The Big Money - Film - British Comedy Guide (original) (raw)

The Big Money. Image shows from L to R: Willie Frith (Ian Carmichael), Gloria (Belinda Lee). Copyright: Rank Organisation

Genre

Film

Released

1958

Stars

Ian Carmichael, Belinda Lee, Kathleen Harrison, Robert Helpmann, James Hayter, George Coulouris, Renee Houston, Michael Brennan and more

Writers

John Baines and Patrick Campbell

Director

John Paddy Carstairs

Producer

Earl St. John

Company

Willie Frith may be from a family of petty criminals, but with a gentle streak and ever-present clumsiness he just doesn't seem to have the same natural gift for the family trade as his parents or younger siblings. Each with their own area of criminality expertise, from shoplifting to pick-pocketing, Willie is a bag-snatcher who somehow keeps choosing the wrong bag to swipe.

Desperate to return home with a haul to please his overbearing father for once, 20-something Willie grabs the bag of a Reverend at Victoria station - and is delighted upon opening it to discover thousands of pound notes.

His delight quickly turns to frustration as his father notices that the notes have identical serial numbers: useless forgeries that must be burned. Reasoning that he can spend one at a time to avoid detection, Willie refuses to allow the notes' destruction, and his father throws him out.

However, it's not long before the temptation of beautiful blonde barmaid Gloria has him splashing the cash around a little more freely. The windfall gives the normally shy Willie a new-found confidence to win her heart, but that means spending the money in greater quantities.

And the crooks behind the forgeries are certain to want their money back...

Additional details

UK certificate

U

Duration

86 minutes

UK release

Tuesday 10th June 1958

Produced

1956

Distributors

The Rank Organisation

Production

Studio

Camera set-up

Single camera

Picture

Colour

Soundtrack

Music composed and directed by Van Phillips.

Broadcast details

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Recording details