Million Pound Note, The (1954) – Nostalgia Central

Mark Twain’s vintage comedic short story The Million Pound Note is the subject of this Technicolor film from Pinewood starring Gregory Peck, pretty newcomer Jane Griffiths, and a top-flight British cast.

American seaman Henry Adams (Peck) finds himself penniless, hungry, and friendless in Edwardian London when a couple of wealthy, eccentric old brothers – Oliver and Roderick Montpelier (Ronald Squire and Wilfrid Hyde-White)  – call him into their luxurious mansion house, hand him an envelope with instructions not to open it until 2.00 pm, and send him on his way.

After enjoying a huge meal, he hopefully opens the envelope and incredulously gazes at a million-pound note.

The brothers have had a bet about reactions to the bank note. Oliver asserts that the mere existence of the note will enable the possessor to obtain whatever he needs.

Roderick insists that it would have to be spent for it to be of any use.

Henry cannot cash the note, but the brothers promise him a job if he can avoid spending the note for the month.

As Oliver had predicted, the simple possession of the note enables Henry to live like a lord and amass a fortune.

The mere sight of the note brings him unlimited credit, takes him into London society, and causes violent fluctuations on the Stock Exchange.

As he meets the American ambassador and English aristocracy, he becomes enamoured with Portia Lansdowne (Jane Griffiths), the niece of the Duchess of Cromarty (Joyce Grenfell).

Trouble arises when the Duke of Frognal (A.E. Matthews) – who had been unceremoniously evicted from the suite Henry now occupies – hides the note as a joke.

When Henry is unable to produce the note, panic breaks out amongst his creditors. Society’s doors are firmly bolted, and incensed creditors and speculators storm his hotel mob-handed.

All is straightened out in the end, and he is able to return the note to the Montpelier brothers at the end of the month.

Released in some markets as Man with a Million.

Henry Adams
Gregory Peck
Oliver Montpelier
Ronald Squire
Roderick Montpelier
Wilfrid Hyde-White
Duchess of Cromarty
Joyce Grenfell
Duke of Cromarty
Hugh Wakefield
Duke of Frognal
A.E. Matthews
Portia Lansdowne
Jane Griffiths
Jonathan Reid
Maurice Denham
Rock
Reginald Beckwith
Lloyd
Brian Oulton
Parsons
John Slater
American Ambassador
Wilbur Evans
Lloyd Hastings
Hartley Power
Todd
Bryan Forbes
Renie
Gudrun Ure (as Ann Gudrun)
Mr Garrett
Ernest Thesiger
Chop House Proprietor
George Devine

Director
Ronald Neame

Video