Brewster's Millions
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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 has 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, and end up with nothing at 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 than he first thinks, especially when the lawyers are trying to make him 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.
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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 aging 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 fiancée and a paralegal who has been doing Brewster's accounting during the 30 days. Of course, Brewster himself has developed an unrequited 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
Indian Versions
Maalamaal (1988)
This Hindi version was released in India during 1988. The plot remains the same — spend 30 million Rupees in 30 days to earn 300 million Rupees. It is an obvious scene-by-scene Indianisation of the 1985 Richard Pryor movie. Kawal Sharma directs, with Naseeruddin Shah playing the role of the Raj (Brewster), Satish Shah his sidekick and Poonam Dhillon as the accountant.
Arunachalam (1997)
A Tamil film based on the Brewster story, with significant differences from earlier versions, particularly in the first half. Many plotlines are interwoven, but the basic concept, spending 30 million in 30 days, remains. Superstar Tamil actor Rajinikanth leads the cast.
External links
- Internet Movie Database listings: