Le Million

A musical comedy where the camera dances more than the actors. It’s chaotic, charming, and about as light as champagne bubbles—though maybe just as likely to leave you a little dizzy.

A musical comedy where the camera dances more than the actors. It’s chaotic, charming, and about as light as champagne bubbles—though maybe just as likely to leave you a little dizzy.

I just know the French ate this shit up in 1931.

This was a clunky watch. Pretty forgettable until the movie arrives at the opera. Everything from that point on ranges from good to great. The scene during the opening number of the opera stands out head and shoulders above the rest. It’s really, really beautiful filmmaking! And the part where they’re grappling for the jacket while on stage was hilarious. Almost as hilarious as when Michel or Prosper - I’m not entirely sure which of them it was - goes full Marshawn Lynch while in possession of the jacket.

“Definition: put the team on my back. One’s will to carry the team and not let any obstacle come in between… a desire he must achieve… to go ahead and get that green… if you know what I mean…”

And what a great facial hair movie.

I just know the French ate this shit up in 1931.

This was a clunky watch. Pretty forgettable until the movie arrives at the opera. Everything from that point on ranges from good to great. The scene during the opening number of the opera stands out head and shoulders above the rest. It’s really, really beautiful filmmaking! And the part where they’re grappling for the jacket while on stage was hilarious. Almost as hilarious as when Michel or Prosper - I’m not entirely sure which of them it was - goes full Marshawn Lynch while in possession of the jacket.

“Definition: put the team on my back. One’s will to carry the team and not let any obstacle come in between… a desire he must achieve… to go ahead and get that green… if you know what I mean…”

And what a great facial hair movie.

I had a lot more fun with René Clair’s Le Million than I did with his previous venture Under the Roofs of Paris. Both are technically adept films in their usage of sound as they move the boundaries of musical cinema. But Le Million makes for a far more captivating narrative. 

The film creates a brilliant level of tension as the main characters race against time to find a jacket containing a lottery ticket for a million francs. There’s a lot of moving parts in Le Million with a large array of sub-plots that’s interviewen in the main chase. 

Impressively enough, despite the film’s short runtime, it never feels overcrowded, and the constant action makes the film fly by. The performances are fun for the most part, but never overtly impressive. 

Le Million isn’t a deeply memorable film, but a fun time nonetheless and a remarkable feat when considering the time of its release.

I had a lot more fun with René Clair’s Le Million than I did with his previous venture Under the Roofs of Paris. Both are technically adept films in their usage of sound as they move the boundaries of musical cinema. But Le Million makes for a far more captivating narrative. 

The film creates a brilliant level of tension as the main characters race against time to find a jacket containing a lottery ticket for a million francs. There’s a lot of moving parts in Le Million with a large array of sub-plots that’s interviewen in the main chase. 

Impressively enough, despite the film’s short runtime, it never feels overcrowded, and the constant action makes the film fly by. The performances are fun for the most part, but never overtly impressive. 

Le Million isn’t a deeply memorable film, but a fun time nonetheless and a remarkable feat when considering the time of its release.

Criterion Collection Challenge #72

79.9/100

My Lists that include Le Million:Every Musical I have seen RankedThe Criterion Collection ChallengeEvery film I watched in August 2024 Ranked

Criterion Collection Challenge #72

79.9/100

My Lists that include Le Million:Every Musical I have seen RankedThe Criterion Collection ChallengeEvery film I watched in August 2024 Ranked

Deeply enjoyable early musical-comedy with one of my favorite tropes of the universe never giving the main character a break ever. Funny, charming, and rather cute. I'm not typically a fan of early movie musicals, heck I'm not even much a fan of early sound films, but this is legitimately well done for its time.

Deeply enjoyable early musical-comedy with one of my favorite tropes of the universe never giving the main character a break ever. Funny, charming, and rather cute. I'm not typically a fan of early movie musicals, heck I'm not even much a fan of early sound films, but this is legitimately well done for its time.