The Big Money (film)
| The Big Money | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Movie Poster (1958) | |
| Directed by | John Paddy Carstairs |
| Produced by | Joseph Janni |
| Starring |
Ian Carmichael Belinda Lee |
| Music by | Van Phillips |
| Cinematography |
Jack Cardiff Jack E. Cox |
| Edited by | Alfred Roome |
| Distributed by | The Rank Organisation |
Release dates | 1958 |
Running time | 86 mins |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Budget | ₤175,000[1] |
The Big Money is a 1958 British comedy film directed by John Paddy Carstairs and starring Ian Carmichael, Belinda Lee and Kathleen Harrison.[2]
Diana Dors was originally cast as Gloria but turned down the role because she did not want to work with Joseph Janni. Once the film was completed its release was delayed for several years because Sir John Davis did not believe it was sufficiently funny.[1]
Plot
Ian Carmichael as Willie is the bad seed of a family of thieves (father James Hayter, mother Kathleen Harrison, and sister, Jill Ireland). One day he heists 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 the pretty barmaid (Belinda Lee) Gloria, at his local pub. She dreams of the millionaire who will come and give her the good life. Unfortunately, he can't pass the counterfeits fast enough to keep up with her aspirations; until, she's up to a mink coat. When she helps herself to some of the counterfeits, 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 the big money; and, he'll find out if it was all counterfeit.[3]
_Movie_Poster.jpg)
Partial cast
- Ian Carmichael – Willie Frith
- Belinda Lee – Gloria
- Kathleen Harrison – Mrs Frith
- Jill Ireland – Doreen Firth
- Robert Helpmann – Reverend
- James Hayter – Mr Frith
- George Coulouris – 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'
References
- 1 2 "Star Dust.". The Mirror. Perth: National Library of Australia. 4 August 1956. p. 12. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
- ↑ http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/25782
- ↑ "The Big Money (1958)". Retrieved 1 July 2013.