Review of The Fortune (1975) by Allan C — 04 Jul 2013

Throwback slapstick comedy from director Mike Nichols involves a story of bumbling comic duo Jack Nicholson and Warren Beatty in the 1920s trying to murder an heiress (Stockard Channing) in order to get her money.

As great as that sounds, the film unfotunately feels more like an academic exercise to recreate old-time film comedies than it does a comedy with a life of it's own. Still, there's gorgeous photography by "Chinatown" cinematographer John A.

Alonzo and terrific production design the great Richard Sylbert, along with a nice period score by David Shire. You also get Dub Taylor, Christopher Guest and Scatman Crothers in fun bit parts, but the real reason to watch the film is for Nicholson's often funny comic performance.

A young Nicholson with wild hair actually looks a lot like Michael Jeter. Far from a being a great or even very good film, it's still interestig to watch as a curiosity.