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Who's Minding The Mint?

1967, Movie, NR, 98 mins

Who's Minding The Mint?: Review

Great zany fun has Hutton as a money checker for the US mint. He lives a high life by arranging accounts with various department stores to get fancy gadgets on a trial basis, then switches his accounts to other stores. One day he's given some fudge by Provine, an admiring coworker, and he accidentally stuffs $50,000 in the bag as well. The fudge is awful, so he tosses it into the garbage disposal only to discover his mistake too late. Hutton talks Brennan, a retired money printer, into sneaking back at night so they can print up some cash to cover the loss. Gilford, a deaf safecracker, is hired to help them get at the plates if only he can get a hearing aid. The trio go to a pawnshop run by Berle, who wants $2,000 for his "management" services. The only way to get into the mint is via the city sewers, so Buono is hired to build an underground boat. Denver is an ice-cream truck driver who covers them as they enter the underground. With all the hands necessary finally to pull off the task, Hutton realizes he'll need a lot more than $50,000 to pay off everyone--the total comes to $1 million per person. On the night of the scheme, everything that can go wrong does, including Brennan's tag-along pregnant beagle delivering her litter. The scheme somehow is pulled off, but further hijinks find the money accidentally tossed out to sea. Hutton manages to save his $50,000 and also realizes he loves Provine. The remaining gang members go skindiving for the rest of the loot. A wild, off-the-wall comedy of errors, this film works thanks to its overall fine production qualities. The ensemble players are good, keeping pace with each new twist they meet, and the direction controls the loonies well. leave a comment