A Million to Burn

A young, impetuous college boy, Tom Gwynne, finds himself thrust into the unlikely role of resort manager, a promotion from his humble waiter position by the hotel's owner. His initial tenure is marked by a cavalier disregard for conventional business acumen, resulting in a significant financial hemorrhage for the establishment. Just as his managerial ineptitude becomes glaringly apparent, fate intervenes with a substantial inheritance – a cool million. Empowered by this newfound wealth, Gwynne acquires the very hotel he nearly ruined, embarking on an audacious, if ill-conceived, social experiment. His vision: to transform the resort into a haven for artistic self-expression, where employees are encouraged to pursue their creative passions – be it acrobatics, music, or dance – rather than adhere to the rigid demands of hospitality. This utopian ideal, however, swiftly devolves into financial pandemonium, as the resort, now a vibrant but utterly unsustainable artistic commune, careens towards inevitable bankruptcy. The original, more pragmatic manager eventually steps in, repurchasing the derelict property. In a surprising turn, having witnessed the spectacular failure of his own avant-garde philosophy, a chastened Tom Gwynne is retained, now equipped with the invaluable, albeit costly, wisdom gleaned from his grand, ruinous endeavor.