Remembrance Wall

Title: Brewster’s Millions

Date: 1921

Distributor: Famous Players-Lasky

Director: Joseph Henabery

Cast: Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle, Betty Ross Clark, Fred Huntley, Marian Skinner, James Corrigan, Jean Acker, Charles Ogle, Neely Edwards, William Boyd, L.J. McCarthy, Parker McConnell, John MacFarlane.

Summary: When Monte Brewster inherits $2 million from his grandfather Brewster, his other grandfather says he will give Monte $10 million if he can spend the $2 million in one year and stay single. Monte tries to spend the money, but his schemes to lose money end up making money. In addition, his friends (including Peggy Gray) who are supposed to be helping him spend the money are actually saving it and investing it for him. Finally, Monte loses all his money on an ill-fated cruise to Peru, but he has married Peggy so he doesn’t get the $10 million and he has lost all of the original $2 million. Just when all seems lost, the salvaged yacht gives Monte a sizable sum and Peggy’s investment in a Peruvian silver mine pays off.

Notes: Once hugely popular, Fatty Arbuckle’s film career came to a screeching halt in 1921 after he was accused of raping and murdering actress Virgina Rappe. As a result of the sensational media coverage that followed, Arbuckle’s films were pulled from distribution and many lost as a result. Despite being acquitted of any wrongdoing, Fatty Arbuckle remains widely remembered as an obese silent film actor who crushed a lady to death during an afternoon of debauchery.