Brewster's Millions (1985)

A minor league baseball player has to spend thirty million dollars in thirty days, in order to inherit three hundred million dollars. However, he's not allowed to tell anyone about the deal.

Director:

Walter Hill

Writers:

George Barr McCutcheon (based on the novel by), Herschel Weingrod (screenplay)

Stars:

Richard Pryor, John Candy, Lonette McKee

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Richard Pryor	...	Montgomery Brewster
John Candy	...	Spike Nolan
Lonette McKee	...	Angela Drake
Stephen Collins	...	Warren Cox
Jerry Orbach	...	Charley Pegler
Pat Hingle	...	Edward Roundfield
Tovah Feldshuh	...	Marilyn
Hume Cronyn	...	Rupert Horn
Joe Grifasi	...	J.B. Donaldo
Peter Jason	...	Chuck Fleming
David White	...	George Granville
Jerome Dempsey	...	Norris Baxter
David Wohl	...	Eugene Provost
Ji-Tu Cumbuka	...	Melvin
Milt Kogan	...	Heller

Storyline

Brewster is a minor league baseball player. Unknown to him, he had a (recently deceased) rich relative. In order to test if Brewster knows the value of money, he is given the task of disposing of $30m in 30 days. Brewster isn't allowed to have any assets to show for the $30m or waste the money in any way. If successful, Brewster gets to inherit $300m. The biggest problem of all however, is that Brewster can't tell anyone what he's doing, so everyone thinks he's crazy. Add to this the fact that if he fails, two scheming trustees will get their hands on the money, Brewster's task is not an easy one.

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Plot Keywords:

minor league baseball | baseball player | spending money | wasting money | inheritance challenge | 

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Taglines:

Your Basic Riches-To-Rags Comedy

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 May 1985 (USA)

Also Known As:

Lluvia de dólares

Filming Locations:

L'Orangerie - 903 North La Cienega Boulevard, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$20,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$38,800,000

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$45,833,132

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures, Davis Entertainment, Lawrence Gordon Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The "Hackensack Bulls" mascot costume used for the movie was made by Carol Flemming Mascot Costumes. The studio ordered it at the last minute, and it was delivered within one week.

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Goofs

In the opening scene, they're supposedly playing at Hackensack New Jersey's home field, but the wider shots clearly show mountain ranges beyond the ballpark.

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Quotes

[On night 29, Angela Drake is calculating all the expenses and finds that Monty had spent the remaining $38,000 on the big party in the Plaza Hotel's Grand Ballroom; Brewster walks into the room to see the inevitable]
Monty Brewster: Hi. I thought I'd find you here. Listen, since Warren's not around, I... thought maybe I can escort you to the party.
Angela Drake: Monty, I'm real sorry about you retiring from baseball. I know how much it meant to you.
Monty Brewster: That's all right. I mean, it happens to everyone sooner or later. It's the ...
[...]

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Connections

Referenced in Major Crimes: Frozen Assets (2014)

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Soundtracks

In the Nick of Time
Words & Music by Huey Lewis and Ry Cooder
Performed by Patti LaBelle
Courtesy of MCA Records, Inc.

User Reviews

Great Comedy

Montgomery Brewster (Richard Pryor) is a down and out baseball player in the lower leagues along with his best friend Spike Nolan (John Candy). Out of the blue he inherits 30 Million Dollars that he must spend in 30 Days and have nothing to show for it, so he can get his real inheritance of 300 Million Dollars; oh yes and he he can't tell anyone why he has to waste all this money.

This excellent and hilarious story is played out brilliantly by Pryor and Candy, and it takes us on a spending spree that has its up and downs for poor Mr Brewster. Because of the nature of the movies theme, Brewsters millions is quite firmly rooted in the 80's when it was made, but it still entertains with ease and is well worth watching.

7/10