Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less (1990 TV Movie) User Reviews

Campy, but fun

[tathagatc · 7/10 · 31 December 2022]

Definitely campy in its tone.. Though they make changes for 1990 (story is set in mid-1970's). But it is fun to watch. Same lines as in the book - they tried to stick to the source material with some changes in character back stories. It definitely deserves a remake, with some more panache.

Portrayal of Metcalfe was impeccable. He was played very well. The English roles are played well too - as for the time period in which it was built. A lot of the mistakes were kept in the film - and they somehow make it quite interesting as well. I felt they did a lot of "improvise" in making of the movie as well.

An Old Flame !

[elshikh4 · 9 September 2009]

OK, I watched it in the early 1990s, while I was too young. Thanks to the second channel of our national TV in Egypt. At the time, the materials were being aired without any commercials; I know, I discovered lately how I was lucky to an extent I wasn't aware of!

It is all about how to trick the tricker. This subject is real interesting, but when it comes to TV, few shows along the years dealt with it. It's obvious that with "Mission Impossible - 1988", "Vengeance Unlimited - 1998" and "Hustle - 2004" one show every decade got to recreate the subject with a new format.

This round, I loved the theme of how the intellectual people can beat the street hustler or the powerful tycoon, if they wanted and united. Among the tricks of the plot, I liked the most the collage scheme; it studied the real desire of that man and how far would he go to fulfill it.

For me, (Edward Asner) stole the show with his frightful charisma, and harsh personality. I enjoyed it altogether. There is smart and thrilling sense all over it. Some shows are made to be stuck on memory. This one is, and for good reasons. Strangely, all the shows that used to be aired in our national TV back then was memorable, and for good reasons too!

Archer's arrow

[Prismark10 · 5/10 · 20 November 2014]

Jeffrey Archer was so chuffed that the BBC wanted to adapt his first novel that he sold the television rights for one penny.

This is the book this is apparently based on his own experience as Archer was himself made bankrupt in the 1970s however in light of subsequent events about him I guess I would not readily buy into him being an innocent victim.

Ed Asner plays Metcalfe a ruthless financier and swindler. Four his victims of a stock swindle plot to get their money back from him. The men, an Oxford professor, a Harley Street physician, an art dealer and a British aristocrat are conveniently blessed with skills to set up their sting.

This was an expensive BBC and US co production with several American stars. The tone is rather camp, the acting is slightly over the top. Ed Begley seems a little lost in all these while Ed Asner seems to get the brief right, just about staying in the right side of hammy.

Ironically the BBC parodied their own adaptation in arts programme The Late Show where they reduced it to two minutes which was actually just as good, if not better and certainly cheaper.

Still it was rather enjoyable camp.