The Million Pound Note (1954)

'The Million Pound Note' is an adaptation of the 1893 Mark Twain short story 'The Million Pound Bank Note' and directed by the prolific Ronald Neame ('The Man Who Never Was', 'Scrooge', 'The Prime of Miss Jane Brodie', 'The Poseidon Adventure'). A precursor to 'Trading Places' the story hinges on a bet between two wealthy English brothers on wither or not they can pass a poor American off as a millionaire. Said American is played by Gregory Peck, his love interest by Jane Griffiths, everyone here does a passable job but there are no stand out performances. At first the movie is largely the same gage repeated, people assume Peck is a dead beat until he shows them the titular million pound note, part of the bet he reluctantly enters into is that if doesn't cash it within a month the rich brothers will give him any job he wants. So Peck finds that the impression of wealth can get you all sorts of free benefits, until it doesn't. A fair outing but nothing exceptional. **