TrueJoshNight Truly Dreadful Film

WasAnnon Slow pace in the most part of the movie.

ShangLuda Admirable film.

Limerculer A waste of 90 minutes of my life

SimonJack Walter Matthau won his Academy Award for his role in "The Fortune Cookie." As Willie Gingrich, he concocts a get-rich scheme. Willie has a nickname around the courts and the legal profession. He's known as "Whiplash Willie." He and brother-in-law Harry Hinkle (played by Jack Lemmon) will take the insurance companies to the cleaners. It's all made possible when Hinkle is laid out by a football player on the sidelines of a pro football game. He is a TV sports cameraman, and millions of viewers saw the accident on live TV. The only problem is that, except for a slight concussion, Harry is all right. In comes the skullduggery that makes this a very funny caper comedy. Harry suffered a compressed vertebra as a youngster. It's the type of injury that doctors can't tell is old or recent. While Harry is an honest guy, he still pines for his ex-wife, Sandy (played by Judi West). She ran off with a guy from her small-time song and dance show. Willie convinces Harry that his injury might bring Sandy back. And, besides, the insurance companies can afford it for all of what they rake in. And, he's probably right on the negligence of the stadium. So, Harry agrees to go along with the hoax. He feigns numbness of an arm and leg, and wears a neck brace. He gets around with an electric wheelchair Willie makes sure things hum by encouraging Sandy, who comes back to stay and care for Harry. Willie brings in an ex-con dentist who gives Harry Novocain shots to numb his arm and leg before the doctors examine him. He covers the needle marks by injecting through Harry's freckles. And, Willie welcomes the law firm of the team and stadium to have all the doctors they want to examine Harry. Most of the doctors agree that the injury is real. But one doctor, Professor Winterhalter, thinks Hinkle is a fraud. The professor is played by long-time popular and very funny supporting actor Sig Ruman. And, Purkey, a detective, says he smells a fake. Purkey knows Willie, and Willie knows Purkey, but the O'Brien law firm tells Purkey to pull out all stops and investigate Hinkle. So, he uses wiretaps, plants microphones and sets up a camera directly across the street. Willie discovers these things right away and warns Harry and Sandy. This will all play into a very funny ending. The film is billed as a dark comedy, and that aspect injects a serious note. The football player who ran into Harry was Luther "Boom Boom" Jackson (played superbly by Ron Rich). Harry's injury gets to him and he begins to make miscues in succeeding football games. After a while, he turns to the bottle and jeopardizes his career. That part of the film is never really straightened out by the end, although Harry fesses up to Boom Boom. This was the first pairing of Matthau and Lemmon, who would make eight comedies together over 30 years. Most are very funny and were huge successes at the box office. Here are some favorite lines from this film. Willie Gingrich, "I'm his brother-in-law, sister." Sister Veronica, "I see." Willie Gingrich, "And this is his mother, sister. And this is my wife, his sister, sister." Sister Veronica, "How do you do."Willie Gingrich, "Oh, doc, any ruptures, broken bones, internal bleeding?" Intern, smiling, "I don't think so." Willie Gingrich, "You don't think so? How long you been out of medical school?" Intern, "Four months." Willie Gingrich, "That long, huh?"Willie Gingrich, "What's the matter? You feel sorry for insurance companies?"Sandy Hinkle, "You should have run after me and belted me if you would. Drug me back." Harry Hinkle, "Oh it's lucky I didn't... because I would have strangled you with one of Gus Gilroy's fancy ties. That's how nice and kind I am."Harry Hinkle, "And stupid, huh? Never read a book in her life. I to...wh... She read one book, "The Carpetbaggers." End of six months, she was on page 19."Willie Gingrich, "You know, Harry. I've seen guys carry a torch before, but you're the champ. You could carry it from Greece to Mexico City to open the next Olympic games." Willie Gingrich, "Are you sure?" Dr. Krugman, "Why do you think I'm wearing this outfit - 'cause I'm a barber?" Willie Gingrich, "Oh, I don't mean to question your comp..." Dr. Krugman, "So don't kibitz." Mr. Cimoli, "Hey, how much do you think my pain is worth?" Willie Gingrich, "By itself, nothing. So, it's a good thing you came to me. Before we're through with them, we'll have them begging for mercy." Mr. Cimoli, "Who's them?" Willie Gingrich, "That I haven't figured out yet. But don't go away. I'll think if maybe..." Willie Gingrich, "What're you watchin'?" Harry Hinkle, watching television, "An old movie about Abraham Lincoln." Willie Gingrich, "Lincoln! Great President. Lousy lawyer." Harry Hinkle, as Doc Schindler is about to give him a shot of Novocain in the arm, "I sure hope they don't give me a saliva test."Harry Hinkle, as Doc Schindler gives him a shot of Novocain in the leg, "What if I get an infection from this?" Willie Gingrich, "So, we sue the hospital for using dirty needles."Sister Veronica, "Doesn't it do your heart good? I have a hunch he'll be up and around in no time." Willie Gingrich, "Huh, huh, huh. Now look, sister, I asked you to pray for him, but we don't want any miracles."Harry Hinkle, "Funny thing about marriage. It's like being in the Army. Everybody knocks it, but don't be surprised how many guys reenlist."

