The Fortune Cookie
Seen it?1966 | 125 min | Comedy
Saturday SpecialWhy it’s a Saturday Special
It earned strong reviews (96% on Rotten Tomatoes) and it won an Oscar. A strong pick for the weekend.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for anyone who wants a laugh. If you loved Major League, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Light and funny.
- The pace
- Breezy, at 2 hr 5 min.
- What might put you off
- Made in 1966: an older pace and style.
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
TV cameraman Harry Hinkle is injured while filming a football game. Seeing big dollar signs, his unscrupulous ambulance-chasing lawyer brother-in-law Willie Gingrich enters the picture, and convinces Harry to overstate his injuries and claim $1 million in pain and suffering. Harry's similarly-minded ex-wife suddenly reappears in an attempt to rekindle their relationship.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsStrong
96% on Rotten Tomatoes, 63 on Metacritic
- AudiencesSolid
7.2 out of 10
- AwardsStrong
Won 1 Oscar: Academy Awards: Best Supporting Actor. Also nominated for 3 more Oscars, 1 Golden Globe and 1 WGA Award. Plus 2 other awards.
- Box office & staying powerSolid
$7 million worldwide on a $4 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactSolid
About 68K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Billy Wilder
- Jack LemmonHarry Hinkle
- Walter MatthauWillie Gingrich
- Ron RichBoom Boom Jackson
- Judi WestSandy Hinkle
- Cliff OsmondPurkey
- Lurene TuttleMother Hinkle
- Harry HolcombeO'Brien
- Les TremayneThompson
- Marge RedmondCharlotte Gingrich
- Ann ShoemakerSister Veronica