Brewster's Millions (1985 film)

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Promotional movie poster for the film

Brewster's Millions is a 1985 film starring Richard Pryor based on the 1902 novel of the same name by George Barr McCutcheon. It is the seventh film based on the story, with a screenplay by Herschel Weingrod & Timothy Harris. It was directed by Walter Hill.

[edit] Plot summary

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

See Brewster's Millions for the plot of the original novel

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," only to be forced to withdraw from the race when he learns that he is leading in the polls. 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.