Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #9257 in DVD
• Released on: 2001-11-26
• Rating: Universal, suitable for all
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Anamorphic, Black & White, Dubbed, PAL, Widescreen
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: Danish, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish
• Dubbed in: French, German, Italian, Spanish
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 121 minutes

Special Features
2.35 Wide Screen
16:9 Anamorphic Wide Screen
DVD 9
French\German\Italian\Spanish
English\German
English
Region 2
Mono English French German Italian Spanish
Mono
Original Theatrical Trailer
Interactive Menu Screens
Chapter Selections
Danish\Dutch\English\French\German\Italian\Norwegian\Spanish\Swedish

Synopsis
Starring the legendary duo of Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon, Wilder's characteristically cynical comedy again explores the corrupting influence of money. When TV-cameraman Harry Hinkle (Lemmon) is slightly injured while covering a football game, Willie Gingrich (Matthau), his ambulance-chasing attorney of a brother-in-law sees the opportunity for a major score. Persuading Lemmon to exaggerate the extent of the damage, Matthau sues the football team, the network and the stadium for a fortune. Meanwhile Boom Boom Jackson (Ron Rich) the good-natured player who ran over Lemmon, guiltily suspends his career to care for his "victim," and Matthau calls in Lemmon's ex-wife (Judi West) whose compassion seems to be stimulated by the sound of money. But the deception begins to wear on Lemmon, who becomes ever more disgusted with himself for exploiting the innocent player, and with the blatant venality of his ex. Matthau however, has no intention of seeing his percentage of a potentially huge settlement go up in smoke. Although Lemmon give a finely-modulated performance as a reluctant scam-artist, Matthau's lawyer, a Volpone-like monster of avarice, has the best lines in a hilarious film that suggest a slight mellowing in the director's perspective on human nature.

Customer Reviews

You can't fool all of the people all of the time?
Excellent film, happily first viewed by myself courtesy of the good old BBC in the 70's, way back when they still showed decent films at Christmas (The Apartment etc) and every bit as enjoyable when watched again this weekend, & heaven knows on how many other occasions over the years!!.
I originally purchased this on the sadly dying Laserdisc format, but migrated when released on DVD for the convenience of not having to wrestle with 2 old disks and four sides. Think MGM have used the very same print for this issue as the minor imperfections in an otherwise superb image appear identical. Just go and buy it and immerse yourself in the fun, not sure why anyone would find the characters annoying, or feel that the film does not really go anywhere. The story finally returns full circle after closure of the failed scam to reveal both of the unwitting participants acting out the introduction, on the same playing field, this time with a small audience of somewhat bemused janitors and not thousands excited sports fans! GREAT STUFF!

Disappointing Wilder
The main reason this film is still talked about is because it was the first pairing of Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau. Although both actors are fantastic (Matthau overacts occasionally), most of the remaining cast is not and the film really never takes off - among Billy Wilder's films, this ranks the lowest by far: the characters are too annoying for you to care about them and the plot never goes anywhere.
Matthau is a lawyer, trying to convince brother-in-law Lemmon to sue over injuries the TV station he works for. As the money seems closer, along comes Lemmon ex-wife and out the window goes his new best friend.
The DVD is quite poor on extras - only the trailer, but the picture looks great. Only for really die hard fans of Lemmon and Matthau - Billy Wilder will be best remembered for, among others, "The Apartment" and "Some Like it Hot".