If I Had A Million (1932) :
Brief Review -
$8 million ($170 million adjusted for inflation) spent to find one thing "Happiness." A dying tycoon decides to give away $8 million to strangers by sprinkling water drops on the phone directory's pages. He takes the initiative to meet eight parties and give each of them $1 million. The eight parties are: China Shop, Violet, The Forger, Road Hogs, Death Cell, The Clerk, Three Mariners, and Grandma. The first seven parties literally misuse the money for something that doesn't count for any value, but the last one teaches the tycoon to live happily. Happiness is the best medicine, they say, and they are right. If it was all about money, then nobody in the world would have been happy. These eight beneficiary parties show you why, as they all belong to different places, different circumstances, and different personalities. If I Had A Million is a simple film with a simple message for all, but what I figured is that the story is too good for its time. Who would have thought of such a unique concept in the early days of talkie cinema? So, it's a trendsetter in that sense. The screenplay is short and sweet, and the conflicts look real. A few encouraging dialogues would have helped, but it's a miss there. This film has a huge cast, and many of them are termed "on-screen legends." I am glad that they gave their nods to play such small parts. Gary Copper, Charles Laughton and W. C. Fields-these three became great legends later, but they played small but important roles in this not-so-big film. How often do we see that. A bunch of filmmakers came together without any ego issues to make this sweet film, and that's a small thing, I tell you. I'd like to ask you: what will you choose if you are given a choice between $100 million and happiness? If you can't answer smartly, then watch this film to make things meaningful for you. You would live happily after this.
RATING - 7/10*
By - #samthebestest.
$8 million ($170 million adjusted for inflation) spent to find one thing "Happiness." A dying tycoon decides to give away $8 million to strangers by sprinkling water drops on the phone directory's pages. He takes the initiative to meet eight parties and give each of them $1 million. The eight parties are: China Shop, Violet, The Forger, Road Hogs, Death Cell, The Clerk, Three Mariners, and Grandma. The first seven parties literally misuse the money for something that doesn't count for any value, but the last one teaches the tycoon to live happily. Happiness is the best medicine, they say, and they are right. If it was all about money, then nobody in the world would have been happy. These eight beneficiary parties show you why, as they all belong to different places, different circumstances, and different personalities. If I Had A Million is a simple film with a simple message for all, but what I figured is that the story is too good for its time. Who would have thought of such a unique concept in the early days of talkie cinema? So, it's a trendsetter in that sense. The screenplay is short and sweet, and the conflicts look real. A few encouraging dialogues would have helped, but it's a miss there. This film has a huge cast, and many of them are termed "on-screen legends." I am glad that they gave their nods to play such small parts. Gary Copper, Charles Laughton and W. C. Fields-these three became great legends later, but they played small but important roles in this not-so-big film. How often do we see that. A bunch of filmmakers came together without any ego issues to make this sweet film, and that's a small thing, I tell you. I'd like to ask you: what will you choose if you are given a choice between $100 million and happiness? If you can't answer smartly, then watch this film to make things meaningful for you. You would live happily after this.
RATING - 7/10*
By - #samthebestest.