The Million Pound Note

1953 - Dir: Ronald Neame
Shown at The FeckenOdeon on 25th November, 2005
Now this is a curiosity! A British film with an American star based on an American story and with a screenplay written by the wife of a former leader of the Labour Party. Quite why Gregory Peck ventured across the Atlantic to take part in this bit of British whimsy isn’t clear - though there are suggestions that his reasons might not be dissimilar to those that prompted Joseph Locke’s flights (see below). Apart from Mr Peck it’s spot the British character actor - there are hundreds of them. Familiar faces abound - amongst them a young Joan Hickson and the future boss of EMI Films Bryan Forbes is to be spotted in the hotel lobby. The story is by Mark Twain and was adapted for the screen by Jill Craigie - wife of Michael Foot.The film was edited by Clive Donner who went on to direct such trendy ‘60s delights as “What’s New Pussycat” and “Here We Go Round The Mulberry Bush”.