The Million Pound Note (also called Man With a Million and Big Money) is a 1954 British comedy film directed by Ronald Neame and starring Gregory Peck, based on a short story by Mark Twain.
A mishap while sailing results in Henry Adams being stranded in England with no money. He gets caught up in a wager between two brothers, and is given a one million pound banknote, but there's a catch: he must not spend the banknote for a month. As soon as word gets out, Mr. Adams is treated like a millionaire. Naturally, things start to go wrong.
Contains examples of:
- Accidental Bid: Henry, while at an auction, waves at a child. The auctioneer thinks he's bidding.
- Aristocrats Are Evil: Subverted. The Duke of Frognal is a bit of a jerk, but he isn't evil; he only hides the note for a joke, and returns it as soon as he sees the trouble it causes Henry.
- Eccentric Millionaire:
- Everyone thinks Henry is this.
- The Montpelier brothers really are this. They have a million pound banknote created, give it to a random stranger, and promise him a job if he avoids spending it for a month, just for a bet.
- The Edwardian Era: The film is set in 1903.
- Epic Fail: The hotel staff's attempt at carrying Rock's "suitcase".
- Old-Fashioned Rowboat Date: Between Henry and Portia.
- Mistaken Identity: A hotel is expecting Henry at any minute. Rock, a bodybuilder, happens to walk by. Naturally, the hotel staff mistake him for Henry. Hilarity Ensues.
- Oh, Crap!: Henry and Rock, when they realise the note is missing.
- The Speechless: Rock is unable to speak.
- Zillion-Dollar Bill: The titular note, obviously. The difficulties created by a banknote for such a large sum are part of the bet.
