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The Dollar Bottom

  • 1981
  • G
  • 33m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
50
YOUR RATING
The Dollar Bottom (1981)
Short

Light-hearted tale about an enterprising Edinburgh boarding school boy who sets up an insurance scheme for fellow pupils in 1953 against getting caned, which quickly earns him a small fortun... Read allLight-hearted tale about an enterprising Edinburgh boarding school boy who sets up an insurance scheme for fellow pupils in 1953 against getting caned, which quickly earns him a small fortune.Light-hearted tale about an enterprising Edinburgh boarding school boy who sets up an insurance scheme for fellow pupils in 1953 against getting caned, which quickly earns him a small fortune.

  • Director
    • Roger Christian
  • Writers
    • James Kennaway
    • Shane Connaughton
  • Stars
    • Robert Urquhart
    • Rikki Fulton
    • Jonathan McNeil
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.8/10
    50
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Roger Christian
    • Writers
      • James Kennaway
      • Shane Connaughton
    • Stars
      • Robert Urquhart
      • Rikki Fulton
      • Jonathan McNeil
    • 3User reviews
    • 1Critic review
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 Oscar
      • 1 win & 1 nomination total

    Photos

    Top cast23

    Edit
    Robert Urquhart
    Robert Urquhart
    • Headmaster
    Rikki Fulton
    • Karl
    Jonathan McNeil
    • Taylor 2
    Angus Kittler Reid
    • Graham
    • (as Angus Reid)
    Iain Andrew
    • Browne
    David Bullion
    • Macadam
    Martin Thom
    • Macbeth
    Neil Crossan
    • Knox
    John Field
    • Hepburn
    Peter Adair
    • Moncrieff
    David Mowat
    • Porter
    Ruth Munroe
    • Mrs. Maclaren
    Alexander Bell
    • Schoolboy
    Robin Gow
    • Schoolboy
    • (as Robin Gowe)
    Bruce Barrons
    • Schoolboy
    Norval Gough
    • Schoolboy
    Stephen Casciani
    • Schoolboy
    John Samuels
    • Schoolboy
    • Director
      • Roger Christian
    • Writers
      • James Kennaway
      • Shane Connaughton
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews3

    6.850
    1
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    9
    10

    Featured reviews

    10dj_jonthegoth

    the dollar bottom

    I've never seen this film, but I've been told that has an ingenious story and for a short film, it's very memorable. if anyone finds a copy, please email me at- jonathan.briggs187@googlemail.com and let me know. i'll pay for a DVD copy or VHS. i am interested in similar films, also, if anyone knows of anywhere i can find a copy of The Glitterbal a 1977 kids film with a sci-fi theme, i'll also be very grateful but for now, i'd just like a copy of The Dollar Bottom. can anyone tell me more about the plot or anything about the actors in it? did any of them go on to great things? also, are there any stills of the film in existence?
    7mybah

    Left an impact

    I saw this short film about 20-25 years ago. It was shown during an intermission of another film of which I have no idea what that was.

    It was about a boy who starts up an insurance scheme in a boys school which pays out to students who get the cane. It ends up being quite lucrative until the principal really starts to take on the student insurance creator.

    I remember really enjoying this simplistic, yet quite clever little story, and hope that one day I might actually get to see it again sometime. But I doubt that its available any where in any shape or form. If anyone has any clues, or one the makers sees this comment, you might give me a little email if you have a copy, or can copy. I'm sure my kids would like it as well. I gave this show a 7, simply because for such a short film, seen only once so long ago, I still remember quite a lot of it. WELL DONE!!
    9sommv-2

    Lovely, memorable short film

    As other reviewers of this film have noted - it was memorable. I saw this film every time I went to see Raiders of the Lost Ark when it was first released in Australia. This short was shown at every session (I don't know why). However, as I saw "Raiders" numerous times - I also saw The Dollar Bottom a lot. It was a clever film with great performances from the child actors and I would love to see it again. I have remembered it all these years and think that is testament to how well made it was and the clever story. As already stated it was the story of an English boarding school and the student who decides to start an insurance scheme for caning (a common practice in the school). I cannot remember all the details of the story but suffice to say it was an entertaining short and well deserving of the awards it won.

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    Storyline

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 1981 (United Kingdom)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Penneissä miljoonan alku
    • Production companies
      • Paramount Pictures
      • Rocking Horse
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

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    • Runtime
      33 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Mono

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