Man with a Million

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.

Although based upon a tale by an American, the idea of being given a note for a million pounds would have had a potent resonance in postwar austerity Britain.

Mark Twain's satirical angle may have been blunted by the all-pervading tone of whimsy. But the young Gregory Peck had the lean & hungry look that his circumstances required.

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.

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.

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.