The Million Dollar Nickel (1952)

The Million Dollar Nickel Poster

Short subject anti-communist 'documentary' in which foreign-born movie stars such as Leslie Caron and Ricardo Montalban urge the audience (in their native tongues, subtitled) to write letters home speaking of how wonderful life in the United States is.

Introduction
"The Million Dollar Nickel" is an American funny short movie launched in 1952 and directed by Robert Cannon. This brief movie uses animation to narrate a whimsical tale filled with humor, suspense, and surprising twists. The film follows the journey of an unique five-cent coin and the mayhem it creates, echoing the expression, "A penny for your thoughts, a nickel for your dreams".

Plot Synopsis
The movie's story revolves around an unique nickel, which the storyteller describes as the 'Million Dollar Nickel.' This nickel bears the year 1913, which according to the plot, is unusual as the majority of nickels from 1913 were not minted. A man finds this nickel and decides to purchase a cup of coffee with it. Unaware of its extraordinary value, he deals with the nickel as a regular coin and utilizes it for daily deals.

Unfortunately, everyone receiving the nickel suffers some type of misfortune, which is humorously illustrated in the film. For instance, one woman accidentally swallows the nickel while using it as a makeshift button. A pet afterwards swallows it when the female tosses up. As it passes from one regrettable individual to another, a series of funny and bizarre occurrences happen, indicating the expected curse of the 'Million Dollar Nickel.'

Significance of the Nickel
Each character in the film, upon recognizing the significance of the 1913 coin, attempts their best to obtain it, causing a chaotic and comical chase. Numerous individuals, the cops, and even the army activate to grasp the valuable commodity. Remarkably, the nickel comes full circle, making its way back to the initial man who had actually discovered it. By the end of the film, all the characters have learnt more about the countless worth that they had kept in their hands and subsequently lost.

Animation and Humor
"The Million Dollar Nickel" was made using black and white animation. It uses visual comedy through the hand-drawn characters and their exaggerated responses upon losing the nickel. The movie creatively utilizes paradox, as characters punch out all way of trials and adversities, each stopping working in their attempts to obtain the 'cursed' coin.

Conclusion
In conclusion, 'The Million Dollar Nickel' is an amusing journey that highlights the value in what one may perceive as common, advising the audience to worth what they possess before losing it. Regardless of being less than 10 minutes long, the film magnificently highlights the lengths individuals will go to for product wealth, even if it comes covered in a little, seemingly insignificant commodity, like a nickel. The movie satirically delves into humanity and the fascination with fortune, making it a timeless classic. This 1952 motion picture stays an unique piece of American cinema and a beloved gem amongst animation lovers for its distinct storytelling, humor, and charm.

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