Brewster's Millions (1945) is one of a number of adaptations of the novel of the same name by George Barr McCutcheon. An ex-serviceman, played by Dennis O'Keefe, receives an unusual inheritance.
The film was banned in Memphis, Tennessee because the character of an African-American servant, portrayed by Eddie "Rochester" Anderson, was treated too well.[1][2]
Louis Forbes was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture.
Plot
Montague L. Brewster (Dennis O'Keefe), a newly discharged soldier, rushes home to marry his sweetheart, Peggy Gray (Helen Walker). However, he has to postpone the wedding after he learns of a strange windfall.
His deceased uncle has left him eight million dollars, but he can inherit the money only if he can spend a million of it before his thirtieth birthday, only two months away, without keeping any assets. The lawyer explains that Brewster's relative hoped it would make him so sick of spending that the rest of the fortune would not be wasted. The conditions include not telling anyone what he is doing. Brewster reluctantly agrees.
He sets up Brewster and Company and hires his wartime buddies Hacky Smith (Joe Sawyer) and Noppy Harrison (Herbert Rudley) as vice presidents and Peggy as his private secretary. However, despite his best efforts, most of his schemes to lose money become profitable.
Worse, Peggy becomes jealous of Brewster spending a great deal of time with first socialite Barbara Drew (Gail Patrick), then showgirl Trixie Summers (June Havoc), even though he is only using them to help squander the million. Peggy breaks up with Brewster, but her wise mother (Nana Bryant) persuades her to go on a costly cruise with him and the cast of a failed play he financed.
When Brewster's chartered yacht is disabled, he is ecstatic to learn that getting a tow from a nearby ship will cost him a huge salvage fee. As the deadline approaches, Brewster thinks he has met his goal, only to have his friends present him with $40,012 that they have recovered from his failed ventures. Luckily, he is able to get rid of the money by paying the executor's fee, an old $10 debt, and the last $2 for a cab fare, just before time runs out.
Cast
References
External links
