The Fortune Cookie Film Analysis

The Fortune Cookie

Many films that Billy Wilder wrote and directed reflected the American society through sex and marriage, but in his 1966 comedy, The Fortune Cookie, he showed American greed and the flaws of the civil legal system. With the emergence of independent production companies in the 1960’s came the demise of the Hollywood studio system. This allowed for more creative work and for the director to have more control. Wilder had the power to cast well known actor, Jack Lemmon, and a newbie comedy star, Walter Matthau. The film had acclaim and did well at the box office, but was soon to be forgotten behind the many other classic Wilder made throughout his career. Though The Fortune Cookie is not Wilder’s most acclaimed film, it is a

Hinkle’s brother-in-law lawyer “Whiplash” Willie, played by Walter Matthau, persuades Hinkle to fake a spinal injure so they can sue the insurance company and so Hinkle can win his ex-wife back. The American Dream in the film is distorted to love and money; as if money can buy love. The darker element of the American dream is reflected through the dark humor delivered by Matthau throughout the film. For instance, when the lawsuit is underway and no settlement has even been discussed, Willie had already gone out and bought a new car, a trip to Florida, and a fur coat. When his Brother-in-law, Harry Hinkle, tells him that he should have waited, Willies response was, “Who waits nowadays? Take the government. When they shoot a billion dollars’ worth of hardware into space, do you think they pay cash? It's all on the Diner's Club!” Not only were the male characters greedy, but the leading lady was materialistic and a cheater. The film at times has a negative representation of women. Hinkle’s ex-wife (Judi West) is conveyed as a money hungry gold digger, who’s love can be bought. Though The Fortune Cookie is not on of Billy Wilder’s most acclaimed films it is filled with witty dialogue and great casting. This would be the first of many successful collaborations between Lemmon and

After the box office failure of Kiss Me, Stupid (1964), which critics had branded crude and tasteless, Wilder needed a project with more commercial appeal. Wilder described the film to Lemmon as "It's about greed, love, compassion, human understanding but not about sex"(Miller 2). Wilder got the idea for the film from watching a football game were a fullback ran into a spectator. Wilder wrote the role of Henry Hinkle for Jack Lemmon who he had worked with four times before and many times afterward. Wilder wrote “Whiplash” Willie, for Walter Matthau, even though he knew the studio executives would disagree. Matthau proved his versatility by winning the 1966 Oscar for best supporting