THE FORTUNE (1975)

 

Directed By: Mike Nichols 

Written By: Carole Eastman (As Adrien Joyce) and Selene Elizabeth Bryce 

Cinematography: John A. Alonzo 

Editor: Stu Linder 

Cast: Warren Beatty, Jack Nicholson, Stockard Channing, Florence Stanley, Scatman Crothers, Dub Taylor, Richard B. Shull, Tom Newman, Christopher Guest

The early 1900s with its Mann Act (disallowing women to be transported across state lines for immoral reasons) brings a married man to devise a scheme for taking his upper-class girlfriend away with him. He simply has her marry his unmarried buddy. However, it doesn't take very long before both men start laying claim to her affection. Until, that is, she's about to be cut out of her parent's fortune. So, a new scheme is devised, which only adds to their problems, as well as to the sly whimsy of this movie.

This is one of those films that’s almost good, as it definitely has the talent behind the scenes and on screen. While it has its moments and should definitely be funny, it should also definitely be better and a bit more impressive. 

What we get feels more practice and too small in scope it feels limited. Honestly, it feels sort of like Mike Nichols trying to do a Robert Altman film only with less of an ensemble but somehow them all being connected

This is an All-Star Comedy directed by the late legendary Mike Nichols is a dark buddy comedy that should be more cynical, yet stays lighthearted. 

Jack Nicholson is truly the All-Star and stealer of the film throughout. It seems like his role is defined by his crazy and wild hair with a noticeably receding hairline like Larry in the Three Stooges or Steve Carell's slick-back hair look in the first season of THE OFFICR.

Nicholson has a more interesting character and seems like he is truly having a lot of fun with the role. With slicked-back hair that stands up and half the time the comedy can be found in his facial reactions to things that are priceless. You almost wish she was in a better film as he is more alive than the material

The same can be said when it comes to costar Stockard Channing

Whereas Warren Beatty is more of the straight man the buttoned-up character, a little anal retentive. Where his look and costumes do most of the work as he plays a known lothario. Warren Beatty feels too self-conscious and a stick in the mud. He’s almost the villain of the film.

He means to end the star of the film, but feels like he’s doing a favor as a guest star in the first half of the film though it does revolve around his character's plan.

One element, a brief scene wears a brown face, which might be more distasteful today, even though the characters are despicable after all.

The film comes across as a love triangle or polyamory romance that tries to be a classic comedy duo with Nickelson and Beatty, which should work but feels like everything is just a bit off

Stockard Channing completes the lead trio, the woman at the center of it, all who stands to make quite a nice inheritance, but falls in love with both the lead, despite being with Warren Beatty character, a romantic triangle.

She seems to get more of the physical scenes and is quite playful throughout 

There is plenty of opportunity for physical comedy.

The premise of the movie is never quite as funny as it should be. It seems like there’s a lot of setup with very little payoff, especially considering the caliber of the cast, which might have made the writers try harder to make things comic, but also maybe made it too highbrow or maybe they had to follow, the stars specific instructions as to what they wanted out of them

There is plenty of humor but more bickering than anything else.

The film does have great cinematography though 

What about the film is that everyone seems to try so hard for so little as the film tries to be a slapstick screwball comedy centered around the morals of the time it takes place coming across like a loss. Forbidden comedy from that period. 

I can’t say it was fun finding these Jack Nicholson and Warren Beatty films that are a bit more early in their career that seem to be forgotten or generally hard to find 

If you are a completist, just want to see this film for the two stars it might not be worth it, but it won’t be the worst thing you’ve ever seen either. It just might be slightly disappointing. At least they knew to keep it short and under 90 minutes 

Grade: C