[[quoteright:310:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/the_fortune_cookie_1966.jpeg]]

''The Fortune Cookie'' is a 1966 BlackComedy film directed by Creator/BillyWilder, starring Creator/JackLemmon and Creator/WalterMatthau in their first of ten screen pairings.

Creator/{{CBS}} cameraman Harry Hinkle (Lemmon) is injured when [[UsefulNotes/NationalFootballLeague Cleveland Browns]] player Luther "Boom Boom" Jackson (Ron Rich) collides with him during a game. Harry's injuries are slight, but his brother-in-law, fast-talking attorney "Whiplash Willie" Gingrich (Matthau), sees the chance for a big insurance payment if Harry exaggerates them. What follows next is a comedy of deception mixed with the drama of remorse, as Harry sees the affects of the con on the guilt-ridden player. Meanwhile, the insurance company--convinced that something devious is afoot--hires {{private detective}} Chester Purkey (Cliff Osmond) to keep Harry under surveillance.

Nominated for four UsefulNotes/{{Academy Award}}s, with Matthau winning Best Supporting Actor for his performance.

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!!Tropes:
* AmbulanceChaser: Whiplash Willie.
* BatmanGambit: The P.I. Purkey [[spoiler: successfully]] employs one of these against Hinkle.
* BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor: Harry has been pining for his ex-wife since she left him. Once she comes back into his life after the accident [[spoiler: he realizes she's as scheming as Willie]].
* BewareTheNiceOnes: Harry, [[spoiler: when he calls out his ex-wife for her cold GoldDigger attitude]].
* ButtMonkey: Poor Harry Hinkle. His wife left him, and his brother-in-law is constantly trying to use his accident as a means to make money.
* TheCameo: Sportscaster Keith Jackson (who in real life worked for Creator/{{ABC}} rather than CBS) is seen calling the Browns game in the opening scene.
* ControlFreak: Willie, keeps trying to control Harry's life in order for his scheme to work, he nags Harry into going along with it.
* DeliberatelyMonochrome: This was the last of Wilder's films to be shot in black and white. In part this was done to mirror TV production values, as most broadcasts at the time still aired in B&W (although this changed soon afterwards).
* EasilyForgiven: [[spoiler: Jackson seems to take it well that Harry and Willie were lying to him about Harry's condition]].
* FlirtatiousSmackOnTheAss: Willie gives one to Harry's ex-wife.
* FrivolousLawsuit / InsuranceFraud
* GoldDigger: Harry Hinkle's ex-wife reenters the picture when she thinks he's going to get rich off the lawsuit.
* HilaritySues
* MarketBasedTitle: Released as ''Meet Whiplash Willie'' in the UK.
* NiceGuy: Luther "Boom Boom" Jackson
* ObfuscatingDisability
* PretendPrejudice: Part of the aforementioned BatmanGambit. Deconstructed in that, as Willie demonstrates, it could still be used against the perpetrator.
* SensitiveGuyAndManlyMan: Harry and Willie, respectively.
* ShoutOut: Willie likes to hum the prelude of ''Theatre/TheBarberOfSeville'' by Music/GioachinoRossini. Indeed, he is as cunning as Figaro.
* SpectatorCasualty: An incident of this starts the plot when Hinkle is accidentally knocked down by a football player.
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