Movies - Brewster's Millions

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	Movies - Brewster's Millions

Brewster's Millions is a novel written by George Barr McCutcheon in 1902. It was adapted into a play in 1906, and the novel or play have been made into a movie seven times, with the 1985 Richard Pryor and John Candy version being best known.

The story revolves around Montgomery Brewster, a poor man who inherits a large sum of money. However, there is a catch—he has to spend every penny within 30 days but still end up with nothing after that time. Should he make the deadline he stands to gain an even larger sum, should he fail he remains penniless.

Brewster finds that spending so much money is more difficult that he first thinks, especially when the lawyers are trying to get him to fail so that they can claim the money. What makes it worse is that he starts to be a little too successful with some ventures, actually making money from them. Finally, just moments before the deadline, he manages to spend the last remnants of the cash and gets his rightful inheritance.

Play adaptation

The novel was adapted into a Broadway play by Winchell Smith and Byron Ongley. The play débuted at the New Amsterdam Theatre December 31, 1906.

Movie versions

Brewster's Millions (1914)

Director: Cecil B. DeMille & Oscar Apfel (based on the play)

Monty Brewster: Edward Abeles

Brewster's Millions (1921)

Director: Joseph Henabery
Screenplay: Walter Woods (based on the play)

Monte Brewster: Roscoe Arbuckle

Miss Brewster's Millions (1926)

Director: Clarence G. Badger
Screenplay: Monte Brice, Lloyd Corrigan & Harold Shumate (based on the play)

Polly Brewster: Bebe Daniels

Brewster's Millions (1935)

Director: Thornton Freeland
Screenplay: Douglas Furber & Paul Gangelin

Jack Brewster: Jack Buchanan

Brewster's Millions (1945)

Director: Allan Dwan
Screenplay: Siegfried Herzig & Wilkie C. Mahoney

Monty Brewster: Dennis O'Keefe

Three on a Spree (1961)

Director: Sidney J. Furie
Screenplay: Siegfried Herzig & James Kelley

Michael Brewster: Jack Watling

Supporting cast:

Carole Lesley - Susan
Renee Houston - Mrs. Gray
John Slater - Sid Johnson

Brewster's Millions (1985)

Summary

Brewster is an ageing minor league baseball pitcher, with the (fictional) Hackensack Bulls. The amounts involved in the inheritance in this version are $30 million (to be spent) and $300 million (the real windfall). As well as the usual range of wasteful spending gags, Brewster joins the race for Mayor of New York City and throws most of his money at a campaign urging a vote for "None of the Above". He also hires the New York Yankees for a three-inning exhibition against his Hackensack team, with himself as the pitcher.

Brewster is almost thwarted by a junior lawyer (Warren Cox) from the firm which is executing the inheritance. Cox has been bribed by partners of the firm to ensure Brewster fails to spend the entire $30 million, which he does by hiding a small amount of cash intended as a holding deposit on a purchase. At the last moment, Cox reveals his duplicity to Angela Drake, his fiancé and a paralegal who has been doing Brewster's accounting during the 30 days. Of course, Brewster himself has developed an unrequitted attachment to Angela; when Cox reveals the plot to her with barely a minute to spare, Angela steps in to save Brewster and complete the transfer of her affections.

Cast and crew

Director: Walter Hill
Screenplay: Herschel Weingrod & Timothy Harris

Montgomery Brewster: Richard Pryor

Supporting cast:

John Candy
- Spike Nolan
Lonette McKee
- Angela Drake
Stephen Collins
- Warren Cox
David White
- George Granville
Rick Moranis
- Morty King

[ Visit the complete Wikipedia entry for Brewster's Millions ]

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