Hot Millions
| Hot Millions | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Eric Till |
| Produced by | Mildred Freed Alberg |
| Written by |
Ira Wallach Peter Ustinov |
| Starring |
Peter Ustinov Maggie Smith Karl Malden Bob Newhart Robert Morley Cesar Romero |
| Music by | Laurie Johnson |
| Cinematography | Kenneth Higgins |
| Edited by | Richard Marden |
| Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
Release date | September 19, 1968 |
Running time | 106 minutes |
| Country |
United Kingdom United States |
| Language | English |
Hot Millions is a 1968 caper story made by MGM. It was directed by Eric Till and produced by Mildred Freed Alberg, from a collaborative screenplay by Ira Wallach and star Peter Ustinov. The music score was composed by Laurie Johnson, featuring the single "This Time" from Scottish singer Lulu. The cinematographer was Kenneth Higgins.
Plot
Con artist Marcus Pendleton has just been released from prison for embezzlement. He has emerged into a world increasingly reliant on computers. He convinces computer programmer Caesar Smith to follow his lifelong dream of hunting moths in the Amazon Rainforest. Assuming Caesar's identity, he gains employment at the London offices of an American conglomerate called Tacanco. While Pendleton fools Executive Vice President Carlton Klemper, another Tacanco executive, Vice President Willard Gnatpole, is suspicious. As Caesar Smith, Pendleton uses the company's computer systems to send claim cheques to himself under various aliases and addresses all over Europe. For his Paris company the cheques go to 'Claude Debussy'; his cheques to Italy go to 'Gioachino Rossini', both famous composers. He meets and marries Patty, an inept secretary and frustrated flautist. As Caesar, he now has the problem of hiding his hot money. Beating discovery of his fraud by Gnatpole - he and Patty flee to Brazil, and are soon followed by Klemper and Gnatpool. In a twist it seems that a now heavily pregnant Patty found all of this foreign money and invested it in the same companies that Pendleton created - thus actually making a profit for Tacanco. Patty also explains her desire to have the baby back in England and so contacted Klemper and Gnatpool to 'visit'. She then persuades Klemper to rehire Pendleton as Treasurer for Tacanco seeing that since it was his genius that created the fraud he would be the best one to spot them and that he would not steal from his own company. Pendleton though unhappy with his new legal status agrees. The film ends with Pendleton conducting an orchestra (one of his dreams) and Gnatpole and Klemper as the audience. Patty.. still in advanced pregnancy - is the solo flauntist. As she finishes the piece she realizes that the baby is on the way, to which a concerned Pendleton whispers, "What... now?"
Cast
- Peter Ustinov as Marcus Pendleton / Caesar Smith
- Maggie Smith as Patty Terwilliger Smith
- Karl Malden as Carlton J. Klemper
- Bob Newhart as Willard C. Gnatpole
- Robert Morley as Caesar Smith
- Cesar Romero as Customs Inspector
- Lynda Baron as Louise the Waitress (uncredited)
Locations
Filmed at MGM-British Studios, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England, UK[1] and on location.
In the film, when Maggie Smith's character takes Bob Newhart's character shopping, she is seen buying an outfit at the Apple Boutique on Baker Street, London, which was owned by The Beatles. The boutique only operated for a few months before closing; Hot Millions provides one of the few filmed glimpses of its interior.
The car driven by Bob Newhart’s character is a Jensen Interceptor.
Awards
The film was nominated for an Oscar in 1969 for Best Writing, Story and Screenplay - Written Directly for the Screen and a Writers Guild of America nomination for Best Written American Comedy.