places, and you'll get Gregory Peck's Man with a Million. Wilfrid Hyde-White and Ronald Squire, are rich and idle brothers looking for a little fun. They come up with a bet: give a total stranger a million pound note, and tell him that if he lasts a month without spending it, they'll give him a good job. One man thinks it's the knowledge of having untouchable wealth that will propel the pauper into the high life, and the other thinks he'll have to spend it to get ahead. Greg plays the Man with a Million, or in other countries' release, the man with The Million Pound Note.

If you like those types of movies, you'll like this one, since it doesn't stray very far from the usual mold. There's a moral debate, lots of jokes, lots of satire about the upper class—it stems from a Mark Twain story—and a fair amount of silliness. Plus, it's a period piece and Greg looks very handsome in his beautiful clothes, so you'll have plenty of eye candy. If you're looking for a more serious Gregory Peck movie, you've got tons to choose from, but it's nice to see him step out from his Atticus Finch person and have some silly fun every once in a while.

Two elderly brothers, wealthy English gentlemen, establish a wager. They entrust a million-pound banknote to a penniless American, to see if he can live for a month purely on the good will which the note will engender, without ever having to cash it.

Gregory Peck plays Henry Adams, the innocent American, in this stodgy romantic comedy, based on a Mark Twain story. His love interest Portia Lansdowne is played by Jane Griffiths. The film is really just one gag, strung out for 90 minutes - a pauper has no friends, whereas a millionaire is surrounded by sycophancy and limitless credit. Markets deal in confidence, rather than cash.

The film is unarguably well-made. The performances are sharp, the incidental music comments neatly on the action and the 'look' is sumptuous. And yet there is something flat about Ronald Neame's direction, and the laughs are rather thin on the ground.

Verdict - Ostensibly a good idea, but not enough to support a full-length film.

As others have noted this is a one-joke comedy with the joke scarcely strong enough to carry the 90 mins. The movie is at its worst w hen it strains too hard to be funny with much pulling of flabbergasted faces and one ludicrous scene when the `note', obviously on a string, blows away and Peck dementedly chases it through the busy streets of Victorian London.

Gregory as the American Everyman excused from the English Class System looks and sounds fine if a little smug in a few scenes where possession of the eponymous note gives him the upper hand.

The big cast of British character actors including always enjoyable Joyce Grenfell as a dotty duchess in a slight variation on her usual jolly-hockey sticks character makes this fable on capitalism just about worth a look. Special mention also to A.E. Mathews striking just the right note as an antediluvian peer.

I found curious the billing of Ronald Squire and Wilfred Hyde-White, playing the brothers behind the scheme. They have exactly equal time at the beginning and end of the story but Squire is listed second with Hyde-White fifteenth! I'm sure Wilfred of My Fair Lady fame is the one remembered today.

Please note alternative title `Man with a Million'

The opening credits tell us this was from a mark twain story. Gregory peck, just after his big break, roman holiday. While looking for work, henry adams meets two brothers, who propose a bet with him. If he can return the one million pound note to them in a month, he can have whatever job he wants. Sound familiar? This has some similarities to trading places from 1983. This version has ups, downs, and adventures with other people, and charities, which expect a large donation from him. That, and the fact that because of his name, everyone thinks he comes from a rich family. Co-stars joyce grenfell as the duchess... she was mrs. Barham in the americanization of emily. It's a fun mis-understanding of mis-adventures. Directed by ron neame; nominated for three oscars. On movieland tv, it's called million pound note, but in imdb, it's man with a million.

This film is mainly Gregory Peck just being Gregory Peck, and that is good enough for most of us. The setting is England around 1890 - what Mark Twain called the Gilded Age (specifically not the Golden Age), and it is from one of his stories that the film was adapted.

The plot is certainly original and fun, but it doesn't half creak along the way. An American sailor finds himself stranded and starving in London, where a pair of rich eccentrics think it's a giggle to lend him a million-pound note to see whether he can live on credit for a month and return it to them, after which they will guarantee him a job. Sure enough, every supplier in town is mesmerised by the note (and naturally, unable to give change for it), so Peck does indeed live the high life, free on the house.

That provides an excuse for a rich panorama of high-society events, including a stock-market crisis, and I envy the theatrical costumier who got the contract for all those top hats and morning coats. Here the production was helped by a particularly good use of early Technicolor, which serves to heighten the atmosphere. And the cast-list is stupendous - Joyce Grenfell, Maurice Denham, Bryan Forbes, Hugh Griffith, Joan Hickson, Wilfrid Hyde-White being only a minute sample of the unusually large company.

We need not dwell on the let-downs. A silly piece of business with the banknote blowing about in the wind. Confusion over the reactions of Peck's new girlfriend to his wealth or non-wealth. A mute weightlifter arriving by very contrived means to become Peck's sidekick. And a surprisingly unconvincing performance from the veteran A.E. Matthews, more reciting than acting. But there's an unchanging moral to the story, about the bogus friendships that are born of perceived wealth.

This movie is a humorous take on the concept of monetary status, and how the idea of perceived wealth is more important than the actual possession of said wealth. While the movie does not compare to the genius of To Kill A Mockingbird and isn't half as charming as Roman Holiday, it is a feel-good movie in and of itself.

The American protagonist is down on his luck, trying to find a way to sustain himself on British soil - a situation he finds himself quite on accident. Two eccentric British gentlemen have a wager between themselves and choose this American man to help them reach a conclusion. He is handed a one-million-pound banknote and is sent out into the streets to live on it for 30 days. The man, Henry Adams (Gregory Peck), is not told much about the wager. He finds himself in a series of interesting situations that ultimately lead to one of the Britons winning the bet.

The movie is based on a short story by celebrated author, Mark Twain, and I'd have to admit, I liked the short story better. Some creative liberties were taken in the movie, and I preferred the original version in the story. Moreover, the novelty wore off fairly quickly. It would have been more interesting with some other witty elements, but it was a nice movie nevertheless. I enjoyed the idea of the story and how the movie talks about our society and the economic influence people enjoy due to the concept of perceived wealth.

The acting department mainly features Gregory Peck, as he has the maximum screen-time, and he does well with what he has been given. The female lead, Jane Griffiths, appears quite late into the movie, and even then does not have much to do. The supporting cast includes actors that were funny enough, but not so memorable in their respective roles. Overall, the movie was pleasant enough but can only be considered a one-time watch.

This is good stuff, eh what? Written by Mark Twain and starring Gregory Peck, The Million Pound Note is a can't miss opportunity for movie lovers. With a sound supporting cast and a storyline that gets more preposterous by the minute, this movie will have you laughing in no time. It has the feel of a great Christmas film, even though it has nothing to do with Christmas. You will kick yourself if you miss this comedy.

This is a totally undemanding film. It's fun, easy, harmless and engaging.

The million pound note is from a bygone era.

That's why it's so enjoyable.

Plus a million other reasons.