I'll Give a Million

An amiable, workmanlike farce that's like "My Man Godfrey" without the archness, this Hollywood studio product has an unusually European flavor, perhaps due to the number of newly arrived Holocaust refugee actors in its cast. Especially worth seeing for Peter Lorre's engaging turn as a kittenish hobo.

This is another turn on the 'rich guy goes hobo' routine, but it's grand fun. Millionaire Warner Baxter tires of all the hangers-on; when he saves tramp Peter Lorre from drowning, he switches clothes and tries out life with no dough. But Lorre tells the press that there's a millionaire dressed as a tramp who's going to give someone a million francs just for being nice to him. So the whole French town takes in all the tramps and gives them everything. Meanwhile, Baxter falls in -- and falls in love with -- Marjorie Weaver at the local circus. Lorre gives one of his best performances; and when he teams up with fellow tramp John Carradine towards the end, it's a match made in heaven. I'd watch a whole movie starring those two guys in those two roles! Baxter is just fine -- if a tad long in the tooth -- in the lead. Weaver is a fresh face; and the cast is full of wonderful faces and wonderful actors. Check this rarity out if it comes your way.

I'll Give A Million is the proposition that Warner Baxter after being disillusioned that people are only interested in him for his money gives to Peter Lorre after he jumps off his yacht to save him from drowning. While they're asleep Baxter changes clothes with Lorre and also leaves many francs in his coat pocket.

As a tramp he's befriended by Marjorie Weaver and her uncle Jean Hersholt who run a small circus.

In the meantime Lorre attired in Baxter's abandoned evening wear gives the story to the newspaper that somewhere lurking in this French Riviera town is a tramp who's really a millionaire. The forgotten men of France descend on the town like a plague of locusts hoping to be treated well if people think they are incognito millionaires.

I'm guessing Tyrone Power and Don Ameche were otherwise occupied so Warner Baxter got the lead. A bit older than the other two he does nice as the weary cynical millionaire. Lorre is a fine figure as the tramp who can't believe his good fortune which rapidly becomes a curse as the hunt for the incognito millionaire intensifies.

A good screwball comedy from 20th Century Fox in that age of the screwballs, the Thirties.

For some strange Hollywood reason, the lovely, talented, adorable Marjorie Weaver had only about 45 credits -- despite the fact she stole this movie and many if not most of the others she played in.

Watching her here, in "I'll Give a Million," one has to be just grabbed by her gorgeous eyes, first, then by her bubbly personality, and I was really taken by her speech: She is a native of Tennessee, retaining the charm of the Southern belle.

Warner Baxter is the nominal star and here he gives one of his best casual performances. He plays the put-upon millionaire quite believably.

Peter Lorre gives a very different portrayal for him and is charming and likable, proving that he had an extraordinary range as an actor.

Jean Hersholt is mostly hidden by his role, as is John Carradine, as a rather flamboyant tramp.

Several exotic players give performances ranging from understated to over the top, but overall are quite watchable and enjoyable.

"I'll Give a Million" is fun, with settings ranging from a millionaire's yacht to a circus to the police station. I recommend it, and there is a quite good print at YouTube.

In the heart of the Depression, moviegoers needed screwball comedies to cheer themselves up for a quarter. In that vein, they were heartily treated to some of the best comedy of all time from Laurel and Hardy to Frank Capra. This film is tn that tradition. Similar to Mr. Deeds Goes to Town and Sullivan's Travels in the sense that a powerful person is living as a common man among the masses of the poor, the film has a certain charm that is no longer found in films after the Golden Age of Hollywood. Fortunately, we have Youtube to access some of these gems from the past. Lots of fun.