Make Mine a Million

Make Mine a Million is a 1959 British comedy film directed by Lance Comfort, starring Arthur Askey, Sid James, and Bernard Cribbins.[1] The film parodies the stuffiness of the 1950s BBC and the effect of television advertising in the era.

Make Mine a Million
British theatrical poster
Directed byLance Comfort
Produced byJohn Baxter
Barbara K. Emary
Written byArthur Askey
Peter Blackmore
Jack Francis
Talbot Rothwell
StarringArthur Askey
Dermot Walsh
Sid James
Olga Lindo
Music byStanley Black
CinematographyArthur Grant
Edited byPeter Pitt
Production
company
Distributed byBritish Lion Film Corporation
Release date
1959
Running time
81 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

Plot

Arthur Ashton (in a parody of himself, Arthur Askey) is a makeup man working for National Television (a parody of the BBC). During a visit to the local launderette, he meets Sid Gibson (Sid James), a shady pedlar who is trying to flog Bonko, a brand of washing powder in the shape of a pill. The man cannot afford to advertise on TV, but wishes to do so. 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 television heads, who have Arthur fired. However, 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 Tattoo. Next Arthur materialises on stage during a production of Swan Lake.

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 using his broadcast system, 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.

Cast

Reception

The Radio Times Guide to Films gives the film three stars out of five, describing it as a "pacey romp".[2]

References
  1. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0517084/
  2. Radio Times Guide to Films. 2004. p.879


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