The Big Money (film): Difference between revisions
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The film was completed in 1956 but its release was cancelled because [[The Rank Organisation|Rank Organisation]] head [[John Davis (British businessman)|Sir John Davis]] did not believe it was sufficiently funny.<ref name="AusMirror" /> |
The film was completed in 1956 but its release was cancelled because [[The Rank Organisation|Rank Organisation]] head [[John Davis (British businessman)|Sir John Davis]] did not believe it was sufficiently funny.<ref name="AusMirror" /> |
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Costing £160,000, according to critic [[Alexander Walker (critic)|Alexander Walker]], Davis reportedly considered it "too terrible to show", although Walker described it in 1993 as "almost indistinguishable from the general run of other Rank products."<ref name="Walker">{{cite news|last=Walker|first=Alexander|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-sir-john-davis-1482592.html|title=Obituary: Sir John Davis|work=The Independent|date=3 July 1993|access-date=30 May 2020}}</ref> It was shelved for two years before a product shortage led to a June 1958 release and screenings on Rank's [[Odeon Cinemas|Odeon]] circuit. |
Costing £160,000, according to critic [[Alexander Walker (critic)|Alexander Walker]], Davis reportedly considered it "too terrible to show", although Walker described it in 1993 as "almost indistinguishable from the general run of other Rank products."<ref name="Walker">{{cite news|last=Walker|first=Alexander|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-sir-john-davis-1482592.html|title=Obituary: Sir John Davis|work=The Independent|date=3 July 1993|access-date=30 May 2020}}</ref> It was shelved for two years before a product shortage - and producer Hugh Stewart's request to re-edit the movie - led to a June 1958 release and screenings on Rank's [[Odeon Cinemas|Odeon]] circuit. |
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==Reception== |
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''Variety'' said "all Stewart’s labors cannot disguise the fact that Davis was right in the first place. Though sparking from an amusing idea, "The Big Money” is funny only in spots. It is bogged down by gag situations that are telegraphed, and feeble dialog... Though it may prove a modest filler in certain British houses, it Will do nobody’s reputation any good if it is entered for U.S. consumption."<ref>[https://archive.org/details/variety211-1958-06/page/n155/mode/1up?q=%22belinda+lee%22 Review of film] at ''Variety''</ref> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{reflist}} |
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Revision as of 13:41, 1 August 2020
| The Big Money | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Movie Poster (1958) | |
| Directed by | John Paddy Carstairs |
| Produced by | Joseph Janni |
| Starring | Ian Carmichael Belinda Lee Kathleen Harrison Jill Ireland |
| Cinematography | Jack Cardiff Jack E. Cox |
| Edited by | Alfred Roome |
| Music by | Van Phillips |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Rank Film Distributors |
Release date | 10 June 1958 |
Running time | 86 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Budget | £160,000[1]£175,000[2] |
The Big Money is a 1958 British comedy film directed by John Paddy Carstairs and starring Ian Carmichael, Belinda Lee and Kathleen Harrison.[3]
Plot
Willie (Ian Carmichael) is the bad seed of a family of thieves (James Hayter, Kathleen Harrison and Jill Ireland). One day, he steals a briefcase from a dodgy clergyman (Robert Helpmann), which is full of pound notes. Unfortunately, the notes all have the same serial number!
He is seduced by "the big money" and starts passing the counterfeits, one bill at a time. Much of his need for money is to impress Gloria (Belinda Lee), the pretty barmaid at his local pub. She dreams of the millionaire who will come and give her the good life. Unfortunately, he cannot pass the fake money fast enough to keep up with her wants.
When she helps herself to some of the counterfeit money, it gets the attention of the police and the mobsters. It all ends in a free-for-all, between the police, Arabs, and mobsters, in disguise. Finally, she has to decide whether she loves him or his money.
_Movie_Poster.jpg)
Partial cast
- Ian Carmichael – Willie Frith
- Belinda Lee – Gloria
- Kathleen Harrison – Mrs Frith
- Jill Ireland – Doreen Frith
- Robert Helpmann – The Reverend
- James Hayter – Mr Frith
- George Coulouris – The Colonel
- Renée Houston – Bobbie
- Michael Brennan – Bluey
- Leslie Phillips – Receptionist
- Harold Berens – Bookmaker
- Hugh Morton – Valet
- Ferdy Mayne – Furrier
- Digby Wolfe – Harry Mason
- Michael Balfour – 'Wilberforce'
Production and release
Diana Dors was originally cast as Gloria but turned down the role.[4]
The film was completed in 1956 but its release was cancelled because Rank Organisation head Sir John Davis did not believe it was sufficiently funny.[2]
Costing £160,000, according to critic Alexander Walker, Davis reportedly considered it "too terrible to show", although Walker described it in 1993 as "almost indistinguishable from the general run of other Rank products."[1] It was shelved for two years before a product shortage - and producer Hugh Stewart's request to re-edit the movie - led to a June 1958 release and screenings on Rank's Odeon circuit.
Reception
Variety said "all Stewart’s labors cannot disguise the fact that Davis was right in the first place. Though sparking from an amusing idea, "The Big Money” is funny only in spots. It is bogged down by gag situations that are telegraphed, and feeble dialog... Though it may prove a modest filler in certain British houses, it Will do nobody’s reputation any good if it is entered for U.S. consumption."[5]
References
- ^ a b Walker, Alexander (3 July 1993). "Obituary: Sir John Davis". The Independent. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
- ^ a b "Star Dust". The Mirror. Perth: National Library of Australia. 4 August 1956. p. 12. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
- ^ BFI.org
- ^ "Diana now wants to play serious roles". Mirror. Vol. 36, , no. 1814. Western Australia. 3 March 1956. p. 11. Retrieved 12 July 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) - ^ Review of film at Variety
External links
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