There's one very funny, very inspired moment in THE FORTUNE involving Stockard Channing, Jack Nicholson and the wing of an airplane. It's a shame the remainder of this short, lightweight movie isn't quite as amusing. Nicholson is blackmailed by shifty Warren Beatty into marrying kooky heiress Channing, thus allowing the already married Beatty to avoid any Mann Act related ramifications. The trio travels from New York to Los Angeles, where the boys attempt to bump off Channing in hopes of gaining her inheritance. It's directed by Mike Nichols and has a script by Carol Eastman (aka Adrien Joyce, writer of FIVE EASY PIECES) so it's very surprising how stillborn the film is. Channing tries mightily to channel Carole Lombard and Nicholson is hysterical, cast way against type as a dimwit. Beatty plays it broadly and is OK, although he's pretty out of sync with the rest of the performers. Excellent production values including pitch perfect 1930s art direction by Richard Sylbert and a fun score by David Shire help to make the film an enjoyable trifle, but an 88 minute trifle is not something you'd expect from such heavyweight talent. Bassett hound faced Florence Stanley has a few choice moments as a very hot and bothered landlady.
Review of The Fortune
