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The Fortune Cookie (1966)

Approved  |   |  Comedy, Romance  |  19 October 1966 (USA)
7.4
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Ratings: 7.4/10 from 8,620 users  
Reviews: 56 user | 38 critic

A crooked lawyer persuades his brother-in-law to feign a serious injury.

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Title: The Fortune Cookie (1966)

The Fortune Cookie (1966) on IMDb 7.4/10

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Won 1 Oscar. Another 2 wins & 5 nominations. See more awards »
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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
...
...
Ron Rich ...
Judi West ...
...
Purkey
...
Mother Hinkle
Harry Holcombe ...
...
Lauren Gilbert ...
Marge Redmond ...
Charlotte Gingrich
Noam Pitlik ...
Max
Harry Davis ...
Dr. Krugman
Ann Shoemaker ...
Sister Veronica
Maryesther Denver ...
...
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Storyline

A cameraman is knocked over during a football game. His brother in law as the king of the ambulance chasing lawyers starts a suit while he's still knocked out. The cameraman is against it until he hears that his ex-wife will be coming to see him. He pretends to be injured to get her back, but also sees what the strain is doing to the football player who injured him. Written by John Vogel <jlvogel@comcast.net>

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Taglines:

How Harry Hinkle became a fortune cookie See more »

Genres:

Comedy | Romance

Certificate:

Approved | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Country:

Language:

Release Date:

19 October 1966 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Der Glückspilz  »

Box Office

Budget:

$3,705,000 (estimated)
 »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

(Westrex Recording System)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1
See  »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

This was director Billy Wilder's second film in a row in which one of his lead actors suffered a heart attack. In preceding film, 1964's Kiss Me, Stupid (1964), Peter Sellers' health problem forced Wilder to replace him with Ray Walston. In Fortune Cookie, Walter Matthau suffered attack midway through production but shooting was postponed until he recovered; his drastic weight loss from scene to scene is noticeable. See more »

Goofs

Early in the movie, a poster showing the Browns schedule appears. The Washington Redskins are listed as the opponents for a game on December 5. However, later in the movie, mention is made (in connection with the planned Harry Hinkle Charitable Fund announcement) of the game against Washington being scheduled for November 27. See more »

Quotes

Charlotte Gingrich: [as their kids skateboard around the hospital's halls] Children! Jeffery, Ginger, cut that out. This is a hospital.
Willie Gingrich: Let 'em. If they're gonna break a leg, this is the place to do it.
See more »

Connections

Referenced in Cinemania (2002) See more »

Soundtracks

You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To
Music and lyrics by Cole Porter
Sung by Judi West
Also strains played throughout the movie
See more »

Frequently Asked Questions

See more (Spoiler Alert!) »

User Reviews

 
Matthau and Lemmon work effortlessly together
29 November 2003 | by (Boston, MA, USA) – See all my reviews

One of these days I am going to watch a bad Billy Wilder movie...so far I have not even come close. Each year we observe the passing of great talents (this year, 2003 has seen an extrordinary number of death), I begin to realize we will never again see the likes of Lemmon and Matthau who passed away in 2000 and 1999 respectively. These two are great actors in comedic or serious roles. Matthau's sleazy lawyer is played just right, not too over the top and Lemmon plays the victim in this movie who is basically going along for the ride. As the movie progresses Lemmon gets further disenchanted with the pending cash settlement for his fake injuries and in his own inimitable way blows the whistle on his brother-in-law, Whiplash Willie (Matthau.) I found Wilder's use of Cliff Ormond and Noam Pitlik as the bumbling private eye surveillance team to be reminiscent of Jackie Gleason and Art Carney on the Honeymooners, or even a latter day type of slapstick in the style of Abbot and Costello. Also, the supporting role of Boom Boom the Cleveland Browns running back who accidentally injures Lemmon on the sideline at a game was played with depth. All in all another wonderful treat this movie is to watch.


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