Dollar Daddy

A heavily indebted schoolteacher raising two marriageable daughters is buoyed by rumors that his long-lost uncle in America is a millionaire, until the uncle’s unexpected arrival in poverty sparks a rush of creditors, patrons and fortune-seekers. Ambitious lawyer Jenő Szekeres orchestrates the deception so that the family, the town and himself profit from the false fortune, and even when the truth comes out, everyone, including Szekeres, now eyeing a political career, chooses to uphold the lie.

Directed by Viktor Gertler, Dollar Daddy leans on a strong ensemble — Iván Darvas, János Rajz, Imre Ráday — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about comedy titles of 1956.