The Fortune Cookie

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The Fortune Cookie
The Fortune Cookie (1966) poster.jpg
Film poster
Directed by Billy Wilder
Produced by Billy Wilder
Written by I.A.L. Diamond
Billy Wilder
Starring Jack Lemmon
Walter Matthau
Judi West
Ron Rich
Cliff Osmond
Music by André Previn
Cinematography Joseph LaShelle
Editing by Daniel Mandell
Distributed by United Artists
Release date(s) October 19, 1966
Running time 125 min.
Language English
Budget $3,705,000
Box office $6,000,000[1]

The Fortune Cookie (alternative UK title: Meet Whiplash Willie) is a 1966 film starring Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon in their first on-screen collaboration, and directed by Billy Wilder.

Contents

Plot [edit]

CBS cameraman Harry Hinkle (Jack Lemmon) gets injured when football player Luther "Boom Boom" Jackson (Ron Rich) runs into him while he is covering a Browns game at Cleveland Stadium. Harry's injuries are minor, but his conniving lawyer brother-in-law William H. "Whiplash Willie" Gingrich (Walter Matthau) convinces him to pretend that his leg and hand have been partially paralyzed. This way, they can receive a huge indemnity from the insurance company.[2] Harry reluctantly goes along with the scheme because he is still in love with his ex-wife, Sandy (Judi West), and it might win her back. The insurance company suspects that the paralysis is a fake one, so a cat-and-mouse game starts between its investigator, Chester Purkey (Cliff Osmond), and the shyster Willie. Boom Boom takes very good care of Harry, who starts having second thoughts as he witnesses guilt taking its toll on Boom Boom. As he also sees that Sandy is back by his side strictly out of greed, Harry decides to reveal the truth, thereby ruining Willie's get-rich plans.

Cast [edit]

Production [edit]

  • Production was halted for weeks after Walter Matthau had 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.
  • Jack Lemmon originally had two other actors proposed to star with him. They were Frank Sinatra and Jackie Gleason, but Lemmon insisted that he do the picture with Walter Matthau.
  • Scenes were filmed at the Minnesota Vikings vs. Cleveland Browns game, held at Cleveland Municipal Stadium on the afternoon of Halloween 1965, with the Vikings beating the Browns, 27-17.

Awards [edit]

Walter Matthau won the Oscar for Best Actor in a Supporting Role in this film. The movie also received Oscar nominations for Art Direction-Set Decoration (Black-and-White) (Robert Luthardt, Edward G. Boyle), Best Cinematography (Black-and-White), and Best Writing, Story and Screenplay. Walter Matthau was also nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture Actor - Musical/Comedy.[3]

Cleveland locations [edit]

Saint Mark's Hospital is in reality St. Vincent Charity Hospital. In 1966, the scene was filmed on East 24th Street in an older section. In 1966, St. Vincent Charity had completed a then-ultramodern curved Hospital building.

Terminal Tower was the base for the law firm used. In one image, one can see Erieview Tower and construction of the Federal Building's steel skeleton.

References [edit]

  1. ^ "The Fortune Cookie, Box Office Information". The Numbers. Retrieved April 16, 2012. 
  2. ^ A large amount for its time, the settlement is one million dollars.
  3. ^ "NY Times: The Fortune Cookie". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-12-26. 

External links [edit]