Watch The Million Pound Note

The Million Pound Note is a 1954 British comedy film directed by Ronald Neame and starring Gregory Peck as Henry Adams, a penniless American stranded in Britain who is given a million pound note as an experiment. Also starring are Jane Griffiths as Portia Lansdowne, the beautiful daughter of a wealthy merchant who befriends Adams, and Ronald Squire as Oliver Montpelier, one of the two wealthy and eccentric brothers who conduct the experiment.

The film is set in London in the 1900s, when Adams arrives in the city looking for work. After several failed attempts to find a job, he is approached by two wealthy and powerful brothers, Roderick and Oliver Montpelier, who offer him a unique opportunity. The brothers have made a bet on the power of money and want to prove their theory that a person can achieve anything with a large sum of money. They offer Adams a million pound note, the largest denomination in circulation at the time, and challenge him to survive without actually spending the money.

Adams is skeptical at first, but soon realizes the advantages of possessing such a valuable note. Everywhere he goes, people treat him with extraordinary respect and courtesy, assuming that he is a wealthy and influential person. He is invited to exclusive events, and even the Bank of England treats him as a respected customer, not knowing that he has no money in the bank.

As Adams tries to navigate this strange new world, he meets Portia, a beautiful and intelligent woman who is fascinated by his story. The two strike up a friendship, and Portia offers to help Adams find a way to use the note without actually spending it. But as their friendship deepens, Portia begins to wonder if Adams is truly interested in her, or if he is simply using her to achieve his own goals.

Throughout the film, the Montpeliers watch Adams closely, eager to see if he will succeed in their experiment. But as the days go by, they begin to realize that they may have underestimated the power of money. Adams becomes a celebrity, adored by the masses and courted by the wealthy and famous. His presence alone seems to change the world around him, and it becomes clear that his possession of the note has altered the course of history in ways that no one could have predicted.

The Million Pound Note is a charming and witty comedy that explores the complex relationship between money and power. At its heart, it is a story about the importance of friendship and the value of human connection in a world that often values wealth and status above all else. With its clever script, charming performances, and gorgeous cinematography, The Million Pound Note remains a beloved classic of British cinema, and a testament to the enduring power of storytelling.

The Million Pound Note is a 1954 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 24 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.8.