Film Snail

7.0

Mister 880

NR·1950·90m

Comedy

Crime

Romance

Comedy

Crime

Romance

Summary

The Skipper is a charming old man loved by all his neighbors. What they don't know is that he is also Mr. 880, an amateurish counterfeiter who has amazingly managed to elude the Secret Service for 20 years.

Cast

Burt Lancaster

Steve Buchanan

Dorothy McGuire

Ann Winslow

Edmund Gwenn

William "Skipper" Miller

Millard Mitchell

"Mac" McIntire

Minor Watson

Judge O'Neil

Howard St. John

Chief

Hugh Sanders

Thad Mitchell

James Millican

Olie Johnson

George Adrian

Carlos (uncredited)

Rico Alaniz

Carlos (Spanish Interpreter) (uncredited)

Polly Bailey

Woman (uncredited)

Jean Bane

Cashier (uncredited)

Gilbert Barnett

Boy (uncredited)

Edward Biby

Man in a Hallway (uncredited)

Robert Boon

Dutchman (uncredited)

Paul Bradley

Man (uncredited)

Howland Chamberlain

Duff (uncredited)

Perdita Chandler

Cashier (uncredited)

Noble 'Kid' Chissell

Observer on a Sidewalk (uncredited)

Jack Daly

Court Clerk (uncredited)

Ray De Ravenne

Man (uncredited)

Victor Desny

Russian Interpreter (uncredited)

Arthur Dulac

Man (uncredited)

Norman Field

Bailiff (uncredited)

Robert Foulk

Policeman (uncredited)

Curt Furberg

German Man (uncredited)

Jon Gardner

Jonny (uncredited)

George Gastine

Waiter (uncredited)

Dick Gordon

Diplomat (uncredited)

Fred Graham

Man Slugged by Steve in Prologue Montage (uncredited)

Herschel Graham

Cafeteria Patron (uncredited)

Billy Gray

Mickey (uncredited)

Sherry Hall

Cigar Store Clerk (uncredited)

Helene Hatch

Maggie (uncredited)

Whitey Haupt

Boy (uncredited)

Timmy Hawkins

Boy (uncredited)

John Hiestand

Narrator (voice) (uncredited)

Harry Hines

News Vendor (uncredited)

Kathleen Hughes

Secretary (uncredited)

Larry Keating

James F. Lee (Skipper's Attorney) (uncredited)

Kenner G. Kemp

Passerby / Nightclub Patron (uncredited)

Jeanne Lafayette

Diplomat (uncredited)

Mike Lally

George (Treasury Agent) (uncredited)

Eddie Lee

Chinese Interpreter (uncredited)

George Lee

Chinese Interpreter (uncredited)

Rudy Lee

Boy (uncredited)

Mickey Little

Boy (uncredited)

Louise Lorimer

Art Store Proprietress (uncredited)

Wilbur Mack

Newspaper Buyer (uncredited)

George Magrill

Carnival Barker (uncredited)

Edwin Max

Mousie (uncredited)

George McDonald

Willie (uncredited)

Bill McKenzie

Jimmy (uncredited)

Joe McTurk

Gus (uncredited)

Russell Meeker

Club Patron (uncredited)

Thomas Menzies

Boy (uncredited)

Patrick Miller

Boy (uncredited)

Billy Nelson

Taxi Driver (uncredited)

Erik Nielsen

Boy (uncredited)

Barry Norton

Restaurant Diner (uncredited)

Crew

Director

Edmund Goulding

Screenplay

Robert Riskin

Reviews

Geronimo1967

December 31, 2024

We start with the usual rousing speech about just how the brave Secret Service is at the vanguard when it comes to thwarting American counterfeiters. One person has been successfully eluding them for years, though, and in a last ditch effort they draft in "Steve" (Burt Lancaster). Now we are fully aware of just whom the forger is, and are actively encouraged to engage with this gentle and kindly fellow (Edmund Gwenn) as his very lack of science - and shocking spelling - make him virtually impossible to trace. Almost immediately this intrepid agent gets onto the trail via a dodgy dollar note that introduces him to "Ann" (Dorothy Maguire) who just happens to live downstairs from our crook. From now on in, there's a confusing inevitability to the story. Confusing because the story can't decide whether it's a romance between Lancaster and Maguire or a gentle crime drama centred around the old man. It's in that muddle that the film rather loses it's way as it manoeuvres itself into an all too cheesy and sentimental cul-de-sac. Gwenn's "Skipper" is a charming old chap whom it would be nigh-on impossible not to like, and his portrayal is simple and effective. The rest of this is really just a soapy accompaniment to that effort and with coincidence taking just a little too prominent a role in the story it's maybe a bit weak. Still, it has a charm to it and it does raise the question of what to to do when faced with what is really a truly victimless crime.