The Boy Who Stole a Million
The Boy Who Stole a Million is a 1960 British comedy thriller film directed by Charles Crichton. The film was shot on location in the Spanish city of Valencia, with an international cast list.
| The Boy Who Stole a Million | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Charles Crichton |
| Produced by | George H. Brown |
| Written by | Charles Crichton Niels West-Larsen |
| Starring | Maurice Reyna Virgilio Teixeira |
| Music by | Tristram Cary |
| Cinematography | Douglas Slocombe |
| Distributed by | Bryanston Films (UK) |
Release date | 22 December 1960 (USA). 2 July 1961 (UK). |
Running time | 84 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Budget | £115,802[1] |
| Box office | £7,525 (UK)[2] |
Plot
When he learns that his father needs to find 10,000 pesetas (approximately £60) to finance repairs to his taxi, or face losing his business and livelihood, naïve young Paco decides to "borrow" a million pesetas from the bank where he has a small part-time job after school. He soon gets more than he bargained for when he starts being pursued not only by the police but seemingly by all the criminal low-life of the city, all eager to get their hands on the cash. Paco finds himself on the run all through Valencia, from the most elegant quarters with their wide streets and squares in the midst of fiesta time, to the city's most squalid and dangerous slums.
Cast
- Maurice Reyna as Paco
- Virgilio Teixeira as Miguel
- Marianne Benet as Maria
- Harold Kasket as Luis
- George Coulouris as Bank Manager
- Warren Mitchell as Pedro
- Tutte Lemkow as Mateo
- Edwin Richfield as Commissionnaire
- Bill Nagy as Police Chief
- Barta Barri as Gang Leader
- Paul Whitsun-Jones as Desk Sergeant
- Robert Rietti as Detective
- Cyril Shaps as Bank Clerk
- Xan Das Bolas as Knife Grinder
Production
The film was originally budgeted at £100,000 - £49,500 coming from Lloyds Bank/Barclays, £49,500 coming from Paramount and £1,000 deferred from Paramount. The film went over budget and the rest was made up by the guarantor, Film Finances.[3]
Reception
Box Office
The film recorded a loss to Bryanston of £52,330.[4]
References
- Petrie, Duncan James (2017). "Bryanston Films : An Experiment in Cooperative Independent Production and Distribution" (PDF). Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television: 7. ISSN 1465-3451.
- Petrie p 8
- Petrie p 8-9
- Petrie p 8
External links
- The Boy Who Stole a Million at IMDb
- The Boy Who Stole a Million at BFI Film & TV Database