Make Mine a Million

Make Mine a Million
British theatrical poster
Directed by	Lance Comfort
Written by	Arthur Askey Peter Blackmore Jack Francis Talbot Rothwell
Produced by	John Baxter Barbara K. Emary
Starring	Arthur Askey Dermot Walsh Sid James Olga Lindo
Cinematography	Arthur Grant
Edited by	Peter Pitt
Music by	Stanley Black
Production company	Elstree Independent Films
Distributed by	British Lion Film Corporation
Release date	24 February 1959
Running time	81 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English

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

It was shot at Shepperton Studios near London with sets designed by the art director Denis Wreford. The film was distributed by British Lion.

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

• Arthur Askey as Arthur Ashton
• Sid James as Sid Gibson
• Dermot Walsh as Martin Russell
• Olga Lindo as Mrs. Burgess
• Clive Morton as Director General
• Sally Barnes as Sally
• George Margo as Assistant
• Lionel Murton as Commercial TV director
• Bernard Cribbins as Jack
• Kenneth Connor as Anxious Husband
• Barbara Windsor as Switchboard Operator
• Martin Benson as Chairman
• David Nettheim as Professor
• Bruce Seton as Superintendent James
• Tommy Trinder as Himself, Cameo appearance
• Dickie Henderson as Himself, Cameo appearance
• Evelyn Laye as Herself, Cameo appearance
• Dennis Lotis as Himself, Cameo appearance
• Anthea Askey as Herself, Cameo appearance
• Raymond Glendenning as Himself, Cameo appearance
• Patricia Bredin as Herself, Cameo appearance
• Leonard Weir as Himself, Cameo appearance
• Sabrina as Herself, Cameo appearance
• Gillian Lynne as Herself, Cameo appearance
• Peter Noble as Himself, Cameo appearance as TV Host
• Prince Monolulu as Himself, Cameo appearance
• Leigh Madison as Diana
• Sam Kydd as Mail Van Robber
• Edwin Richfield as Plainclothes Policeman
• Bill Shine as Outside Broadcast Producer
• Gordon Jackson as non-speaking role as leader of the pipe band

Reception

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

Bibliography

• McFarlane, Brian. Lance Comfort. Manchester University Press, 2019.

External links

• Make Mine a Million at IMDb
• Make Mine a Million at British Comedy Guide