JLRMovieReviews Jack Lemmon, sports cameraman covering a football game, get tackled by player. That's the headline, and what the spectators saw. What they don't know is that he is instigating a personal injury lawsuit - at least, under the influence of his attorney brother-in-law, whose reputation has earned him the nickname "Whiplash," played mercilessly by Walter Matthau. The elaborate hoax must be maintained to get a million dollars. But detective Cliff Osmond has his duty to watch the "victim in question" at all times. Such begins a very dark and cleverly-written movie by Billy Wilder and collaborator I. A. L. Diamond. Jack Lemmon is one of my favorite actors, who can play Mr. Everyman, but it is Walter Matthau who literally steals the picture out from under everyone else. Lurene Tuttle as Jack's mother and Walter's mother-in-law has a great bit as she cries hysterically throughout the film and Cliff Osmond gives a very believable performance as the devoted detective. But when Walter is in the scene, he takes over. Ironically during the making of this film, he suffered a heart attack. But you wouldn't know it from his full force, no holds barred and loving-every-minute-of-the-kill performance that won him a very deserved Oscar. But what happens? Does Jack Lemmon get a last-minute conscience? Do they get a million dollar check? Jack's wife, who left him for another man, shows up –oddly enough- when she hears of this lawsuit. And then, there's the football player who's miserable for running into Jack and is almost the only decent person in the whole movie. What you're about to do is go ONDEMAND and find the fortune cookie. Confucious say beware of people named "Whiplash" but enjoy yourself.

