Hot Millions *** (1968, Peter Ustinov, Maggie Smith, Karl Malden, Bob Newhart, Robert Morley, Cesar Romero) – Classic Movie Review 8,861

The 1968 British caper film Hot Millions is a cute, likeable comedy with delightful turns by Peter Ustinov, Maggie Smith, Karl Malden, Bob Newhart, Robert Morley and Cesar Romero.

Director Eric Till’s 1968 British caper film Hot Millions is a cute, likeable and appealing comedy with a double score for Peter Ustinov – a delightful performance as a confidence trickster, paroled London fraudster Marcus Pendleton, and an Oscar nomination for Best Original Story and Screenplay for his share in the witty, amusing  script, written with Ira Wallach.

Maggie Smith shows her equally deft comedy touch in her first full star part as his inept secretary and frustrated flautist, Patty Terwilliger Smith.

The plot has con artist Marcus Pendleton (Ustinov) replacing an insurance company’s computer programmer and using a massive computer to try to defraud his boss Carlton J Klemper (Karl Malden)’s large American corporation.

The special cast includes Bob Newhart as the firm’s efficiency expert Willard C Gnatpole, Robert Morley as a computer wiz called Caesar Smith, and Cesar Romero as a South American customs inspector.

Also in the cast are Melinda May, Ann Lancaster, Frank Tragear, Elizabeth Counsell, Margaret Courtenay, Patsy Crowther, Lynda Barron as Louise the waitress, Raymond Huntley, William Mervyn, Kynaston Reeves, Bob Todd, Anthony Sharp, Paul Dawkins and Julie May.

It is shot at MGM-British Studios, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England, and on various locations, one of which is the Apple Boutique Baker Street, London,  owned by The Beatles. The boutique closed after only a few months and this is a rare valuable record of its interior.

It features the single ‘This Time’ sung by Lulu.

Willard C Gnatpole drives a Jensen Interceptor.

It was Oscar nominated for for Best Writing, Story and Screenplay – Written Directly for the Screen, but lost to Mel Brooks for The Producers, and for a Writers Guild of America award for Best Written American Comedy, but lost to Neil Simon for The Odd Couple.

Maggie Smith (28 December 1934 – 27 September 2024),

Hot Millions is directed by Eric Till, runs 106 minutes, is made and released by MGM, is written by Ira Wallach and Peter Ustinov, is shot by Kenneth Higgins, is produced by Mildred and Freed Alberg, and is scored by Laurie Johnson.

Release date: September 19, 1968.

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 8,861

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