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Film: Cookie's Fortune

A Robert Altman film, Cookie's Fortune takes place in the small town of Holly Springs, Mississippi. It's a simple, quiet place with peaceful, kind residents. On the eve of Easter Sunday, pushy community theater director Camille Dixon and her shy sister Cora are shocked to find that their Aunt Jewel Mae "Cookie" Orcutt committed suicide. Terrified how this will reflect on the family name, Camille destroys Cookie's suicide note and convinces Cora to help her make it look like a robbery. Once the police are on the scene, their only suspect is Willis Richland, a well-liked local man who also happened to be Cookie's best friend. Everyone is convinced of Willis's innocence, including Cora's estranged daughter Emma who recently returned to town. A visiting investigator takes over the case and is determined to dig up some of the town's best-kept secrets. As Easter Sunday arrives and Camille's play opens, the truth comes out in ways that no one could have ever imagined.

This show provides examples of:

AB Negative: The other bloodtype found at the crime scene. It ends up incriminating Camille for Cookie's murder. The police find out that Camille is AB Negative and a hemophiliac.
Blonde, Brunette, Redhead: Camille, Emma, Cora.
Bunny-Ears Lawyer: The town has only one attorney and he's a little off. He reads Cookie's will while still wearing his costume from Camille's play.
Chekhov's Gun:
- Cookie's "C" necklace.
- The loose door on the gun cabinet.
- The cut on Camille's finger.
Crying Wolf: Nobody believes Camille when she tells the truth about Cookie's suicide. Especially after she ate the suicide note which was the one thing that could prove her innocence.
The Dog Bites Back: Cora gets revenge on Camille.
Eat The Evidence: Camille eats Cookie's suicide note to make her death look like murder.
Eccentric Townsfolk
Family Relationship Switcheroo: Emma finds out her mother is not Cora, but her "aunt" Camille.
Gory Discretion Shot: Cookie places a pillow over her face before shooting herself in the head. We see a little blood spatter on the wall and the feathers float in the air.
The Hecate Sisters: Camille is the Crone, Cora is the Mother, and Emma is the Madien
Ironic Echo: "Only crazy people commit suicide."
Luke, I Am Your Father / Family Relationship Switcheroo: Emma discovers that her dreaded Aunt Camille is actually her mother. The police dig up old records that show that Camille nearly died after giving birth...on the same day that Emma was born. Cora provided a blood transfusion that saved Camille's life. Apparently, Camille had moved in with Cora and her husband Donny. One day, Donny disappeared and Camille and Cora took an "extended vacation". When they came back, Cora had a newborn baby.
Manipulative Bitch: Camille. Especially to Cora.
Mistaken for Murderer: Willis, somewhat. Practically no one believes he killed Cookie. Camille much more so. Despite having told the truth about what happened, the police don't believe her because she ate the suicide note.
Only Sane Woman:
Emma: What is wrong with people?!
Quirky Town
School Play: Camille directs a local church production of Salome. It has the same aesthetic as a school production.
Shrinking Violet: Cora. She's probably been under Camille's thumb her entire life. Though Cora finally stands up to Camille once and for all in the end of the movie.
Suicide, Not Murder
Swallow The Key: Camille eats Cookie's suicide note.
Upper Class Twit: Camille is one.