Brewster's Millions

"Has it occurred to you that it will be no easy task to spend a million dollars without in some way violating the restrictions in your uncle's will, thereby losing both fortunes?" Poor Monty Brewster, twice heir to a fortune.

Just as he is beginning to adjust to his cold and distant Grandfather's "paltry" million dollar bequest, an even more mysterious benefactor emerges, offering to leave him some "real" wealth.

All he has to do is be penniless at 9:00 on the morning of his 26th Birthday.

It seems like an easy task, but Monty discovers that it is no easy matter to divest oneself of one million dollars in 1903, especially as the bank insists on paying him $19, 607.84 in interest per day. And, what can one do when each ridiculous "sure-loss" suddenly skyrockets when you invest in it?

Money seems to flow in faster than one can throw it overboard. And then, there is Peggy and Barbara; how are they going to react to each attempt to squander a fortune?

Can he keep the girl while losing the money? First published in 1903, under the pseudonym Richard P.

Greaves, "Brewster's Millions" was one of George Barr McCutcheons most successful titles. The prolific author was noted for his ability to write page-turners, full of vivid characters, and with an attention to detail.

There have, in fact, been six movie versions of this one book; 1914, 1921, 1926, 1935, 1945, and most recently in 1985, with Richard Pryor, John Candy, Lonette McKee, Pat Hingle, and Hume Cronyn.

That is vivid testament to a really good story, well told.