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"Who's Minding the Mint?" is a hysterical comedy-"heist" movie in the classic tradition, as U.S. Mint worker Harry Lucas (Jim Hutton) accidentally destroys $50,000, and endeavours to sneak back into the place and reprint the money so the books will balance. Things start to snowball when he gets his old friend "Pop" (a delightful Walter Brennan) to help out, and more and more individuals get involved in the complicated scheme. Naturally, they want to get something out of this, so the amount of bills to be printed escalates in number.... Harry also gets the co-worker (Dorothy Provine) who is sweet on him to do the job of cutting the bills.

Sadly neglected at the time of its release, "Who's Minding the Mint?" is quite an engaging comedy over 50 years later, benefitting a lot from the efforts of a large cast: Milton Berle, Joey Bishop, Bob Denver, Jamie Farr, David J. Stewart, Jackie Joseph, Mickey Deems, etc. Hutton is wonderful as he mostly does "straight" acting, reacting with increasing weariness to the avarice and bungling of his compatriots. But the ones who tend to steal the show are Jack Gilford as the veteran safe cracker who happens to be hard-of-hearing, and a hilarious Victor Buono as the pompous ex-skipper who's drafted to build the participants a boat. (They need a boat, of course, to navigate the sewers.) There are some truly priceless farcical moments, all brought breathlessly to life by these fine performers and the director, Howard Morris, himself a comic character actor whom you may recognize from his work with Mel Brooks.

It's gratifying to see that the movie does have its admirers, which has presented it from being totally forgotten. It's extremely well paced, pushes some buttons in an endearing manner (Pop actually brings along his female pet beagle, who's about to give birth), and leads to a classic manic finale.

We root for our unlikely heroes all the way, even though we expect, and chortle at, those moments when it seems that everything is going to go up in smoke.

Paul Winfield has an uncredited bit near the end as a garbage man.

Eight out of 10.

A staple of the 4:30 Movie I haven't seen this film for many years until I came across a long out of print Columbia Video copy in my local video store. And what a find! Here is a sweet fast paced comedy that really works. US Mint worker Jim Hutton accidently destroys a fortune and must replace it in a short time or else! With the help of some friends Hutton must break into the Mint and print the missing millions. This film owes a lot to ITS A MAD MAD MAD MAD WORLD but has enough clever plot twists and antics to call its own. Definetly worth a look at and hopefully Columbia will rerelease it on VHS or even put it on DVD.

It's a smaller-scale "Mad Mad Mad etc World" with some crafty veteran gagsters (Gilford, Berle, Buono, Brennan, Bishop et al) doing their shtick. Small improbabilities build and build until you end up with a string of boats with wildly-costumed characters sailing in an improbable location from an impossible caper. Total on-screen madness, yet it made sense at every small plot step along the way. Tightly-constructed and very much a late-60s comedy. It's one of those favorites you're slightly ashamed of.

This low-key comedy features a wonderful cast which is generally fun to watch. There are not a lot of laugh-out-scenes and definitely not as funny as adversed, but still enjoyable. Although mostly greedy, most of the characters are still likable enough. I particularly enjoyed Jack Gilford and Milton Berle's roles, the latter when he played George Washington!

The rest of the cast includes such names as Dortohy Provine (there's a '60s actress that seemed to disappear quickly), Walter Brennan, Bob Denver, Victor Buono, Joey Bishop and Jamie Farr.

In all, a pleasant lightweight comedy which probably deserves to be better known.

A fast-paced heist comedy, so innocent that nothing is even "stolen". When Jim Hutton, harrassed employee of the Bureau of Engraving, already on the outs with his boss, inadvertently takes 50,000 dollars and shreds them in his garbage disposal, he breaks back in to reprint the money. However, one thing leads to another and he eventually ends up with a gang of misfits, each of whom needs something and jumps at the opportunity to print their own money. Jack Gilford and Victor Buono grab their roles by the throat and they provide a great balance, each singlehandedly preventing the other from stealing the movie altogether out from under the others' noses. Everyone does a good job. The script is solid and plot-driven. Some of the laughs are diluted by appearing in so many other places in movies or tv in the last three decades, but the movie still remains fresh and funny, and makes a good diversion for a dull afternoon. It's too bad movies like this aren't made any more.

