Bryan Forbes deserves recognition for bringing together such a talented group of actors in this somewhat slow-moving version of Robert Louis Stevenson's story. The narrative revolves around the destiny of a £20,000 inheritance—the product of an agreement among twenty families who each put up £1,000 to enter a lottery that would award the entire sum to whichever family had a child still living! As time passes, events unfold until, sixty years later, we are introduced to two brothers: "Masterman" (John Mills) and "Joseph" (Sir Ralph Richardson). The first is an underhanded older man who’s very interested in the money—a sentiment also felt by his scheming grandson "Michael" (Michael Caine). The second—who isn't concerned with the money—is a rather delightful old eccentric full of stories, kept going as long as possible by his manipulative nephews Peter Cook ("Morris"), Dudley Moore ("John") and lovely niece Nanette Newman ("Julia"). From here on out, we’re treated to a series of mildly entertaining moments featuring brief appearances from (policeman) Tony Hancock, (doctor) Peter Sellers, and Wilfred Lawson's excellent performance as the butler "Peacock," which is quite literally paced, culminating in a rather absurd ending in a graveyard. It's visually appealing, though John Barry’s score isn’t one of his best, and the film maintains a brisk pace. However, it simply wasn’t humorous. The jokes were predictable, and aside from Lawson and Sir Ralph’s nearly flawless depiction of the affectionate old "Joseph," the characters seem to be present more for a showcase of talent than for the strength of the (admittedly enjoyable) plot. This isn't one of RLS's better tales; it attempts to mock the “virtues” of 19th-century Britain, but this production lacks nuance and cleverness to achieve that aim. It exaggerates the perceived quirks of the characters, particularly with Cook and Moore. There was a particular style of comedy and comedian popular in the UK during the 1960s—those who appreciate it might find more enjoyment here. Nevertheless, I found it difficult to connect with.

Source on TMDB