ironhorse_iv Marked as the first pairing of Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau, who subsequently worked together on 11 future additional films, the Fortune Cookie directed by Billy Wilder, was a tasty delight. The movie tells the story of a crooked lawyer, Willie Gingrich (Walter Matthau) whom persuades his brother-in-law, a CBS sport-cameraman Harry Hinkle (Jack Lemmon), to feign a serious injury, so that, both can receive a huge indemnity from the insurance company. Without spoiling the movie, too much, I have to say, while it's not the funniest movie, in Billy Wilder's filmography, but it's by far, my favorite John Lemmon & Billy Wilder film, they shot together. Jack Lemmon was near-perfect in this film. He wasn't so over the top, here, like his previous roles. The way, he acted like he was injury, honestly made me believe, he was indeed stuck being wheelchair bound, at times. Walter Matthau as Willie Gingrich, was just as hysterical and wonderful as Jack Lemmon. Matthau won his Academy Award Oscar for Best Supporting Actor playing bottom feeding lawyer, Whiplash Willie from this film. I think he deserve that win, big time. Walter Matthau really put, everything in this role. Mad props, go to the fact that Walter return to the role, after suffering a heart attack. He had slimmed from 190 to 160 pounds by the time filming was completed, and had to wear a heavy black coat to conceal the weight loss. That's shows, how driven, he was, to this film. Despite, his character being a shyster, Walter had enough charm with his attitude, to make Whiplash Willie, a bit likable. The chemistry between Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau is so far, the best thing in the film. They bonded so well. So, it was no surprise that they would remain friends the rest of their lives. The snobbish Lemmon and the bad-tempered Matthau provided the perfect counter-point. The supporting characters were pretty good, as well. While, his character was a bit underdeveloped, I kinda Ron Rich as Luther "Boom-Boom" Jackson. A lot of people, criticize his character as a man-servant, but I don't think it, that way. He felt guilty, for 'injuring', Harry, so he just wanted to help. He had that All-American Boy-Scout charm. It hasn't nothing to do with his race. One of my favorite characters in this film has to be Cliff Osmond as Chester Purkey, Private Eye Insurance investigator. I love the whole cat-and-mouse game starts between him and Gingrich. The only character that I didn't like, was Judi West as Sadie Hinkle. It wasn't, because her character was one-dimensional selfish or the actress portraying her didn't do a good job. It was, because how late, in the film, she appeared. For somebody, that supposed help, the good nature, Harry to go along with the scheme. She really doesn't get, much screen-time for odd reason. While, this movie has some of Billy Wilder's most famous trademarks, such as feature characters who try to change their identity, women often represented as dangerous, lust, greed and manipulative, and last often cynical but humorous, sweet and sour dialogue. There was one thing that this movie was missing from the great Hollywood provocateur. It didn't have that great narration. With no narration, the movie moves like a book, instead of a film; from chapter title screen to chapter title screen. While, this seem like nitpicking. The way, the film does its story-telling, makes it seem like the source was taken from a famous book, than an original work. It was a bit weird. This movie might be one of the very earlier films, that I can remember, that had product placement. Like Wilder's previous film, 1961's One, Two, Three, which feature the Coca-Cola company; this film has the National Football League (NFL), and Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) intertwining with the script; giving the movie, a sense of realism. While the film does somewhat make those companies look bad, due to how stubborn, their insurance companies were; it does give some insight, of what these companies were going, through at, the time. The first Super Bowl was only a year, away after all. I like how Billy Wilder shot the opening sequence during an actual Vikings-Browns game on October 31, 1965. Surprising, this might be the only footage of that game, as networks at the time, commonly wiped broadcast sports tapes at the time, and recorded over with different content to save cost. So, if you ever, like to see an old school football game, before the 1970 merger. Between the NFL and AFL (American Football League). Here is your chance! Even if you're not a football fan, this is a great film. The movie had a great story that influence other works, such as 1990's TV Shows like Simpsons and Wing's episodes, where they tackle a similar premise. Overall: The fortune cookie is worth a bite, into. It is poignant as it is funny, and I highly recommend it to any generation.

lasttimeisaw THE FORTUNE COOKIE is Billy Wilder's last Black & White feature and marked the first collaboration of the comedy two-hander Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau (ten more times would follow). The story rotates around an accident prompted insurance scam, plotted by Walter Matthau, the brother-in-law of our protagonist, a sport channel cameraman (Lemmon) who has to feign his spinal injure to ascertain a grand indemnity from the insurance company. It may reminisce of Wilder's noir chief-d'oeuvre DOUBLE INDEMNITY (1944, 8/10), but it is a self-aware comedy, plays out effectively with a scintillating performance from Mr. Mattau (which deservedly earned him an Oscar).The picture may be eclipsed by Wilder's other more orthodox great works as aforementioned DOUBLE INDEMNITY, THE APARTMENT (1960, 9/10), SOME LIKE IT HOT (1959, 6/10), WITNESS FOR PROSECUTION (1957, 9/10), which are on my viewing lists only. Nevertheless itself is a well-intentioned conscience and guilt parable, the script derives from Wilder's whimsical idea and feels cosseting its audience with an overdone happy ending, which is too saccharine and slackens the frisson which has been accumulated since the dawn of the swindle (we all know it will receive an anticlimax, the only question remains is how). Jack Lemmon is as studious as usual, painstakingly exerts great sympathetic effort from his (mostly) wheelchair-and-corset confined character, which doesn't have any cinematic idiosyncrasy to churn out, an ordinary guy who falls victim of the manipulation of his chiseled lawyer-cum-brother-in-law and the sex-driven chimera of his money-grabbing ex-wife's comeback. Walter Mattau excels the rest of the cast with his eloquent showboating of his professional acumen and satirizing punchlines. Judi West is also very competent in playing the double-faced ex-wife, lends her role a whiff of intricacy against the stale women- derogation assumption. Ron Rich by comparison, although serves as a game-changer player in the plot, is a green banana and wanting the charisma needed to persuade viewers to (at least) believe in his side of story. The character actor Cliff Osmond, as the private detective, launches many gags which leave some indelible impressions too. Texturally speaking, the Black & White images emit a gloss of richness and sentimentality's, the melodic, sporadic score by Andre Previn goes smoothly with the context, not Wilder's best, but still an appealing comedy from the Hollywood golden epoch.