Who's Minding The Mint as a film proves that while money may not grow on trees, access to the presses can give you an unlimited supply. Director Howard Morris assembled a really bright group of scene stealing players that pretty much overwhelm the leads of Jim Hutton and Dorothy Provine.

Hutton and Provine work at the US Mint in Washington, DC which with its many national monuments provides an interesting backdrop for the caper that unfolds. Some fudge that Provine brought to work gets spilled on $50,000.00 of new bills. That's a loss Hutton is going to find hard to make up on his salary. What to do?

When Walter Brennan a former printer at the Mint asks Hutton to intercede on his behalf to get his job back, Hutton hits on the brilliant idea to break in the Mint after hours and print up the loss. But the task proves daunting and Hutton has to put more and more members on his team and of course after the first $50,000.00 they can print some additionals for their own use.

This is not a team you can keep up with in scene stealing. The rest of the members of the gang consist of Milton Berle, Victor Buono, Bob Denver, Joey Bishop, Jamie Farr, and Jack Gilford. What chance did Hutton and Provine have against this whole group and Walter Brennan although they do get some innings in with the comedy.

There is one constant sight gag throughout the caper. Due to some security changes the gang has the caper moved up a day as Hutton tells his team they have to drop all plans and work that night. They all show up in these ridiculous costumes with Denver in his ice cream man uniform, Buono decked out like the captain of the HMS Pinafore, Berle as George Washington, and Joey Bishop as a Boy Scout troop leader. And the idea was to be inconspicuous.

It's all bright and amusing and if you want to know what the ending is, let's just say there's a possibility it might work out all around.

A film that is sadly overlooked, but I can't figure out why. It's a fantastic heist yarn, with Jim Hutton leading a bunch of losers as they sneak into the US Mint in DC to help him replace $50,000 that accidentally got sent through the garbage disposal. Everyone in this film is great; Jim Hutton had a real screen presence and I really miss him in films. Dorothy Provine is the girl who loves him secretly, and she finally gets the chance to tell him. She's also a pretty good comedienne. Milton Berle, Victor Buono, Jack Gilford, Joey Bishop and Walter Brennan are the rest of the gang, and they are all wonderful. Milton's turn as George Washington is a gem. And Victor Buono as an amusement park ride operator with visions of being a sea captain is just wonderful. It's a well plotted film, and moves along briskly with no lags. Perfect for a movie night with the kids. This just came out in 2012 at Warner Archive on DVD, so grab it before it's gone.

Enterprising United States Mint worker Jim Hutton (as Harry Lucas) accidentally shreds $50,000 of freshly minted cash down his sink's garbage disposal, thinking it's the awful homemade fudge given to him by pretty co-worker Dorothy Provine (as Verna Baxter). Big oops! With restless and retired Walter Brennan (as "Pop" Gillis) itching to print money again, Mr. Hutton decides to sneak into the U.S. Mint, and round up $50,000 to replace the missing money…

They enlist help from deaf safe-cracker Jack Gifford (as Avery Dugan), pawn shop owner Milton Berle (as Luther Burton), gambling sewer worker Joey Bishop (as Ralph Randazzo), portly boatman Victor Buono (as "The Captain"), and ice cream truck salesman Bob Denver (as Willie Owens). Mr. Denver is fresh off "Gilligan's Island". An expert at cutting sheets of bills, Ms. Provine agrees to help Hutton, who is the man she loves. Things get greedy and out-of-hand...

On the night of the heist, talky Mr. Bishop arrives with his non-English speaking cousin Jamie Farr (as Mario), a long way from "M*A*S*H" and needing a job; and, Mr. Brennan must take along his expectant dog "Inky", who is about to deliver her pups. Director Howard Morris gives the comedy some good suspense, and lets his comedians peddle their wares. It's a slow-starter, but builds nicely. Yet, nothing approaches the comedy crescendo anticipated.

