La grande combine

Original title: The Fortune Cookie

IMDb RATING

7.2/10

16K

YOUR RATING

Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau, and Judi West in La grande combine (1966)

Play trailer2:34

1 Video

75 Photos

Buddy Comedy Satire Comedy Romance

A crooked lawyer persuades his brother-in-law to feign a serious injury in order to collect a big insurance payout.A crooked lawyer persuades his brother-in-law to feign a serious injury in order to collect a big insurance payout.A crooked lawyer persuades his brother-in-law to feign a serious injury in order to collect a big insurance payout.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.2/10

16K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Won 1 Oscar
- 3 wins & 5 nominations total

Videos1

Trailer 2:34

Trailer

Photos75

+ 67

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
Production was halted for weeks after Walter Matthau had a heart attack. He had slimmed from 190 to 160 pounds by the time filming was completed and wore a heavy black coat to conceal the weight loss.

Goofs
When the "stop-action replay" of Harry's accident is shown, the camera is focused on Harry for a second or two before Boom Boom hits him. In reality, the camera would be following the action on the field and would not be focused on Harry, since the director and camera operator would not have known in advance that Boom Boom would hit Harry. Harry would not have come into view until after Boom Boom is knocked out of bounds.

Quotes
Thompson: [about Willie Gingrich] This guy is so full of angles and gimmicks and twists; he starts to describe a doughnut and it comes out a pretzel.
O'Brien: Nevertheless, l suggest we try the friendly approach.
Thompson: OK, but after you shake hands with him, l suggest you count your fingers.

Crazy credits
The end credits conclude with a thank you message to the players and management of the Cleveland Browns, and the National Football League for their cooperation.

Alternate versions
The 1997 VHS release showed black and white versions of the 1994 United Artists variant and MGM logo at the start and end of the movie respectively.

Connections
Featured in AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Billy Wilder (1986)

Soundtracks
You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To
Music and lyrics by Cole Porter
Sung by Judi West
Also strains played throughout the movie

User reviews90

Featured review

7/10

Takes Too Long to Crumble

A greedy lawyer convinces his cameraman brother-in-law to sue after the latter is inadvertently hit by a football player while filming an NFL game. In the first of several films to pair Lemmon and Mathau, the actors play roles typical of their collaborations, with the former a decent, neurotic fellow and the latter a shyster. After "The Apartment," Wilder never quite achieved the success he experienced earlier in his great career as he was churning out one classic after another. This is a product of his declining years - not bad but not very funny either and far too long for a comedy. Whatever happened to West, the attractive actress who plays Lemmon's ex-wife?