The Million Pound Note (released as Man with a Million and as Big Money in the U.S.) is a 1954 British comedy, directed by Ronald Neame and starring Gregory Peck. It is based on the Mark Twain short story, "The Million Pound Bank Note".
Plot summary
In 1903, American seaman Henry Adams (Gregory Peck) is stranded penniless in England and gets caught up in an unusual wager between two wealthy, eccentric brothers, Oliver (Ronald Squire) and Roderick Montpelier (Wilfrid Hyde-White). They persuade the Bank of England to issue a one million pound banknote, which they present to Adams in an envelope (only telling him that it contains some money). The reason for this is that Oliver believes that the mere existence of the note will enable the possessor to obtain whatever he needs, while Roderick contends that it would actually have to be spent for it to be of any use.
Once Adams gets over the shock of discovering how much the note is worth, he tries to return it to the brothers, but is told that they have left for a month. He then finds a letter in the envelope, explaining the wager and promising him a job if he can avoid spending the note for the month.
At first, everything goes as Oliver had predicted. Adams is mistaken for an eccentric millionaire and has no trouble getting food, clothes and a hotel suite on credit, just by showing his note. The story of the note is reported in the newspapers. Adams is welcomed into exclusive social circles, meeting the American ambassador and English aristocracy. He becomes very friendly with Portia Lansdowne (Jane Griffiths), the niece of the Duchess of Cromarty.
Then, fellow American Lloyd Hastings (Hartley Power) asks him to back a business venture. Hastings tells Adams that he does not have to put up any money himself; the mere association will allow Hastings to raise the money he needs to start up a gold mine by selling shares.
Trouble arises when the Duke of Frognal (A. E. Matthews), who had been unceremoniously evicted from the suite Adams now occupies, hides the note as a joke. When Adams is unable to produce the note, panic breaks out amongst the shareholders and Adams' creditors. All is straightened out in the end, and Adams is able to return the note to the Montpelier brothers at the end of the month.
Cast
- Gregory Peck as Henry Adams
- Ronald Squire as Oliver Montpelier
- Wilfrid Hyde-White as Roderick Montpelier
- Jane Griffiths as Portia Lansdowne
- Joyce Grenfell as Duchess of Cromarty
- A. E. Matthews as Duke of Frognal
- Maurice Denham as Mr. Reid
- Reginald Beckwith as Rock
- Brian Oulton as Lloyd
- John Slater as Parsons
- Wilbur Evans as American ambassador
- Hartley Power as Hastings
- George Devine as Restaurant proprietor
- Bryan Forbes as Todd
- Gudrun Ure as Renie (Ann Gudrun)
- Hugh Wakefield as Duke of Cromarty
- Felix Felton as Alfred (uncredited)
Production
The novel had been adapted for British TV in 1950 by Rex Rienits. Producer Daniel Angel bought the film rights to the adaptation.
References
External links
- The Million Pound Note at the Internet Movie Database
- The Million Pound Note at the TCM Movie Database
- The Million Pound Note at AllMovie
