Customer Reviews

The Fortune Cookie

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

"The Fortune Cookie" has long been one of my favorite Billy Wilder movies, and I was pleased to see it's release on DVD, especially in the original widescreen format. While the movie and performances are great (especially Walter Matthau in his Oscar-winning turn), and the script by Wilder and I.A.L. Diamond hits the target, I was very disappointed in the lackluster transfer to disc that this unqualified classic received. Sure, the letterboxing is great, but halfway through the film, the sound quality takes a turn for the worse - less audible, and almost scratchy at times. Plus, the only "extra" is the original trailer, and there is no additional booklet. Surely a genius like Wilder deserves better preservation than this!

Jack Lemmon is a TV camerman. During a pro-football telecast, he is hit along the sidelines by an out-of-bounds player and immediately taken to the hospital with possible injuries. Enter his crooked lawyer brother-in-law, Willy Gingrich (Walter Mathau). This lawyer convinces Lemmon to fake a back injury in order to collect BIG bucks from the insurance company. The movie title refers to a message in a fortune cookie (You can fool all the people some of the time......).

Although not at the level of "Some Like It Hot", this is one of Billy Wilder's best comedies. His view of humanity is certainly cynical and bleak, but not nihilistic. The best performance is by Mathau who plays Willy to the hilt. He's wonderful and deserved his Oscar. The music by Andre Previn is also very good and very sly. You won't be disappointed. Bring on the DVD!

I first saw this film on television when I was a kid way back in the 70's, and immediately fell in love with it, Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau. It is not a laugh riot, but a cleverly written little film with witty references, tongue-in-cheek throw away lines and fine, subtle performances.

Equally under-appreciated is Andre Previn's haunting musical score. I wish THAT were available as a CD somewhere. A stirring use of strings.

Even if you're not a football fan, this is a great film. If you're not a fan of lawyers, then this is definately a great film.

It's funny, plausible, and if you're from Cleveland, or a Cleveland Browns fan, then you must see this video. Especially at the end when the credits thank Art Modell for his help in the production of the film. Get the tomatoes and eggs ready for heaving as soon as his name comes up...but remember it's still your TV set.

I remember when "The Fortune Cookie" came out and I assumed that I would see it sooner or later but it wasn't until tonight that I had the opportunity. I was aware of the storyline and I knew that Lemmon and Matthau would make quite a team and I was right. The "Odd Couple" personalities are in view and the writing is excellent with Billy Wilder replacing Neil Simon. However, I kept getting the sense that this movie is too long. There are some side stories that could be diminished or even eliminated. I'm not talking about the "Boom Boom" Jackson character. Rather, there seemed to be a lot of redundencies throughout the movie. The private eye gets too much coverage as does the insurance company representatives. The ex-wife is a nice twist to the plot but we got the idea early and didn't need such an extensive development of the renewed relationship. There are other examples as well but I think I may be emphasizing this too much.

The end was not as I had expected although not greatly off the mark. However, the movie is not centered around the plot so much as it is around the interaction between Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon. Matthau won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his preformance in what would appear to have been a leading role. I have no problem with that (although I really was impressed that year with Mako in "The Sand Pebbles"). I guess that's the core of my objection to the length of the movie; too much subplot interrupting the Matthau/Lemmon chemistry.

Matthau and Lemon in an underated Billy Wilder film from the mid sixties. Once again Wilder and Diamond put a regular fella in a morally compromising position. Jack Lemmon, a divorced television camera man is involved in an accident with a football player, then is coereced by his low life brother in law, Walter Matthau, into pretending he is paralyzed from the impact and a law suite is put into motion. It is a funny and touching story, wonderfully directed and watching Lemmon and Matthau is always a double treat.

Walter Mattahu was playing mostly ":heavys" in films for about ten years until "The Fortune Cookie" He wins an Oscar for role and "this is not one of his better roles"?

From this point ..on in his career ..how many more "heavys" did he play? The great team of I.A.L. Diamond and Wilder are at work here and its fun all the way.Cliff Osmond is a standout.

A real glimpse of Old Cleveland Municiple stadium and a younger Keith Jackson are a bonus for sports fans.What ever happened to Judy West, who plays Lemmon,s ex ( running of with Gus Gilroy)?

Watch quickly for the great Sig Rumann as a doctor ( Fake"! )

"The Fortune Cookie" is full of laughs with the great duo of Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon. It is a cynical comedy showing human nature and how money can corrupt. TV-cameraman Harry Hinkle (Lemmon) is covering a football game when Boom Boom Jackson (Ron Rich) a football player trying to make an extra 5 yards runs over him on the sidelines. Willie Gingrich (Matthau) his brother-in-law is a ambulance-chasing attorney who sees a chance for a major settlement. He pleads with Harry to exaggerate the extent of his injury and then sues the football team, the network and the stadium for a vast amount of money. Meanwhile Boom Boom feels guilty he has injured a man so badly, and suspends his career to care for Willie. Willie calls in Harry's ex-wife when Harry starts to waffle on carrying the scheme forward. Harry's ex wife (Judi West) is an aspiring singer whose renewed compassion for Willie, seems to be enhanced by the thought of money. Harry and Willie also realize they are being followed and taped by detectives hired by the insurance company. They rent an apartment across the street to follow every move. Soon Harry tires of the deception, he becomes guilt-ridden for exploiting the innocent football player. He is also disgusted with the ease his ex can be bribed to get money for a vain self-centered singing career. Willie, however, won't have this! He has no intention of seeing his part of a huge settlement disappear.l

Both Lemmon and Matthau are fun to watch, especially Matthau as he plays the determined lawyer. Overall it is a hilarious morality tale

A football player Luther 'Boom Boom' Jackson (Ron Rich) accidentally knocks down Harry Hinkle (Jack Lemmon) a television camera operator. Learning of Harry's childhood injury brother-in-law Willie Gingrich (Walter Matthau) a lawyer sees an opportunity and seizes that opportunity. Willie with the assistance of Hinkle's ex-wife Sandy Hinkle (Judi West) railroads him into faking an injury.

Will Harry succumb to their will?
Will Luther 'Boom Boom' Jackson ever play again?
Will Willie and Sandy realize the fruits of their efforts?

This movie is not so much of a comedy as it is an interaction between people and ideals. We as observers are taken along for the ride. However, you may find yourselves kibitzing occasionally.

The movie is worth watching at least once. Everyone does a fine job of acting. You will feel like you are back in 1966 and waiting for the big game. You will not be disappointed.

Movie has all the right elements, and generally delivers, but lags slightly in spots. Beginning of the legendary Matthau and Lemon pairing. Matthau delivers the zingers with aplomb as always and Lemon hits his nuerotic notes. Boom Boom is sweet and Lemon charming doing the wheelchair waltz around his apartment.
Just a half-beat short of triumphant, but still a solid classic.