List Price: $14.98Price: $4.15 You Save: $10.83 (72%)as of 11/23/2009 11:24 EST
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Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Binding: DVD
Brand: TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX HOME ENT
EAN: 9780792849162
Format: Anamorphic, Black & White, Closed-captioned, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
ISBN: 0792849167
Item Dimensions: 15
Label: MGM (Video & DVD)
Languages: EnglishOriginal LanguageDolby Digital 2.0 MonoFrenchOriginal LanguageDolby Digital 2.0 MonoSpanishSubtitledFrenchSubtitled
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
MPN: 1001583
Number Of Items: 1
Picture Format: Anamorphic Widescreen
Publisher: MGM (Video & DVD)
Region Code: 1
Release Date: March 06, 2001
Running Time: 125 minutes
Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
Theatrical Release Date: October 19, 1966
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Editorial Review:
Product Description:
In their first screen pairing Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon portray a shyster lawyer and a cameraman in this madcap tale of greed and recouping lost love.System Requirements:Starring: Jack Lemmon Marge Redmond Walter Matthau Ron Rich Judi West Cliff Osmond Lurene Tuttle Harry Holcombe Les Tremayne and Lauren Gilbert. Directed By: Billy Wilder. Running Time: 126 Min. B&W. This film is presented in "Widescreen" format. Copyright 2000 MGM Studios.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: COMEDY Rating: NR UPC: 027616858931
Amazon.com essential video:
Billy Wilder's insurance-scam comedy, written with partner I.A.L. Diamond, is one of the legendary filmmaker's surlier efforts. Were it not for the star-making performance of Walter Matthau (which won him an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor), it might not have registered so strongly with audiences. Shot in a grimy black and white, the story begins as CBS cameraman Harry Hinkle (Jack Lemmon) is injured on the sidelines of a football game when Cleveland Browns star Boom Boom Jackson (Ron Rich) accidentally barrels into him. Hinkle's all right, but his ambulance-chasing brother-in-law William Gingrich (Matthau), also known as "Whiplash Willie," has a lawsuit filed before Hinkle even wakes up at the hospital. Hinkle is reluctant to join in on the scheme, which involves staying in a wheelchair, until he realizes it may bring his ex-wife (Judi West) back, even though her eyes practically flash dollar signs at the thought of his case's settlement potential. Working on Hinkle's conscience, however, is a burgeoning friendship with Jackson, who feels horrible about the incident. Not as sure-footed or as brazenly funny as many other Wilder efforts, the film nevertheless boasts a comic turn by Matthau that is deliciously conniving and endlessly inventive. Wilder, Hollywood's most caustically funny blend of pessimist and optimist, doesn't even aim for balance here. He clearly loves Matthau's character above all others and lets him run the show. The Lemmon and Matthau franchise began here and would go on to include their reteaming for Wilder's films The Front Page and Buddy Buddy. --Robert Abele
Average Rating: 
Rating: -
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.
Rating:  -
Billy Wilder's film stars Jack Lemmon as a photographer who is injured slightly and temporarily at a Cleveland Browns football game. He has one weakness, his ex-wife, whom he would like to get back. Other than that, he is an honest and upright person. He sees his relative, Whiplash Willie (Walter Matthau who won the Oscar). WW is an attorney. He seems like a terrible one at first but when he breaks into his arguments, he is rather convincing. He also will do ANYTHING to win the case. WW plays on Lemmon's weakness by getting in touch with his ex. He tells her about all the money Lemmon could win in a lawsuit against the Browns for personal injury. The ex-wife comes back to town to do her part and WW if off and running with his lawsuit. Lemmon, meanwhile, more the straight man in this film, starts having serious second thoughts because the football player who hit him is taking it badly. But getting back the ex-wife seriously clouds his judgment. This is a great pairing of Matthau and Lemmon, who always shine under Wilder's direction.
Rating: -
Walter Matthau joins Jack Lemon to present a look into, albeit a comedic look, the profession of the shyster lawyer or legal chiseler. Harry Hinkle(Jack Lemon) is accidently knocked over by a 220lb half back and only suffers a slight concussion. Then, Whiplash Willie(Walter Matthau) arrives on the scene and he proposes a scheme to garner millions of dollars in phony insurance claims if Harry claims to have suffered a crippling injury. There you have it; but, you can't fool all of the people all of the time so says Harry's fortune cookie on his plate while in the hospital. You have to laugh at the performance of these two first class comedians as they wrestle with their consciences.
Rating: -
This is average endeavor for director Billy Wilder and his co-scenarist I.A.L. Diamond. That is to say that this is above average for most filmmakers. The obvious distinction of the film is the initial teaming of Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau. In this case, though, Lemmon wisely defers to Matthau's shyster lawyer and plays straight man. Matthau shines here and steals every scene he's in. Matthau won the Oscar in a supporting role which I find curious because it seemed to me to be a co-lead role. Cliff Osmond was pretty funny, too, as an insurance fraud investigator. The film drags in part particularly when Matthau isn't on screen but it does suffer from overlength. Two hours plus is a little long. Recommended with slight reservation.
Rating: -
Walter Matthew and Jack Lemmon can't have made many bad movies - at least, not until the end of their careers when the 'Grumpy Men' duo rather spolied their (previously superb) record.
'The Fortune Cookie' is, likely, one of their best - although they made so many 'bests'! This movie has a great script, possible storyline and brilliant acting. Nothing else is needed, surely?
It is simply a great and classic movie.
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