Highly Overrated But Still Good

It's funny watching the elements come together in this complicated scam. On one hand, the set-up isn't quite as complex as it seems, but there's an easy sense of fun in every exchange.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

One of those movie experiences that is so good it makes you realize you've been grading everything else on a curve.

I thought year one started with:My name is Michael Anthony, and until his death just a few years ago, I was the male secretary to the late John Beresford Tipton.Note the word male. I may be mistaken but it's what I remember.

I watched this show during its original run and somewhere in one episode they played the song "Someome Tp Watch Over Me". It instantly became my all time favorite song. I have been thinking about this episode for long time and am wondering if anyone knows which one it was. The only thing I can remember about the story was that the recipient of the check was a blonde girl who had been a singer and was confined to a wheelchair. Can anyone help me with this?

Born in 1950, I've probably watched every episode at one time or another. At the time, it was an excellent show for its half-hour time-slot. But, it did leave one issue I didn't find out about until later.The checks were touted as "tax-free" checks. On a few occasions, I think I remember Michael Anthony saying that "taxes have already been paid" - leading many to believe that their unknown benefactor was a swell guy for paying them. But, it just isn't so.As far back as 1926, there was a gift tax ... though it was suspended until it was re-enacted in 1932. And in the long history of gift tax, the responsibility for paying it has *ALWAYS* fallen on the benefactor - not the recipient. Recipients of large cash gifts have *NEVER* been held liable for taxes or any kind - only the benefactors of those gifts.So, contrary to popular belief, John Beresford Tipton was less of a "swell guy" than believed. He was just obeying tax law. But, it does add a new wrinkle to the show. Over the 6 seasons, Tipton gave away $208,000,000. But, the gift-tax "tax bite" on that money must have been quite large ... putting his real expenditures between $300,000,000 and $400,000,000. He would have HAD to be a billionaire to pull off this kind of generosity while, at the same time, remaining solvent himself. In fact, it could be said that maybe the show was canceled because Tipton had reached a point where he could no longer "afford" his own generosity (grin).The one thing I've always wondered about the series (and never discussed anywhere as far as I know) is how much Michael Anthony's "salary" was. Anybody know?

I remember "The Millionaire" well, as it was a family favorite throughout its run. I agree with the posted comment, with one significant exception. Even as a child, I couldn't help but notice that the "Money can't buy happiness" message of the show was very contrived. The Millionaire candidates in most of the episodes were losers, malcontents, people with real and serious social interaction problems, who suddenly turned into bubbling fountains of happiness and rectitude once they got the money. Maybe money couldn't buy happiness, but it's mere possession evidently conferred instant morality and wisdom. The final "Lessons learned" scenes between Anthony and Tipton were invariably of the "Well, now this benighted yahoo has seen the light and is back on his/her right path" variety. It was a VERY 1950's sort of "message." Yes, my family watched the show regularly - and laughed our cookies off every week! Two nits: Tipton was "seen", but only from the rear. Also, another "condition" was that the subject never reveal the exact amount of the gift. I never understood why revealing a nice round number like $1M would cause any problems. I guess I'm too benighted.