Wow, is this a terrific old film. I've enjoyed it so much that I've seen it several times and it really has withstood the test of time.

The film is made up of many short films all linked together with an overarching plot. Each segment has its own director and the film is absolutely chock full of talent--making it one of the most star-studded films of the era.

The film begins in the mansion of a sick old multimillionaire. As he's lying there supposedly about to die, the house if full of sycophantic relatives all hoping to get a piece of the pie when he dies. However, the old codger will have none of it and gets the idea of giving away his fortune to total strangers--giving each a check for $1,000,000.

Some of the segments are ironic or sad (such as the guy on death row) but most are humorous. My favorites (and they all are good) include W.C. Fields and his wife as they deal with "road hogs", Charles Lawton in a terrifically understated short as well as Charlie Ruggles as the put upon man working in a china shop. However, THE best one is the last one that involves an old folks home where fun and excitement are strictly forbidden.

This film nearly earns a 10 due to exceptional writing, direction and cast. It's a joy to watch from start to finish and is a film that deserves to be seen again.

If I Had A Million, dollars that is, has mega-millionaire Richard Bennett deciding to leave his hard earned fortune to complete strangers rather than the greedy, grasping relatives he has. An eye dropper squirts water at random on the names of people from the phone book and they become millionaires. The film focuses on the stories of eight people and how the money affects them or doesn't in a couple of situations.

Each one is a classic short story in and of itself showing examples of the human condition. The first involves henpecked salesman Charles Ruggles in a china shop where the nervous little guy gets a promotion from bookkeeping to the floor, but actually is losing money because of the china he breaks. It might not such a strain except that when he goes home he has to listen to the non=stop mouth of Mary Boland his wife. When he gets his million he releases his built up tension in the best way possible. In a much briefer segment, Charles Laughton who is an anonymous clerk in a huge form gives the president a one syllable thought as to what he thinks of him and the firm.

Not all the segments are comedic. George Raft is a known forger who because of his notoriety can't cash his new found wealth in for getaway money. He trades the check in just to get a night's sleep at a skid row flop house. Gene Raymond is on death row and ready for the electric chair, the money will be one nice inheritance for Frances Dee, but Raymond goes bonkers because he'd like to use it to get a high priced lawyer and get off, but it's way too late.

The most poignant episode of all involves prostitute Wynne Gibson and being that If I Had A Million was before the Code her profession is not just subtly suggested. The first thing she wants to do is get a room at the best hotel around and get a good night's sleep, alone. Ms. Gibson turns in the best performance in the entire film.

The accent goes back to comedy as Alison Skipworth and W.C. Fields use their money to go on a crusade against 'road hogs' when her brand new car is totaled by a reckless driver. And through a strange set of circumstances because Marine Gary Cooper is in the guardhouse and Bennett and the check visit him on April 1, he just dismisses the whole thing. Hamburger stand owner Lucien Littlefield winds up with what Cooper and his buddies Jack Oakie and Roscoe Karns think is a worthless check. They're back in the guardhouse as they see Littlefield in an ostentatious display of his new found wealth.

In a fitting finale Bennett delivers a check to May Robson a resident in an old folk's home who like the rest feels more like a prisoner. She does the greatest good in bringing about needed reforms in that place and takes a little pleasure in dealing with the staff as she buys the joint.

The stories are all woven together through the thread of Bennett's millions, but each can stand on its own. All the stories have an O'Henry like quality to them, with minimal writing, in some cases very minimal all make their points about the human condition and the varying ways sudden fortune can affect us. Many different writers and eight different directors contribute to If I Had A Million. Usually that's a recipe for disaster, here it's recipe for entertainment.

With no small amount of enlightenment. The film is as fresh as it was made during the Depression. That's because the subject of money and what it brings is eternal. If I Had A Million is one film that could be updated and remade today. But could you ever get a cast as good as this one?

Blowing off the boss who has taken advantage of your services; Vowing revenge on the pigs on the road who cut you off rudely; Getting even for years of protecting an inventory and making it a smashing experience; Baking your pies the way you want and making the patronizing social service people do the rocking; Getting rest in a bed without the presence of a business transaction. That's just some of the goings on in this outstanding multi-story masterpiece, both comic and dramatic, often tragic, sometimes ironic, and in a few cases, quite poignant. It surrounds the estate of steel tycoon Richard Bennett, tired of the family hangers on, the yes men, the red tape and the coddling of well meaning but annoying servants. Seemingly on the verge of death, he pops out of that state and announces without apology that he's going to leave his entire fortune to a bunch of strangers, unaware that they are about to have their lives changed entirely.

Some of the segments are better than others, but a few are now regarded as classic. Recipients W.C. Fields and Alison Skipworth decide to get revenge on the road hogs and buy an army of cars to do to them what they've been doing to others. Tired clerk Charles Laughton takes the longest walk to give to his boss what many of us would like to do, although he does it more politely. Nagged Charlie Ruggles is tired of his wife Mary Boland's incessant nagging and takes his revenge out in a glass shop. "Lady of the evening" Wynne Gibson simply does what many of us would like to do when the world closes in on us, and she does it in style. Then there's the final story of the neglected May Robson, an old dear longing for family visits and the chance to make her famous pies again. The well meaning retirement home staff just wants her to relax, and when she gets her bequest, she gets the best revenge of all.

Prepare to laugh at times and look on in shock at others, because in this depression era "fantasy", not all dreams come true, and one comes at quite the wrong time. A few triumph, one gets a well deserved rest, and as for Bennett, he finds that a rich man's doctor doesn't always have all the answers. This obviously lead Robson to be cast as Apple Annie in Capra's "Lady For a Night", making her one of the few mature woman movie stars who could handle leading roles in addition to regular supporting roles. Once you see this movie, I guarantee you will never forget it.