I had a hard time figuring out what was going on, and while there were comedy, it was very dark and delivered by actors not well-suited to my particular taste.Stockard Channing was the mistress to Warren Beatty's character (I'm not that familiar with him but certainly wouldn't have recognized him). And she was rich ("The Fortune" of the title) and knew that's all Beatty wanted her for. But in order to comply with the Mann act, she had to be married to Jack Nicholson's character (legally). Beatty claimed Nicholson was his brother. Explaining the naughty antics to the landlady (Florence Stanley, someone I've liked a lot over the years) turned out to be a challenge, but somehow they met them. It seems Nicholson wanted to do what he could legally, even though the whole thing was a scam so Beatty could do what Nicholson was doing. All of this took a while for me to figure out, since I kept thinking I knew what was going on and then kept being proved wrong.What made this movie truly worthwhile was the zany ending. Very funny, lots of action and confusion--but this time it was the good kind of confusion.

Recently saw this gem and really found it a pleasant way to spend an hour and a half. Ms. Channing is fresh and funny as the off-kilter socialite mixed up with Beatty and Nicholson who make a charming team. The hi-jinks that ensue between these three characters as they try to outwit and outlast each other makes for good comedy. One of my favorite scenes is Jack seducing Ms. Channing then sneaking out the small bedroom window while Warren walks in through the front door. Jack is also subdued in his performance, although the scene on the wing of the plane suggests otherwise. Another funny sight is Ms. Channing almost making a clean get-a-way from the two guys, except for her ill-fated decision to go back to get her chicken. Great direction by Mr. Nichols. Should be watched with "The Day of The Locust" which captures the feel of the same era, although that film is a dark drama.

*******CONTAINS SPOILERS!!!!!**********I am more than pleased that I finally got to see "The Fortune". After learning about it through various media, I was a little nervous about what I would find. But it didn't take long before the modest chuckles turned into belly laughs, for this is one HILARIOUS movie with real life good friends Beatty and Nicholson playing so well off each other, and obviously having a hoot doing so! Beatty is the bossy "brain" of the outfit. Married, unable to divorce and - due to the M.A.N.N. act - unable to take his mistress (Stockard Channing) legally across state lines to consummate their affair, he has come up with a brilliant scheme. His - in his eyes inferior to him - friend Nicholson can substitute as the groom, thereby making their traveling with a female completely legal. They move to California and during their travels it is already hinted at that the mistress is actually an heir to a great fortune, which Beatty tries to deny as long as possible. Upon their arrival in California it doesn't take long for Nicholson to develop (lusty) feelings for the heiress and soon consummates his "marriage" to her for real, in the absence of Beatty who is working as a car salesman. A fall-out follows during which the heiress comes to realize the two men are really only after her impending FORTUNE, and she threatens to give it all away to charity. The fear of that happening causes the two, unbelievably incompetent, men to bond and plan out another scheme> the heiress must die, so that they can get to her fortune. A slew of incredibly funny slapstick murder attempts follow and the acting Beatty and Nicholson show in these scenes is beyond hilarious. A must see for anyone who's in for intense laughter and joy.

Stockhard Channing must be one of the most underrated comediennes about. This is an hilarious film. gridoon, who found it disappointing, seems to base his critique on the quality of the cast; Nicholson; Beatty & Channing. His expectations were probably pitched too high - and, sure, Five Easy Pieces is amazing, and Bonnie & Clyde is a classic. But The Fortune can stand on its own. It is very funny. The pace is hectic and the storyline has resonances of "It Happened One Night". The difference being that in the "The Fortune", the heroine is kidnapped - a botched attempt by two incompetents (Nicholson & Beatty). The so-called Swedish Syndrome seems to have rooted here, in that the captive falls for her captors & doesn't want to be saved. This film is well worth putting into DVD format - all Regions, please.