Jack Lemmon, sports cameraman covering a football game, get tackled by player. That's the headline, and what the spectators saw. What they don't know is that he is instigating a personal injury lawsuit - at least, under the influence of his attorney brother-in-law, whose reputation has earned him the nickname "Whiplash," played mercilessly by Walter Matthau. The elaborate hoax must be maintained to get a million dollars. But detective Cliff Osmond has his duty to watch the "victim in question" at all times. Such begins a very dark and cleverly-written movie by Billy Wilder and collaborator I. A. L. Diamond. Jack Lemmon is one of my favorite actors, who can play Mr. Everyman, but it is Walter Matthau who literally steals the picture out from under everyone else. Lurene Tuttle as Jack's mother and Walter's mother-in-law has a great bit as she cries hysterically throughout the film and Cliff Osmond gives a very believable performance as the devoted detective. But when Walter is in the scene, he takes over. Ironically during the making of this film, he suffered a heart attack. But you wouldn't know it from his full force, no holds barred and loving-every-minute-of-the-kill performance that won him a very deserved Oscar. But what happens? Does Jack Lemmon get a last-minute conscience? Do they get a million dollar check? Jack's wife, who left him for another man, shows up –oddly enough- when she hears of this lawsuit. And then, there's the football player who's miserable for running into Jack and is almost the only decent person in the whole movie. What you're about to do is go ONDEMAND and find the fortune cookie. Confucious say beware of people named "Whiplash" but enjoy yourself.

While Walter Matthau was quite in demand on TV and movies before 1965, this was truly his breakthrough year in terms of his profession. First, he was cast on Broadway in Neil Simon's The Odd Couple as Oscar Madison. And then, Billy Wilder cast him here to play shyster lawyer William "Whiplash Willie" Gingrich opposite leading man Jack Lemmon leading to a fruitful collaboration in movies for the next several years that paired Lemmon and Matthau together with Wilder making at least one more good film with them (The Front Page as the next one after that he made with them-Buddy Buddy-marked a less-than-glorious-end to his directing career). Lemmon is a CBS cameraman who gets knocked down by football player Ron Rich though he doesn't suffer much. Matthau is Lemmon's brother-in-law who wants to exploit his "malady" to get large amounts from an insurance company. Judi West is Lemmon's ex-wife who comes back to him when she hears about it. And Cliff Osmond plays a sneaky investigator for the insurance company. Plenty of cynical laughs are provided by Wilder & I.A.L Diamond's script with most of those punchlines said by Matthau though when Lemmon is alone with the Rich character, there are also some touching scenes of them talking. In summary, The Fortune Cookie was one of the better comedies from a period-the late '60s-not always known for great funny films with Matthau winning his well-deserved Oscar for this role.

This is one of the most thoroughly enjoyable, well-made, and well-written films I've seen lately. "The Fortune Cookie" stars Jack Lemmon as a reporter injured while covering a football game and Walter Matthau as the wise-cracking lawyer trying to sue the hospital and football player by faking the injury to be worse than it was. They cannot shake the feeling, however, that they cannot fool everyone all the time, and much of the film consists of spies sent out to prove that they are faking it. There is excellent character development in this film, which comes mostly from Lemmon's interactions with the football player who must endure the guilt of the injury. What keeps the film entertaining is the constantly brilliant humor that fills every scene, though the plot is not overly funny by nature. If you like Jack Lemmon, you will enjoy this film, as he does a great job as always, but the film is a must-see for Walter Matthau fans, as this is the role that won him his supporting actor Oscar, well deserved. He wisecracks the entire time, which makes him one of my favorite actors, but in several of the scenes in his office, he even gives somewhat of a Groucho Marx-like role as he talks to himself and his co-workers. This is likely my second favorite film directed by Billy Wilder, behind "Sunset Boulevard" of course. Close to perfect, and only slightly flawed by the unnecessary plot elements of Lemmon's ex-wife. A unique, intelligent comedy that teamed up Lemmon and Matthau, and highly recommended to lovers of comedy, old movies, and just about anyone.**** out of ****

Another wonderful Billy Wilder comedy where an unscrupulous attorney, played by Oscar winner Walter Matthau, sues the pants off an insurance company when his brother-in-law is injured at a football game.The wonderful cast consisting of Matthau, Jack Lemmon, Judi West and others are just perfect here.This is a definite film of soul searching and doing in the end what is right.A heavily smoking Matthau(he would suffer a heart attack after finishing the film) suits the bill perfectly as a lawyer who can't be trusted. He is up to all sorts of chicanery during this film only with the intention of gaining the all-mighty dollar. Ditto for Judi West, who portrays Lemmon's ex-husband. She is now ready to stage a comeback with her ex-husband so that she can get part of the money to pursue a singing career.As for Lemmon, he shows that basic same vulnerability that we saw in "Some Like it Hot." He was always such a good natured victim, exploited for his kindness.