Brewster's Millions (1945 film)
| Brewster's Millions | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Directed by |
Allan Dwan John E. Burch (assistant) |
| Produced by | Edward Small |
| Written by |
Sig Herzig Wilkie C. Mahoney Winchell Smith |
| Based on | the 1902 novel Brewster's Millions by George Barr McCutcheon and the 1906 stage play of the same name by Byron Ongley and Winchell Smith |
| Starring |
Dennis O'Keefe Helen Walker June Havoc Eddie "Rochester" Anderson |
| Music by | Hugo Friedhofer |
| Cinematography | Charles Lawton Jr. |
| Edited by | Richard Heermance |
|
Production
company |
Edward Small Productions
|
| Distributed by | United Artists |
|
Release date
|
|
|
Running time
|
79 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $750,000 (est.) |
Brewster's Millions (1945) is one of a number of adaptations of the novel of the same name by George Barr McCutcheon. In the original Brewster's Millions, the hero was a stockbroker; in this version, Brewster is a returning soldier.
The film was banned in Memphis, Tennessee, because the character of an African-American servant, portrayed by Eddie "Rochester" Anderson, was treated too well.
Louis Forbes was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture.
Montague L. Brewster (Dennis O'Keefe), a newly discharged U.S. soldier back from fighting in Europe during World War II, rushes home in New York City 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 $8 million, but he can inherit the money only if he can spend a million of it before his 30th birthday, only two months away by October 13, 1944, 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.
Brewster sets up his own investment company called Brewster & 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. Smith and Harrison (mistakingly thinking that Brewster has gone crazy due to his spending sprees), begin to thwart all of his spending schemes. At the same time, 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 after Smith and Harrison close it down.
...
Wikipedia