The Million Pound Note

Two wealthy brothers in London make a bet: can a man survive holding a single one-million-pound note that he cannot get changed. The subject of the wager is a penniless American sailor. Everywhere he shows the note he is given free credit, and without spending a penny he starts being treated as rich. The subject is not money but reputation itself working as currency. Nobody changes the note, because whoever does will look like the loser of the bet; everyone extends him credit and nobody collects. The whole system turns on an appearance. The form is polite English comedy. The tone is light, the scenes short, and the humour comes from timing rather than display. The sequence in the tailor's shop is the one people remember. The source is Mark Twain's story from 1893. Ronald Neame directs; the film was released in America as Man with a Million. Gregory Peck leads, with Ronald Squire and Joyce Grenfell in the cast. Who it is for: viewers who like fifties British comedy and short, clean narratives. Who it is not for: anyone expecting depth; the film takes one idea and turns it over for ninety minutes.