- Make Mine a Million
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Make Mine a Million Directed by Lance Comfort Written by Arthur Askey
Peter BlackmoreStarring Arthur Askey
Bernard Cribbins
Sid JamesDistributed by British Lion Film Corporation Release date(s) 1959 Running time 81 minutes Country United Kingdom Language English Make Mine a Million was a 1959 British comedy film starring Arthur Askey, Sid James, and Bernard Cribbins. It was directed by Lance Comfort.[1] The film parodies the stuffiness of the 1950s BBC and the effect of television advertising in the era.
Contents
Plot
Arthur Ashton is a makeup man working for National Television (a parody of the BBC). During a visit to the local laundry, he meets Sid Gibson a shady salesmen who is trying to flog Bonko, a brand of washing powder, but who can't afford to advertise on TV. The fairly clueless Arthur agrees to help him, and they manage to plug an advert for Bonko on National Television by interrupting the live feed. This causes quite a stir amongst the National heads, who have Arthur fired. Despite this, the advert proves extremely popular and demand for the product soars.
After repeating the stunt at Ascot Races, Sid, realising that this is potentially a huge moneymaker, does a deal with an advertising executive and, with Arthur's help, they plug cake mix at the Edinburgh Festival. After a narrow escape, Arthur wants to quit, but Sid persuades him to do one final job - interrupting a press conference between the British Prime Minister and the American President. On the way, the Post Office van they are using is hijacked by criminals. Arthur, who is in the back of the van, contacts the police to thwart the robbery, leading to the final barnyard showdown. In the end, Arthur, now a hero and celebrity, gets his own TV show, brokered by Sid, of course.
Reception
The Radio Times Guide to Films gives the film three stars out of five, describing it as a "pacey romp".[2]
Cast
- Arthur Askey - Arthur Ashton
- Sid James - Sid Gibson
- Dermot Walsh - Martin Russell
- Olga Lindo - Mrs. Burgess
- Clive Morton - Director General
- Sally Barnes - Sally
- George Margo - Assistant
- Lionel Murton - Commercial TV director
- Bernard Cribbins - Jack
- Kenneth Connor - Anxious Husband
- Martin Benson - Chairman
- David Nettheim - Professor
- Bruce Seton - Superintendent James
- Barbara Windsor - Switchboard Operator
References
- ^ http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0517084/
- ^ Radio Times Guide to Films. 2004. p.879
External links
Films directed by Lance Comfort 1940s Penn of Pennsylvania • Hatter's Castle • Those Kids from Town • Squadron Leader X • Escape to Danger • When We Are Married • Old Mother Riley Detective • Hotel Reserve • Great Day • Bedelia • Temptation Harbour • Daughter of Darkness • Silent Dust1950s Portrait of Clare • The Girl on the Pier • Bang! You're Dead • Eight O'Clock Walk • The Man in the Road • Face in the Night • Man from Tangier • At the Stroke of Nine • The Ugly Duckling • Make Mine a Million1960s The Breaking Point • Rag Doll • Pit of Darkness • The Painted Smile • Touch of Death • Tomorrow at Ten • Blind Corner • Live It Up! • Be My Guest • Devils of DarknessCategories:- British films
- English-language films
- 1959 films
- Films directed by Lance Comfort
- 1950s comedy films
- British comedy films
- 1950s British film stubs
- 1950s comedy film stubs
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