Hot Millions (1968)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Director:

Eric Till

Writers:

Ira Wallach (writer) and
Peter Ustinov (writer)

Release Date:

17 January 1969 (Finland)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime

Plot:

A Cockney con-artist just out of prison replaces an insurance company's computer programmer and sends...

Plot Keywords:

Computer | Con Artist | Cleaning Woman | Embezzler | Computer Fraud

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 nomination

Cast

Peter Ustinov	...	Marcus Pendleton / Caesar Smith
Maggie Smith	...	Patty Terwilliger Smith
Karl Malden	...	Carlton J. Klemper
Bob Newhart	...	Willard C. Gnatpole
Robert Morley	...	Caesar Smith
Cesar Romero	...	Customs Inspector

Runtime:

106 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | USA:G | UK:U

Filming Locations:

MGM British Studios, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

In the film Maggie Smith takes Bob Newhart shopping where she is seen trying on clothes and buying an outfit for £20 at the Apple Boutique on Baker Street, London, a boutique owned and operated by The Beatles. The boutique, which was the first venture of their Apple Corps Ltd company, and featured a large psychedelic mural on the external wall, was only operated for several months in 1968 before being closed down and the contents given away to the public for free. Hot Millions provides one of the few rare filmed glipmses of the boutique's interior.

Quotes:

Marcus Pendleton: 'Ere! You watch your tongue! Any idiot can steal. *I* been em-*bezz*-lin'!

Soundtrack:

This Time

Magic moments

This movie is now appearing on digital TV at least once a month, I've watched it a dozen or more times, and it never ceases to delight me. If it was on tomorrow I'd watch it again. Such is the artistry that Peter Ustinov and Maggie Smith, two great magicians of the acting profession can create, helped in no small way by the superb supporting trio of Karl Malden, Bob Newhart and Robert Morley. Not forgetting others in minor roles.

It is a simple tale, simply told, of an ex-con, a lovable embezzler, battling and succeeding with the then "new age technology" i.e computers, and finding affection in the process. Even if it is a tad (tongue in cheek) implausible, even unbelievable, the characters are not. There is no violence, no sex, no bad language, and best of all no awful method acting which is so prevalent today. A real lesson to modern movie-makers on how to make a great show from, and with, virtually nothing...except outstanding talent.