By Frank Miller
The Big Money
Brief Synopsis
A thief falls into a series of troubles after stealing a suitcase full of bank notes with the same serial number.
Cast & Crew
Read More
John Paddy Carstairs
Director
Ian Carmichael
Willie Frith
Belinda Lee
Gloria
Kathleen Harrison
Mrs. Frith
James Hayter
Mr. Frith
Jill Ireland
Doreen Frith
Film Details
Genre
Comedy
Crime
Release Date
Mar
1962
Premiere Information
not available
Production Company
Rank Organisation
Distribution Company
Lopert Pictures
Country
United Kingdom
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 26m
Sound
Mono
Color
Color (Technicolor)
Theatrical Aspect Ratio
1.96 : 1
Synopsis
The Frith family supports itself by picking pockets and shoplifting. The family is chagrined, however, by eldest son Willie's criminal incompetence. When the youth steals a suitcase filled with money from a clergyman, the loot is found to be bogus. Although his family suggests burning the counterfeit currency, Willie converts the bills to legal tender and takes up with Gloria, a barmaid in a London hotel. Disguised as Arabs, the clerical counterfeiter and his henchmen track Willie to the hotel. A brawl ensues, and Willie and the gangsters are arrested. Humiliated by their son's conviction, the Friths disown Willie. Despite this desertion Willie enters prison happily, secure in the knowledge that Gloria has promised to wait for him.
Director
John Paddy Carstairs
Director
Cast
Ian Carmichael
Willie Frith
Belinda Lee
Gloria
Kathleen Harrison
Mrs. Frith
James Hayter
Mr. Frith
Jill Ireland
Doreen Frith
Renee Houston
Bobby
Michael Brennan
Bluey
Digby Wolfe
Harry Mason
Robert Helpmann
The Reverend
George Coulouris
The colonel
Leslie Phillips
The Receptionist
Harold Berens
The Bookmaker
Crew
John Baines
Story & Screenplay
Patrick Campbell
Addl material
Jack Cardiff
Camera
Jack Cox
Director of Photography
Cedric Dawe
Art Director
Joseph Janni
Producer
Van Phillips
Music
Alfred Roome
Film Editor
Desmond Saunders
Sound
Don Sharpe
Sound
Earl St. John
Executive Producer
Hugh Stewart
Re-ed (see note)
Jack Swinburne
Production Manager
Film Details
Genre
Comedy
Crime
Release Date
Mar
1962
Premiere Information
not available
Production Company
Rank Organisation
Distribution Company
Lopert Pictures
Country
United Kingdom
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 26m
Sound
Mono
Color
Color (Technicolor)
Theatrical Aspect Ratio
1.96 : 1
Articles
The Big Money
Ian Carmichael, best known here as Sir Peter Wimsey, the society sleuth on Masterpiece Theatre, stars as a young man trying to hold up the family tradition of thievery. He steels a clergyman's briefcase only to discover it's filled with counterfeit bills. Can he pass them in time to impress greedy barmaid Belinda Lee and avoid the police, the original counterfeiters and a pair of con-men all out to get him?
Carmichael was not happy with the script and, with Bryan Forbes, tried to re-write it only to have his revisions rejected. The film was held on the shelf for two years because The Rank Organizaton considered it unreleasable. Then another director who was looking to use footage shot at Ascot convinced the studio to let him recut the film.
By Frank Miller
By Frank Miller
The Big Money
Ian Carmichael, best known here as Sir Peter Wimsey, the society sleuth on Masterpiece Theatre, stars as a young man trying to hold up the family tradition of thievery. He steels a clergyman's briefcase only to discover it's filled with counterfeit bills. Can he pass them in time to impress greedy barmaid Belinda Lee and avoid the police, the original counterfeiters and a pair of con-men all out to get him?
Carmichael was not happy with the script and, with Bryan Forbes, tried to re-write it only to have his revisions rejected. The film was held on the shelf for two years because The Rank Organizaton considered it unreleasable. Then another director who was looking to use footage shot at Ascot convinced the studio to let him recut the film.
By Frank Miller
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
Location scenes filmed in London and Ascot. Produced in 1956; opened in London in Technicolor in May 1958; running time: 86 min. Prior to British release the film was reedited by Hugh Stewart; producer Janni removed his name from the screen credits.