****** Who's Minding the Mint? (9/26/67) Howard Morris ~ Jim Hutton, Dorothy Provine, Walter Brennan, Milton Berle

I saw this movie in the movies as a kid. When it came out on VHS I bought it and my kids became fans. I still have it on VHS and wish I had it on DVD. Everyone is superb and all the gags are great. I love the end where they're in the van with the church music playing.

Jim Hutton was a great actor and this is one of the funniest things he did. He is surrounded by an absolutely hilarious supporting cast. It's a well-made farce and the premise is so ridiculous that everything becomes even funnier as the movie goes on.

I've asked countless people in my life if they've ever seen this movie and they say they haven't even heard of it. It's a pity because it's really a delightful movie. I loved it, my kids loved it and I hope my grandkids love it. I just wish it would come out on DVD!!!

The film begins with possibly the WORST opening song in movie history. I think having Yoko Ono singing it or listening to dogs bark for five minutes would have been about as pleasant! My advice is to turn down the volume and turn it back when the story begins.

Harry is a mostly honest guy who works for the Bureau of Engraving and Printing in Washington, DC. This organization prints all the United States' stamps and paper money. However, his boss hates him and would love to fire him. And, Harry's lifestyle makes it pretty easy for the boss to assume he's a crook. Harry is a manipulator and has figured out how to get free things...such as convincing a limo company he MIGHT buy several, so they pick him up at work with one of their limos!

After his boss accuses him of theft and is proven to be wrong, Harry is so nervous that he accidentally puts $50,000 in a bag and takes it home. Then, because he doesn't realize he had it, he accidentally puts it down the garbage disposal! Now the boss will get his wish and send Harry to prison...unless Harry figures out a way to replace it. Unfortunately, his simple plan to break into the office and print replacement money keeps getting more and more complicated until he's assembled a gang. To pay them, they must print a lot of extra money, not just the replacement money!

So, is the movie any good? Yes if you can believe the very farfetched plot...and it is clearly VERY farfetched to believe it was this easy to break in to the Bureau and just print a mess 'o money. The humor is pretty broad and silly...but it still manages to be worth your time.

By the way, near the beginning of the film, a limo picks up Harry and his friend and the boss sees it. He gives chase in a Yellow Cab...and when he arrives at Harry's apartment building, it's a different model car! Also, near the end you see a cityscape that is CLEARLY NOT Washinton, DC. Its many huge suspension bridges and ports look nothing like Washington....so no matter where they say the film was made, the ending was not in DC.

Screenwriters R.S. Allen and Harvey Bullock have an original, potentially-great comic idea here--wily accountant at the U.S. Mint in Washington, D.C. has to break in after-hours and replace money he accidentally destroyed--but debuting director Howard Morris gives it a numbskull treatment, with the plot advanced on the proviso that every outrageous character on-screen act as stupidly as possibly. Jim Hutton is supposed to be playing a mild-mannered swinger skilled in the art of getting what he wants without paying for it, but there's nothing in this soft-edged, colorless actor that even begins to suggest these attributes. His cohorts in crime (played to the hilt by comedic veterans, mainstays, and newcomers) are a useless, selfish bunch who keep increasing their share of the action for personal gain--and is there anything less funny on the screen than greed? *1/2 from ****

Most of us who love serious films have a Dark Side, in which we shamefully adore some really non-serious work of cinema. I shamefully admit it; I love Who's Minding The Mint. At every turn in the preposterous plot, a new (old) face appears and each of these characters really runs with his tiny part. The plot deals with breaking into the U.S. Mint and printing up sheets of money, but plot is secondary to the moment-by-moment antics of this assembled comedic multitude.

