BREWSTER'S MILLIONS

'''Brewster's Millions''' is a novel written by George Barr McCutcheon in 1902, originally under the pseudonym of Richard Greaves. It was adapted into a play in 1906, which opened at the Globe Theatre (now called the Gielgud Theatre), and the novel or play has been made into a movie nine times (including twice in India). The 1985 version starring Richard Pryor and John Candy is perhaps the best known.

Contents

Plot introduction

Plot summary

Film, TV or theatrical adaptations

Play adaptation

Movie versions

''Indian Versions''

External links

Plot introduction

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.

Plot summary

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.

Film, TV or theatrical adaptations

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

Title	Year	Director	Brewster	Notes
''Brewster's Millions''	1914	Cecil B. DeMille & Oscar Apfel	Edward Abeles	Based on the play
''Brewster's Millions''	1921	Joseph Henabery	Roscoe Arbuckle	Screenplay by Walter Woods, based on the play
''Miss Brewster's Millions''	1926	Clarence G. Badger	Bebe Daniels	Screenplay by Monte Brice, Lloyd Corrigan & Harold Shumate, based on the play
''Brewster's Millions''	1935	Thornton Freeland	Jack Buchanan	Screenplay by Douglas Furber & Paul Gangelin
''Brewster's Millions''	1945	Allan Dwan	Dennis O'Keefe	Screenplay by Siegfried Herzig & Wilkie C. Mahoney
''Three on a Spree''	1961	Sidney J. Furie	Jack Watling	Screenplay by Siegfried Herzig & James Kelley
''Brewster's Millions''	1985	Walter Hill	Richard Pryor	Screenplay by Herschel Weingrod & Timothy Harris, the most famous version of the film

''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. Tamil actor Rajinikanth led the cast.

External links

★

★ ''Brewster's Millions'', online at Ye Olde Library

★

★ Internet Movie Database listings:

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★ ''Brewster's Millions'' (1914 version)

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★ ''Brewster's Millions'' (1921 version)

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★ ''Miss Brewster's Millions''

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★ ''Brewster's Millions'' (1935 version)

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★ ''Brewster's Millions'' (1945 version)

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★ ''Three on a Spree''

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★ ''Brewster's Millions'' (1985)

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★ ''Maalamaal'' (1988)

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★ ''Arunachalam'' (1997)