Brewster's Millions (1935) User Reviews

This musical version is enjoyable but can't match the 1945 film for comedy

[SimonJack · 6/10 · 17 January 2021]

This 1935 British film is the first sound picture made of the 1902 novel and play by George Barr McCutcheon. Two silent films were made before this, and the first straight comedy would be made in 1945 by Edward Small and United Artists in the U.S. That would prove to be the best of several versions, including a couple later ones; although the 1985 Universal picture that starred Richard Pryor was quite good.

Jack Buchannan does well in portraying the frantic time his Jack Brewster has in trying to squander 500,000 pounds in a short time, in order to inherit his distant uncle's entire fortune. But this film comes across as two separate films shuffled together. One is a musical, mostly resembling a musical revue, and the other is the comedy. The comedy is mostly lost in this transition back and forth.

The best thing about this version of the story is the musical numbers with Jack Buchanan's dancing and singing. But for laughs, be sure to see the 1945 film that stars Dennis O'Keefe.

Passable Fantasy Film - Brewster's Millions

[arthur_tafero · 6/10 · 23 March 2022]

The Brewster's Millions plot has been done several times (either under this title or other titles with similar circumstances) by several different directors and actors. Some are done very well, while others are a bit too slick. This particular version is passable and view-worthy.

The story revolves around a young man with little money who inherits several million pounds. However, there is a caveat that he must spend half a million pounds in a short period of time in order to obtain the balance of the inheritance. Some Depression-era audiences found this to be amusing, while others found it to be silly. Judge for yourself.

Lack Of Flair In directing and choreography hampers film

[malcolmgsw · 5/10 · 29 May 2012]

This was the first sound version of this hoary old chestnut but already it was the fourth film version.Jack Buchanan and the rest of the cast are poorly directed.there are some good tunes but they are woefully staged and filmed.They are often photographed in medium shot or medium close up.Just compare them to say "the Carioca","the continental" or "Lullaby of Broadway".All numbers which still linger in the memory.Here the numbers just seem to go on for ages with no particular purpose.The best things in this film are Lil Damita and Fred Emney.the sight of Emney trying a high step routine is definitely one to behold.The climax of this film is a sad comedic failure and about as unfunny as you could get.Not a memorable effort.

Awful but watchable

[loza-1 · 2/10 · 30 April 2005]

The basic idea that someone must spend a million to get even more as the terms of a legacy has been described as "the most ridiculous plot ever invented." I agree.

Added to the stupid plot is the state of the British film industry at the time: tinny orchestras, cadaverous makeup, wooden acting, puerile dialogue.

The jokes in this so-called comedy must have been threadbare at the time the film was made, let alone now.

it is no exaggeration to say that the entire cast is totally out acted by Damita (even is the makeup department does manage to add about 30 years to her age), but then again, she has no opposition. Of the rest of the cast only Fred Emny looks comfortable in front of the camera. Leading man Jack Buchanan is - apart from the Scottish accent - typical of the overdressed fop of leading man in British pictures at the time. In this film i am afraid he is not only fop but flop.

The standard of the jokes is a man being given a pair of opera glasses to look at a girl on stage. he remarks that she is very small. The man next to him turns the opera glasses round the other way for him. It really is that bad.

There are some redeeming features about this film. One is that the music is performed by Geraldo and his orchestra: the music is not only listenable, it's good. There are some pretty good dance sequences, especially in the scenes set in Corsica, where Damita is dressed as Santa Rosalia, who embodies the features of St George and St Joan of Arc.

Alas, the Corsica scenes are the best that it gets, and the film finishes as a poor farce.

Geraldo and Damita are the only good things about this film.