The Fortune Cookie

Media:	VHS Tape
Directed by:	Billy Wilder
Starring:	Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau
Release date:	03 August, 1999
List price:	~~$14.95~~
Our price:	that is 100% off!

The Fortune Cookie

Average rating:

Four stars for content, but........

"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!

The Fortune Cookie -

Walter Mathau's Oscar-Winner

This Billy Wilder creation is the first film in which Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau were teamed. Matthau as a less than ethical lawyer is in constant persuit of justice and settlements for his brother-in-law (Lemmon) who got hurt on the job. Matthau won Best Actor Oscar. The Matthau/Lemmon chemistry was so smashing that the two teamed up six more times....

- The Fortune Cookie

Semi-cynical, semi-black comedy about greed

Matthau does steal the show ("Why, the insurance companies have so much money they have to microfilm it!") There are funny parts in this movie--such as the bit about the cryto-Nazi German doctor who suggests throwing Lemmon into a pit of snakes to see if he's really paralyzed--but overall it's just not that amusing. It's definitely worth seeing through. But it is rather disturbing to watch the football player falling apart because he thinks he's badly, if accidentally, hurt Lemmon. Then there's Lemmon's character--none too bright--who's eaten up with guilt. On top of that, he's completely blind as to his gold-digger ex-wife. For dealing with the effects of greed, this is one of the best you'll ever see.