{"id":2949,"date":"2007-04-07T22:05:36","date_gmt":"2007-04-08T05:05:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=2949"},"modified":"2022-02-25T10:50:44","modified_gmt":"2022-02-25T17:50:44","slug":"brewsters-millions-1945","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=2949","title":{"rendered":"Brewster&#8217;s Millions (1945)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;He wants you to spend until you&#8217;re sick of it &#8212; he wants you to learn to <em>hate<\/em> spending money!&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/Brewsters-Millions-Poster.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/Brewsters-Millions-Poster-196x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"196\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-23795\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/Brewsters-Millions-Poster-196x300.jpg 196w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/Brewsters-Millions-Poster-83x128.jpg 83w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/Brewsters-Millions-Poster.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 196px) 100vw, 196px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nMonty Brewster (Dennis O&#8217;Keefe) comes home from WWII to the news that his eccentric uncle has left him $8,000,000. The only catch is that he must spend $1,000,000 of it within 60 days, with no assets left at the end, and nobody &#8212; not even his bride-to-be (Helen Walker) &#8212; finding out what he&#8217;s doing.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Allan Dwan Films<\/li>\n<li>Comedy<\/li>\n<li>Inheritance<\/li>\n<li>Living Nightmare<\/li>\n<li>Millionaires<\/li>\n<li>Play Adaptation<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\n<em>Brewster&#8217;s Millions<\/em> &#8212; the eternally popular story about a man forced to spend a million dollars as quickly as possible &#8212; originated as a novel in 1902, was turned into a stage play in 1906, and has been adapted for film no less than <em>nine <\/em>times (twice in India). No matter which version you&#8217;re watching, however, it&#8217;s impossible not to immediately start calculating all the ways <em>you<\/em> would spend the money if you were in Monty&#8217;s shoes; indeed, as I expected, there was once a thread on the (now defunct) IMDb message board for the 1985 Richard Pryor version (which I haven&#8217;t seen), asking folks to contribute their thoughts on the subject. (Just for the record, I personally would hire somebody to help arrange an enormous gala event in as many towns and cities across the U.S. as possible, thereby giving the entire country a fun evening <em>and<\/em> calling it a million dollars within one day &#8212; but then there wouldn&#8217;t be much of a story to tell). <\/p>\n<p>Dennis O&#8217;Keefe does an admirable job in the title role, handling the fast-paced dialogue with ease, and remaining sympathetic (not an easy task) until the very end. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/Brewsters-MIllions-Walker.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/Brewsters-MIllions-Walker-1024x766.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"479\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-66230\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/Brewsters-MIllions-Walker-1024x766.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/Brewsters-MIllions-Walker-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/Brewsters-MIllions-Walker-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/Brewsters-MIllions-Walker-768x575.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/Brewsters-MIllions-Walker-361x270.png 361w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/Brewsters-MIllions-Walker.png 1375w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Performances by the rest of the cast &#8212; especially Eddie &#8216;Rochester&#8217; Anderson (Uncle Peter in <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=41976\"><em>Gone With the Wind<\/em><\/a>) as Monty&#8217;s raspy-voiced employee; Helen Walker as Monty&#8217;s understandably frustrated fiancee; and June Havoc as an aspiring dancer who misinterprets Monty&#8217;s motivations in funding her theatrical production &#8212; are fine as well. Unfortunately, however, it&#8217;s hard to really sit back and relax when watching <em>Brewster&#8217;s Millions<\/em>, given that we can&#8217;t help feeling anxious about both Monty&#8217;s troubles <em>and <\/em> the confusion his loved ones feel; plus, we&#8217;re kept in suspense about the outcome of Monty&#8217;s plight until literally the last few seconds of the film. As much as I enjoyed this well-made comedy, I won&#8217;t be coming back to it (or any other version of the story) anytime soon &#8212; I&#8217;m too exhausted! <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/Brewsters-Millions-Dates.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/Brewsters-Millions-Dates-1024x770.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"481\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-66224\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/Brewsters-Millions-Dates-1024x770.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/Brewsters-Millions-Dates-300x226.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/Brewsters-Millions-Dates-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/Brewsters-Millions-Dates-768x578.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/Brewsters-Millions-Dates-359x270.png 359w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/Brewsters-Millions-Dates.png 1371w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Dennis O&#8217;Keefe as Monty<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/Brewsters-Millions-OKeefe2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/Brewsters-Millions-OKeefe2-1024x760.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"475\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-66223\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/Brewsters-Millions-OKeefe2-1024x760.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/Brewsters-Millions-OKeefe2-300x223.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/Brewsters-Millions-OKeefe2-128x95.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/Brewsters-Millions-OKeefe2-768x570.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/Brewsters-Millions-OKeefe2-364x270.png 364w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/Brewsters-Millions-OKeefe2.png 1373w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Fine performances by the entire cast of supporting actors<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/Brewsters-Millions-Supporting3.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/Brewsters-Millions-Supporting3-1024x775.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"484\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-66227\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/Brewsters-Millions-Supporting3-1024x775.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/Brewsters-Millions-Supporting3-300x227.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/Brewsters-Millions-Supporting3-128x97.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/Brewsters-Millions-Supporting3-768x581.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/Brewsters-Millions-Supporting3-357x270.png 357w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/Brewsters-Millions-Supporting3.png 1371w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/Brewsters-Millions-Dancing2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/Brewsters-Millions-Dancing2-1024x769.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"481\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-66228\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/Brewsters-Millions-Dancing2-1024x769.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/Brewsters-Millions-Dancing2-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/Brewsters-Millions-Dancing2-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/Brewsters-Millions-Dancing2-768x577.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/Brewsters-Millions-Dancing2-359x270.png 359w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/Brewsters-Millions-Dancing2.png 1367w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Lots of snazzy dialogue:<br \/>\n<blockquote><p>&#8220;That Trixie&#8217;s loaded with dynamite &#8212; <em>and <\/em>sex! She throws it around like she&#8217;s watering a garden!&#8221;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nNo, but it&#8217;s recommended. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/imdb.com\/title\/tt0037557\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1945\/04\/27\/archives\/the-screen-money-to-burn.html\">NY Times Original Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;He wants you to spend until you&#8217;re sick of it &#8212; he wants you to learn to hate spending money!&#8221; Synopsis: Monty Brewster (Dennis O&#8217;Keefe) comes home from WWII to the news that his eccentric uncle has left him $8,000,000. The only catch is that he must spend $1,000,000 of it within 60 days, with no assets left at the end, and nobody &#8212; not even his bride-to-be (Helen Walker) &#8212; finding out what he&#8217;s doing. Genres, Themes, Actors, and&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=2949\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2949","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2949","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2949"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2949\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":81715,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2949\/revisions\/81715"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2949"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2949"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2949"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}