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Release dateMarch 3, 1977 (1977-03-03) WriterKen Friedman, Jonathan Kaplan ScreenplayJonathan Kaplan, Ken Friedman CastTerence Hill (Guido Falcone), Valerie Perrine (Rosie Jones), Jackie Gleason (John Cutler), Slim Pickens (Duane Hawkins), William Redfield (Leopold Lacy), Chill Wills (Col. Clayton T. Winkle) Similar moviesTower Heist, Batman: Under the Red Hood, Arthur, The Invincible Iron Man, Down, Arthur 2: On the Rocks TaglineThe eyes of the nation are on . . . MR. BILLION!
Mr billion 1977 trailer
Mr. Billion is a 1977 film directed by Jonathan Kaplan.
Guido Falcone (Terence Hill), an easygoing Italian mechanic, is heir to a billion-dollar inheritance after his uncle dies in a freak accident. In order to claim his inheritance, he must reach San Francisco within twenty days to sign a document. His uncle's greedy assistant John Cutler (Jackie Gleason) wants the money for himself, and hires a female detective (Valerie Perrine) to prevent him from reaching his goal.
Cast
Terence Hill - Guido Falcone
Valerie Perrine - Rosie Jones
Jackie Gleason - John Cutler
Slim Pickens - Duane Hawkins
William Redfield - Leopold Lacy
Chill Wills - Colonel Clayton T. Winkle
Dick Miller - Bernie
R.G. Armstrong - Sheriff T.C. Bishop
Production
The film was the idea of Dino de Laurentiis, who wanted to introduce Terence Hill, at that time one of the biggest movie stars in Europe, to American audiences. He signed director Jonathan Kaplan, just coming off the successful White Line Fever.
Kaplan says production was difficult - he wanted to cast Lily Tomlin but the studio insisted on Valerie Perrine. Shooting took place in Italy. Kaplan says the highlight was working with Jackie Gleason; despite his drinking problem, Kaplan says he could sober up Gleason by doing old routines from The Honeymooners and getting laughs from the crew.
Reception
Mr. Billion was a major financial flop and Kaplan calls it the biggest failure of his career. In a retrospective review, the critic Keith Bailey called it "yet another case of Hollywood bringing a foreign actor in, and getting him to do different material than what made him famous in the first place".