Tons of Money is a farcical play by British writers Will Evans and Arthur Valentine. which was first performed in 1922. It was the first of the long-running Aldwych Farces, co-produced by Tom Walls

Tom Walls

Tom Kirby Walls was a popular English stage and motion-pictures character actor, and film director. He has claim to be one of the most influential figures in British comedy.-Early career:...

 and Leslie Henson

Leslie Henson

Leslie Lincoln Henson was an English comedian, actor, producer for films and theatre, and film director. He initially worked in silent films and Edwardian musical comedy and became a popular music hall comedian who enjoyed a long stage career...

 and starred Henson as Aubrey Allington. In the story of the play, a hard-up inventor pretends to be his cousin, in order to escape the clutches of his creditors.

Alan Ayckbourn updated and directed the play in 1986 in a revival by The National Theatre starring Michael Gambon

Michael Gambon

Sir Michael John Gambon, CBE is an Irish actor who has worked in theatre, television and film. A highly respected theatre actor, Gambon is recognised for his roles as Philip Marlowe in the BBC television serial The Singing Detective, as Jules Maigret in the 1990s ITV serial Maigret, and as...

 as Sprules and Simon Cadell

Simon Cadell

Simon John Cadell was an English actor.Born in London, he was the grandson of the Scottish character actor Jean Cadell, the brother of the actress Selina Cadell, and the cousin of the actor Guy Siner. He was educated at Bedales School at Petersfield where his close friends included Gyles...

 as Aubrey.

Adaptations

The play was adapted into film on two occasions. A 1924 silent film Tons of Money

Tons of Money (1924 film)

Tons of Money is a 1924 British comedy film directed by Frank Hall Crane and starring Leslie Henson, Flora le Breton and Mary Brough. It is an adaptation of the 1922 play Tons of Money by Will Evans and Arthur Valentine. Both were co-produced with Tom Walls...

directed by Frank Hall Crane

Frank Hall Crane

Frank Hall Crane was an American stage and film actor and director. He appeared in 75 films between 1909 and 1939. He also directed 48 films between 1914 and 1927. His first screen writing included The Stolen Voice in 1915.He was born in San Francisco, California, and died in Woodland Hills, Los...

 and starring Leslie Henson

Leslie Henson

Leslie Lincoln Henson was an English comedian, actor, producer for films and theatre, and film director. He initially worked in silent films and Edwardian musical comedy and became a popular music hall comedian who enjoyed a long stage career...

 and a 1930 sound version Tons of Money directed by Tom Walls

Tom Walls

Tom Kirby Walls was a popular English stage and motion-pictures character actor, and film director. He has claim to be one of the most influential figures in British comedy.-Early career:...

 and starring Ralph Lynn

Ralph Lynn

Ralph Lynn was a British stage and screen actor.Lynn was born in Manchester and began his acting career in Wigan in 1900 in King of Terrors. After years spent touring regional theatres and a spell in America he made his West End debut in 1915 at the Empire theatre in By Jingo...

. A television adaptation was broadcast by the BBC on Boxing Day 1954, starring Frankie Howerd

Frankie Howerd

Francis Alick "Frankie" Howerd OBE was an English comedian and comic actor whose career, described by fellow comedian Barry Cryer as "a series of comebacks", spanned six decades.-Early career:...

 as Aubrey. Graeme Muir directed.