The Fortune Cookie (1966) on Netflix
TV cameraman Harry Hinkle is hurt at a football game. Lawyer brother-in-law Willie Gingrich convinces him to fake a severe injury for a $1 million claim. His ex-wife Sandy reappears.
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- IMDb7.2/1017,491 votes
- Rotten Tomatoes96%
Trailer
Plot summary
TV cameraman Harry Hinkle is hurt when football player Luther "Boom Boom" Jackson crashes into him during a Cleveland Browns home game at Municipal Stadium. The injury is minor, but Harry's brother-in-law, lawyer Willie Gingrich, sees a chance for a large insurance payout and talks Harry into saying his leg and hand are partly paralyzed. Harry is unsure until his ex-wife Sandy phones to ask how he is. The insurance company's lawyers doubt the claim, but doctors accept it after an old spinal injury and novocaine shots arranged by Willie. The lawyers bring in detective Chester Purkey to keep a constant watch on Harry.
Cast
Did you know?!Facts and trivia about The Fortune Cookie (1966)
Can contain spoilers, watch the movie first.
- Walter Matthau's heart attack halted production on the film for weeks; when filming resumed he had slimmed from 190 to 160 pounds and wore a heavy black coat and padded clothing to conceal the weight loss. Jack Lemmon also lost 25 pounds during production.
- Billy Wilder wrote the part of Whiplash Willie with Walter Matthau in mind, hoping to boost his film career, but the studio wanted a bigger name. Jack Lemmon's proposed co-stars included Frank Sinatra and Jackie Gleason, and Wilder insisted on Matthau.
- Boom Boom Jackson's number 44 was actually worn by Leroy Kelly, judged too small to pass for actor Ron Rich at close range; Ernie Green and a stunt performer also stood in for Rich, the stuntman only for the sideline-collision scene.
- On the third straight day of shooting at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, the Kent State University freshman football team replaced the Cleveland Browns, who were unavailable because they had begun preparing for their next opponent.