Watching the ensemble work of veteran comics (such as Milton Berle, Jack Gilford, Joey Bishop, and a young Jamie Farr) I was reminded of the much-more-honored MadMadMad World. Besides ya gotta love Bob Denver (Gilligan) playing a sex symbol.

Who's minding the Mint is a zany comedy and quite entertaining for the most part. This film somehow reminds me of the zaniest in It's a mad mad mad world

Why doesn't this get more respect? Each time I see this (now going on #8) it gets better as surrealism in commercial 1960s America. The cast is stellar and performances are memorable. The plot is sufficiently twisted to make this late-night TV movie a classic of one error that leads to many more errors at ridiculous lengths.

I have too many favorite scenes here to claim one as a favorite. The straight man Jim Hutton is more patient than required by the role of the straight man. His attempt to rescue cash lost in a garbage disposal leads to an unlikely but ever-growing payroll of a deaf safe-cracker (Jack Gilford),pompous toy boat captain Victor "My only aversion to vice is the price" Buono, Bob Denver, Milton Berle with a face of green ink mistaken for George Washington by a drunk staring down a sewer, and a pregnant dog in scuba gear.

Whatever can go wrong will, including the place of this farce amongst other American farces.

If you are a true Jim Hutton fan as I am, you will really love this movie. I did. One can see what a great actor Jim Hutton really was. Sad that he was taken from us so soon. And one can also see where his son Timothy gets his talent.....and good looks I might add! The casting in the movie was also great! Walter Brennan, Joey Bishop, Milton Berle....a classic!

"Who's minding the Mint?", the 1967 star jammed caper-comedy, is a simple little comedy in the same vein as films like "Kill or Cure" or "The Busy Body". It's nothing that special, and there isn't much to say about it, but still a nice movie nonetheless.

The acting is ok, the soundtrack is strange in its sound and also how it works, in that it's sometimes fitting to the movie, sometimes not. It's got a pretty simple plot, and it's pretty funny as well. It's not anything that gets you laughing out loud, just little chuckles.

So this all makes "Who's Minding the Mint" a pleasant and inoffensive film experience and. I'd recommend it.

Also, this is all just my opinion, and it's completely fine and understandable if you disagree. 6/10.

Annoying mess of a "comedy" about printing and stealing currency from the US Bureau of Engraving. You stay with it for skilled performers so good in other things, hoping for a moment or two -- but they are completely done in by an unfunny, repetitive script, and a novice director who seems overwhelmed. The general silly tone is not sufficiently engaging to obscure the completely implausible story. And it looks cheap, like a 1960s made-for-tv movie -- all minimal stock sets and flat lighting.

TOOOO many huge, hilarious, hollywood names to describe them all, but check out that cast list on imdb! When a u.s. Mint worker accidentally ruins a batch of bills, he comes up with a plan to make it right. But of course, he gets caught up in a bigger, very illegal caper. And it snowballs out of control. The mint will be installing new machines, so now it's a rush job. Can they fix all this before they all end up in jail?? Lots of talking and planning...for first half of the film. Ocean's eleven had come out in 1960, and this has some similarities to that. It's a heist film. Some funny bits now and then, but not the funniest film ever made. Directed by howard morris, who you probably know so well from the andy griffith show (otis the town drunk), or maybe high anxiety (professor liloman). It's pretty good! But the fun part for me was just seeing all the actors in oddball roles in one film. Currently showing on cinevault channel. Runs about two hours!

I've got a slight bone to pick. I remember seeing this. back in '67 in a Saturday afternoon matinée. Twenty-eight years later I began working for the Treasury Dept. There is no Mint in Washington D.C. Jim Hutton works for the Bureau of Engraving & Printing which ain't the Mint. The Mint produces coins, but I suppose having the ever-scheming Hutton walk out of the Mint with a 52 lb bag of quarters wrapped in fudge would suspend disbelief a little too far. The under-rated director, Howard (Ernest T. Bass) Morris did a pretty decent job with the material and it sort of plays like a somewhat less frenetic It's a Mad, Mad, Mad (etc.) World. 3 out of *****.