Le Million 1931

Disruption of Michel and Vanda

Michel's romantic moment with Vanda is repeatedly interrupted by his roommate Prosper, his neighbor Beatrice, and a pile of creditors. The constant noise of debt and meddling pushes the couple's mood toward chaos. These interruptions set in motion the quest that drives the rest of the plot.

Lottery windfall revealed

Prosper reveals that Michel has just won a lottery worth a million Dutch florins. The prize ticket is inside the pocket of a jacket Michel gave Beatrice to mend. The discovery throws Michel into a scramble to claim the money.

Beatrice lends jacket to a criminal

Beatrice hands the jacket to a charming criminal to help him elude the police, unaware that the winning ticket is inside the pocket. The jacket's new owner soon becomes central to the escalating pursuit. Prosper will later help her recall the name Grandpa Tulip.

Prosper pushes for a split prize

Prosper presses Michel to agree to split the prize money if he recovers the ticket. Michel agrees and begins a determined search for the jacket's whereabouts. The plan hinges on retrieving the jacket before the criminals do.

Beatrice recalls Grandpa Tulip

Beatrice remembers Grandpa Tulip's address, providing the first concrete lead on who might hold the jacket. With that clue, Michel heads out to locate the ticket. The search intensifies as time runs short.

Junk shop discovery and arrest

At Grandpa Tulip's junk shop, Michel learns that Italian tenor Ambrosio Sopranelli bought the jacket for a costume. A pocket watch theft is shown as a clue, and when the police raid, Tulip and his men slip away, leaving Michel arrested. The encounter seals his involvement with the jacket's fate.

Police mistake and Prosper's ruse

The police mistake Michel for Grandpa Tulip and arrest him, calling Prosper to identify him. The tenor Sopranelli is at the theater, and his theft is reported, prompting Michel to relay the information to Prosper. Prosper pretends not to know Michel so the prisoner can stay locked up and the ticket can be recovered by him later.

Headed to the opera to face the consequences

Michel's creditors arrive to identify him, forcing him to head to the opera house to continue the chase for the jacket and its hidden ticket. The prospect of salvation hinges on beating the criminals to the prize. The opera becomes the arena in which much of the plot will play out.

Prosper and Vanda scheme backstage

Prosper visits Vanda and seduces her with tales of imminent fortune while waiting for Sopranelli's performance. He and Vanda both try to recover the jacket from Sopranelli's dressing room but fail, leaving the prize still out of reach. The tension between desire, debt, and danger intensifies.

Beatrice makes a last bid at the ticket

Beatrice, one of the dancers in the performance, tries to retrieve the ticket, but Sopranelli is called to the stage before she can reach the dressing room. The clock is ticking as the performance continues. The hope of a swift rescue slips away with each musical number.

Quarrel forgotten; reconciliation on stage

During Sopranelli's first musical number, Michel and Beatrice reconcile and refocus on recovering the ticket. Their renewed cooperation drives the chase forward and adds emotional stakes to the performance. The stage becomes a backdrop for their partnership.

Tulip reappears backstage with a promise

Grandpa Tulip and his men go to the opera house to probe why Michel was so desperate for the jacket. Beatrice spots him backstage and, in a tense exchange, he promises to return the jacket. The confrontation inches closer to a resolution.

Stage pursuit ends with the jacket outside

Michel and Prosper pursue the ticket onstage and the jacket is passed around like a football under the pressure of the chase. It is accidentally thrown out a window and lands on top of a passing car, separating the prize from its pursuers temporarily. The frantic movement of the jacket drives the plot to a new twist.

Taxi ride, interception, and seizure

After the performance, Michel and Beatrice ride home in a taxi but their path is interrupted when Tulip's men stop them and force the jacket from Michel. The chase shifts from the stage to the street as possession of the jacket becomes a dangerous bargaining chip. The tension heightens as the criminals close in.