Windfall by Robert Andrews has also been published under the title If I Had A Million, renamed to match the film version. Either way, I thought it would be a whimsical what-if novel, with possible romances on the side. It was quite a bit more than that.
Written in 1931, the prospect of receiving a million dollars must have been exciting, but the flip side is quickly revealed, cautioning the dreamers to not wish too far above their position in life, and assuring the hardworking that indeed, money does not buy happiness.
On his deathbed, the famous John Gould reflects on his life accumulating a 20 million dollar fortune. Outside the room, he is irritated to see his few distant relatives planning what they will do with their share of the loot. In his last hours, he asks his lawyer to change his will, leaving a total sum of one million dollars to ten strangers he chooses randomly out of the phone directory. It is free and clear, but he asks they report back to the lawyer in two years to tell them what they did with it. This begins a two year trial for the lawyer who feels the money is too much for people to handle, and a new beginning for ten unsuspecting strangers.
There is Mary, who has been around, and all the other women know it. She can change her name and buy anything she wants, with no need to rely on a man again. TX Zelowski has built up a profitable show store for his family based on solid deals and paying his bills. Mrs. Babette Goldstien is an overworked housewife who has no reaction to the lawyer's cheque, her husband Harry will know what to do. Although she remembers his words "nobody else has a share in it, not even your husband. It is yours".
Abe Yeager is on death row. He freely admits killing the man who stole his girlfriend and wants no recourse, before the lawyer turns up. Dude O'Brian is a street tough turned boxer who has always been the man in charge but is now fighting blindness. When the lawyer was sick, he sent his assistant to deliver the cheque to Marion Jones. Suddenly the two are to be wed, unless the lawyer can stop it. Clement Schweizer is just a young boy, whose parents fighting has led them to court where it's decided he must be removed from them. Elmer Whitney is an overworked industrialist who has given all to his family at the expense of his health. Ralph Anderson is a struggling poet, and the freedom the money will bring will surely help his creativity. And finally, Leopold Brown, who has worked his whole life to earn one million dollars, only to receive a free cheque of - one million dollars.
Far from whimsical, these stories are realistic and gritty. In some cases there is the illusion of happiness, but real-life sets in and the burden of a fortune is heavy to bear. Due to various circumstances, not all of them arrive at the two year mark to report on what they have done. The novel introduces each character in turn and then the second half reveals their follow-up stories. Some fortunes are completely lost, some frittered away, some bring peace and happiness and some of them lead the characters to the true home they desire. It's a grab bag of fates and emotions.
It must have been a dynamite read at the time, 1931, offering the dream of receiving a cheque like that yourself, and the comfort of knowing the turmoil it presents.
Well written with unforeseen twists and unexpected reactions, even the characters were not what I expected. If you have read this, please let me know what you thought of the end. I'm not going to reveal it, but it was a shocker, and unnecessary I thought.
Robert Andrews went on to write over forty-six screenplays and several radio plays. At one point he was writing seven daily radio dramas at once, from noon to midnight seven days a week. He was also a consultant on the TV series The Millionaire (1955 - 60), which had the same plot as this novel.
I read a 1940 Triangle Books edition of the novel, in which someone has written on the flyleaf in pencil, Very Good, Aug 53'
1931 / Hardcover / 280 pages
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