Fortune Cookie The (1966)

Fortune Cookie The (1966)

This above average comedy marked the first of many successful pairings of Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau. It was written by its director Billy Wilder & I.A.L. Diamond (The Apartment (1960)). Whereas Matthau won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor (on his first of three Oscar nominations; the other two were for Best Actor) Wilder & Diamond’s Story & Screenplay (written directly for the screen) was only nominated. Joseph LaShelle (Laura (1944)) received his last recognition from the Academy with a B&W Cinematography nomination; the film’s B&W Art Direction-Set Decoration was also Oscar nominated.

On the sidelines filming a football game cameraman Harry Hinkle (Lemmon) is injured when player ‘Boom Boom’ Jackson (Ron Rich) goes out of bounds and accidentally crashes into him. Harry’s brother-in-law Willie Gingrich (Matthau) a shyster of a lawyer sees an opportunity to sue for damages to receive a big insurance payoff. While in the hospital Willie convinces Harry who’s feeling much better to pretend he’s been more seriously injured. Harry is lonely and Willie uses his sister Harry’s ex-wife Sandy (Judi West) and her possible return to him (e.g. per the financial windfall) as bait to "force" the cameraman to play along with the ruse. But Boom Boom feels bad he visits Harry in the hospital and later at his apartment and the two develop a friendship. When Harry sees how his being injured is affecting the football player he feels guilty and has second thoughts. Meanwhile the insurance company is aware of Willie’s reputation and smelling a rat sets up surveillance of Harry’s apartment hoping to catch the faker.

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