Search - The Fortune Cookie on DVD

Four stars for content, but........

Marc T. Smith | Dayton, Ohio United States | 04/15/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

""The Fortune Cookie" has long been one of my favorite Billy Wilder movies, and I was pleased to see it's release on DVD, especially in the original widescreen format. While the movie and performances are great (especially Walter Matthau in his Oscar-winning turn), and the script by Wilder and I.A.L. Diamond hits the target, I was very disappointed in the lackluster transfer to disc that this unqualified classic received. Sure, the letterboxing is great, but halfway through the film, the sound quality takes a turn for the worse - less audible, and almost scratchy at times. Plus, the only "extra" is the original trailer, and there is no additional booklet. Surely a genius like Wilder deserves better preservation than this!"

A Movie to Remember Walter by.

Bruce Duguid | Carol Stream, IL United States | 03/01/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If I had to buy a single movie showing Walter Matthau's genius as an actor, this may be the one, for as good as Jack Lemmon always is in a movie, Walter shines here as the shyster brother-in-law lawyer, and the Best Supporting Oscar was awarded to him rightly for this role. Matthau, always the man who acted through sicknesses went through a heart attack during this one. The scene that he runs up the stairs after receiving the settlement check, a keen eye could notice that he is thinner at the top of the stairs. That was because he shot that scene after his attack. This movie begins the long association with Lemmon/Matthau. The next movie was to be "The Odd Couple". What a great bunch of entertaining movies they were. And this was the first one.



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An under-appreciated little gem

B. Tarver | New York, NY | 03/17/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I first saw this film on television when I was a kid way back in the 70's, and immediately fell in love with it, Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau. It is not a laugh riot, but a cleverly written little film with witty references, tongue-in-cheek throw away lines and fine, subtle performances.



Equally under-appreciated is Andre Previn's haunting musical score. I wish THAT were available as a CD somewhere. A stirring use of strings."

A wonderful CYNICAL comedy

Richard | Laguna Niguel, California | 01/20/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Jack Lemmon is a TV camerman. During a pro-football telecast, he is hit along the sidelines by an out-of-bounds player and immediately taken to the hospital with possible injuries. Enter his crooked lawyer brother-in-law, Willy Gingrich (Walter Mathau). This lawyer convinces Lemmon to fake a back injury in order to collect BIG bucks from the insurance company. The movie title refers to a message in a fortune cookie (You can fool all the people some of the time......). Although not at the level of "Some Like It Hot", this is one of Billy Wilder's best comedies. His view of humanity is certainly cynical and bleak, but not nihilistic. The best performance is by Mathau who plays Willy to the hilt. He's wonderful and deserved his Oscar. The music by Andre Previn is also very good and very sly. You won't be disappointed. Bring on the DVD!"