Overview
A whimsical tale of love and luck unfolds amidst the bustling streets of Paris.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- witty
- giddy
- lyrical
- classic cinema evening
- lighthearted movie night
What critics said
Critics broadly regard the film as an exquisitely crafted, innovative early sound musical comedy whose songs, choreography, editing, and comic timing achieve a rare stylistic unity.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Songs, recitative, editing, and camera placement combine to propel the comic chase rather than appearing as detached musical numbers.
Michel's winning Dutch Lottery ticket, hidden in a jacket passed to a stranger, motivates the escalating search.
Creditors, romantic embarrassment, and the jacket hunt unfold with the delicate, giddy inevitability praised in the film's critical reception.
The film is celebrated for its sophisticated fusion of fledgling sound technology, dialogue, music, camera placement, and editing.
Films like Le Million, and why
The Smiling Lieutenant
Shared lyrical musical comedy, elegant choreography, and buoyant romantic confusion.
The Love Parade
Shared early sound-era musical experimentation, nimble comic timing, and romantic farce.
Under the Roofs of Paris
Shared French musical comedy, dreamlike movement, and playful social satire.
A Nous la Liberté
Shared black-and-white sophistication, escalating comic pursuit, and capricious romantic entanglements.
Movie Details
- Director
- René Clair
- Release Date
- 1931-02-04
- Runtime
- 83 min
- Rating
- 6.8 / 10 (89)
Cast
- René Lefèvre
- Annabella
- Jean-Louis Allibert
- Paul Ollivier
- Vanda Gréville
- Constantin Siroesco
- Raymond Cordy
- Odette Talazac
- Pedro Elviro
- Jane Pierson
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Criterion Channel
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Le Million about?
- A cash-strapped Parisian artist launches a buoyant, song-filled chase after his winning lottery ticket disappears inside a donated jacket.
- What is Le Million like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Le Million as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Le Million violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Le Million.
- What did critics think of Le Million?
- Critics broadly regard the film as an exquisitely crafted, innovative early sound musical comedy whose songs, choreography, editing, and comic timing achieve a rare stylistic unity.
- Which films are like Le Million?
- Films with a similar feel include The Smiling Lieutenant, The Love Parade, Under the Roofs of Paris, and A Nous la Liberté.
- How long is Le Million?
- Le Million runs 83 minutes.
- Where can I watch Le Million?
- In United States, Le Million streams on Criterion Channel.
