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Comedy

The Fortune Cookie

- Is he a spy? A security risk? Is he unfaithful? Or is he a nice, normal shnook - out to make a million bucks by sheer accident!

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.

Release Date : 1966-10-19

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Phalanx ProductionsJalem ProductionsUnited Artists

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Jack Lemmon

Character Name : Harry Hinkle

Original Name : Jack Lemmon

Gender : Male

Walter Matthau

Character Name : Willie Gingrich

Original Name : Walter Matthau

Gender : Male

Ron Rich

Character Name : Boom Boom Jackson

Original Name : Ron Rich

Gender : Male

Judi West

Character Name : Sandy Hinkle

Original Name : Judi West

Gender : Female

Cliff Osmond

Character Name : Purkey

Original Name : Cliff Osmond

Gender : Male

Lurene Tuttle

Character Name : Mother Hinkle

Original Name : Lurene Tuttle

Gender : Female

Harry Holcombe

Character Name : O'Brien

Original Name : Harry Holcombe

Gender : Male

Les Tremayne

Character Name : Thompson

Original Name : Les Tremayne

Gender : Male

Marge Redmond

Character Name : Charlotte Gingrich

Original Name : Marge Redmond

Gender : Female

Ann Shoemaker

Character Name : Sister Veronica

Original Name : Ann Shoemaker

Gender : Female

Ned Glass

Character Name : Doc Schindler

Original Name : Ned Glass

Gender : Male

Archie Moore

Character Name : Mr. Jackson

Original Name : Archie Moore

Gender : Male

Howard McNear

Character Name : Mr. Cimoli

Original Name : Howard McNear

Gender : Male

Harry Davis

Character Name : Dr. Krugman

Original Name : Harry Davis

Gender : Male

Lauren Gilbert

Character Name : Kincaid

Original Name : Lauren Gilbert

Gender : Male

Sig Ruman

Character Name : Professor Winterhalter

Original Name : Sig Ruman

Gender : Male

Noam Pitlik

Character Name : Max

Original Name : Noam Pitlik

Gender : Male

Maryesther Denver

Character Name : Nurse

Original Name : Maryesther Denver

Gender : Female

Judy Pace

Character Name : Elvira

Original Name : Judy Pace

Gender : Female

Helen Kleeb

Character Name : Law Firm Switchboard Operator and Receptionist

Original Name : Helen Kleeb

Gender : Female

Bartlett Robinson

Character Name : Specialist #1

Original Name : Bartlett Robinson

Gender : Male

Ben Wright

Character Name : Doctor

Original Name : Ben Wright

Gender : Male

Dodie Heath

Character Name : Nun

Original Name : Dodie Heath

Gender : Female

William Christopher

Character Name : Interne (as Bill Christopher)

Original Name : William Christopher

Gender : Male

Robert P. Lieb

Character Name : Specialist #2

Original Name : Robert P. Lieb

Gender : Male

Martin Blaine

Character Name : Specialist #3

Original Name : Martin Blaine

Gender : Male

Herbie Faye

Character Name : Maury - the Equipment Man

Original Name : Herbie Faye

Gender : Male

Billy Beck

Character Name : Maury's Assistant

Original Name : Billy Beck

Gender : Male

Lisa Linsky

Character Name : Ginger Gingrich (as Lisa Jill)

Original Name : Lisa Linsky

Gender : Male

John Todd Roberts

Character Name : Jeffrey Gingrich

Original Name : John Todd Roberts

Gender : Male

Keith Jackson

Character Name : CBS Football Announcer

Original Name : Keith Jackson

Gender : Male

Herbert Ellis

Character Name : TV Director (as Herb Ellis)

Original Name : Herbert Ellis

Gender : Male

Robert DoQui

Character Name : Man in Bar (as Bob Doqui)

Original Name : Robert DoQui

Gender : Male

John Anderson

Character Name : Abraham Lincoln (uncredited)

Original Name : John Anderson

Gender : Male

Gary Bohn

Character Name : Paramedic (uncredited)

Original Name : Gary Bohn

Gender : Male

Jim Brown

Character Name : Running Back - Number 32 (archive footage) (uncredited)

Original Name : Jim Brown

Gender : Male

Daniel Elam

Character Name : Bar Patron (uncredited)

Original Name : Daniel Elam

Gender : Male

Rudy Germane

Character Name : Commuter (uncredited)

Original Name : Rudy Germane

Gender : Male

Chester Jones

Character Name : Cook (uncredited)

Original Name : Chester Jones

Gender : Male

Chuck Schodowski

Character Name : Stadium Cameraman (uncredited)

Original Name : Chuck Schodowski

Gender : Male

Jon Silo

Character Name : Tailor (uncredited)

Original Name : Jon Silo

Gender : Male

Reviews

J

John Chard

@John Chard

2024-05-16

Morality and cynicism not quite the bedfellows Wilder intended? Wilder's response to his previous film Kiss Me Stupid's criticism was intended to be a bitter attack on American morality, yet many critics of the time felt Wilder chickened out by sweetening the finale. If he actualy did this is obviously down to each individual viewer to decide, but in my case I just feel that it comes together nicely to finish off a very funny and sharp Wilder film. Camerman Harry Henkle is working the sidelines filming a Browns/Vikings game when he is flattened by running back Boom Boom Jackson and taken to hospital. His crafty chiseller brother-in-law Willie sees an opportunity to make big money by suing all and sundry for negligence, that Harry is actually OK is a minor inconvenience. This sets us up to watch the dynamic duo of Walter Matthau (Willie) & Jack Lemmon (Harry) try and fake major injury to garner a big pay out. Naturally there are many problems along the way as Harry fights with his moral fibre and a burning torch for his ex wife Sandy. While convincing the doctors and insurance people that he is actually injured is not going to be easy, thus it makes for some truly funny sequences. As you would expect from Wilder & I.A.L Diamond, the script sizzles with wit and cynicism (perfect material here for Matthau who won the best supporting Oscar), and although the running plot strand of Boom Boom Jackson's guilt and subsequent career jolt does dampen the film down a touch, it's still a winner that can be pleasantly sampled from time to time. 8/10