22 unknown facts about the movie "Brewster's Millions": how much Monty really spent (12 photos)

The poor protagonist of the film has a millionaire relative who leaves a will with an unusual condition: he must spend a large sum of money within a certain period of time and remain poor. If he succeeds, the heir receives several times more money.





1. The film is based on the novel of the same name by American writer George Barr McCutcheon, written in 1902 and since then filmed 15 times (including 4 times in India).

2. Director Walter Hill had never made a comedy before. However, his candidacy was approved thanks to one of his previous films - "48 Hours" (1982). After all, where Eddie Murphy is filming, it's always fun.

2.1. Hill himself later admitted that he got involved in the production of "Millions" solely because of the millions of money.



3. "Millions" is connected to "48 Hours" by a chain of "Easter eggs". For example, the name of the bar Torchy's, where the opening brawl takes place at the beginning of the film, as well as the actress who played the waitress who calls the police. And they say that Reggie Hammond should have been played by Richard Pryor, not Murphy.





4. The philatelic rarity that Monty buys for $1.25 million and sends to Granville and Baxter actually exists and is called the "Inverted Jenny". By the way, Brewster chose the right stamp for his bad investment: its price did not reach the specified amount for a long time. Only in 2023, at one of the auctions, the "Jenny" was sold for $2 million.

5. Most of the scenes of the film were shot in New York and the surrounding area. With the exception of the stadium in, supposedly, Hackensack. In reality, these sets were located in California, near a power plant in one of the Los Angeles areas. You can guess that the stadium is definitely not in New Jersey by the mountains in the background.

6. Notice that the Statue of Liberty is in the woods? From 1984 to 1986, the sculpture was actually under restoration – it was being prepared for the celebration of the 100th anniversary.



7. In all previous adaptations of McCutcheon's novel, the main character only needed to spend $1 million in pursuit of $7 million. Inflation, sir!

8. In one of the previous film adaptations of "Millions" (1945), one of the roles was played by Neil Hamilton, who later played Commissioner Gordon in Batman (1966). Executor Horne in "Millions" (1985) was played by Pat Hingle, whose acting fate later led him to the same role in "Batman", but already in 1989, 1992, 1995 and 1997.



9. Shakespeare experts recognize references to "Hamlet" in "Millions". In particular, in the dialogue between Brewster and Nolan, when the former says, "I'm going to act like a madman for a while, but I'm not," and in the scene where Coach Charlie Pegler wishes Monty "Nighty-night, sweet prince" (in "Hamlet" - "Good night, sweet prince").

10. The Hackensack Bulls baseball team mascot costume was made in a week at Carol Flemming Costime Design.



11. Meet Yakov Naumovich Pokhis.



12. And here's another "Easter egg" for "48 Hours". Do you recognize the costume?



Well, of course!



13. How much did Monty really spend? At least $51 million. The winnings from betting ($5 million), Spike's successful machinations ($10 million), the $1 million invested in the iceberg adventure grew at least 6 times (that's how much the company's shares grew after its purchase by the oil company Vometko).

14. Although the New York Yankees game against the Hackensack Bulls is held on an away field in California, New Jersey, the New York team still plays in their "home" uniform.

15. Excerpt from Brewster's list of expenses: security - $1.160 million, beer and wine - $2.101.355 million, nightclub rental - $610 thousand, postcard - $1 (the one with the stamp worth $1.25 million), dental services for the baseball team - $31,400, helicopter rental - only $2 thousand, but five times (plus an additional paint job at $1 thousand for each car), 27 lifetime certificates to spas - $970 thousand, 2 hours of airtime for the election campaign - $1 million, campaign manager's salary - $450 thousand, salaries of other campaign employees - $3 million, satellite broadcast of airtime - $1.1 million, painting a Rolls-Royce in campaign colors - $6,000, returning a Rolls-Royce to its original paint job - $12 thousand, stadium rental - $100 thousand

16. Also: how many times did they re-paper Brewster's penthouse? Three times. In total, the renovations cost him $2 million.



17. After accepting the challenge and going outside, Monty immediately breaks the terms of the deal by inviting the crowd to a restaurant at his own expense. But his uncle put it very precisely: "You can't give away money."

18. Well, at the very end of the film, $20 thousand for Angela Drake's legal services is also a violation of the terms of the agreement. An advance payment is not considered an expense.

19. When Brewster first enters the room where he meets Roundfield, Granville and Baxter, everyone (including the secretary, who had been saying his name correctly up until then) clearly calls him "Rooster".

20. John Candy's agreement to play Spike Nolan was a surprise for Walter Hill. According to the director, the Canadian actor wanted to join the project after he learned that Pryor was already involved. At the same time, throughout the filming, Candy tried to please his partner, but he, in his own words, "hated me".



21. At the end of 2024, a sequel to Walter Hill's "Millions" was released, in which Monty's niece must pass the well-known test, but this time in the 2020s. I never got to see this film - if anyone was more successful, please share your impressions in the comments.

21.1. The role of Montgomery Brewster in this sequel is played by Richard Pryor's son from his first marriage (Richard Pryor Jr.). The film also stars Rain Pryor, the actor's daughter from his second marriage.

22. Budget – $15 million, box office receipts – $45.8 million.