The Fortune was released by Twilight Time in a limited edition release of 3000 in December.
“Madcap” and “farce” are probably the key words bear in mind when considering this strange period comedy set in the 1920s. A pair of despicable idiots, played by Jack Nicholson and Warren Beatty, embark on a scam to marry into the inheritance of one Fredrika Quintessa Bigard (Stockard Channing), heiress to a fortune.
Quintessa falls for the hansdome Nicky (Beatty), but he’s already married. He’s unable to secure a divorce, and the law of the time prevents them from running off together, so the plot becomes even more hopelessly elaborate — Quintessa agrees to legally marry Oscar (Nicholson) so the trio can travel and live together, but he gets tired of being treated like a third wheel in his own marriage.
I tend to get annoyed by movies where terrible people spend a lot of time screaming and hollering at each other, even for comedy’s sake. I don’t mean that sarcastically; it’s kind of a pet peeve of mine. Well, this is one of those movies. The two scumbags have a lot of arguments and one-upmanship which is supposed to be farcical and comedic but just feels exhausting.
Once it becomes clear that their con is doomed to failure, they stop trying to seduce the girl and decide to just kill her. While this is a much darker turn narratively, the film gets a lot funnier from here. Their bumbling attempts to off her are met by increasingly ridiculous situations which strike a silly slapstick tone that works much more effectively than constant squabbling.
The three leads commit fully to the roles, giving in to the ridiculous narrative and screaming their heads off as directed. Nicholson brings his trademark mania, all teeth and eyebrows, perfectly complemented by his ridiculous Bozo The Clown hairstyle. Beatty fully embodies the handsome blowhard, and Stockard Channing holds her own against the pair of veteran thespians, appropriately inspiring both annoyance and sympathy as the wronged heiress.
The film’s craft deserves respect as well, as it’s expertly designed and lensed. The 1920s setting is perfectly delivered, thanks to era-appropriate costumes and sets, and a brassy jazz soundtrack.
Even though I didn’t much like the film, I’ve got to admit that it’s Twilight Time done right. It can be pretty upsetting when they release a popular film in a limited edition. At best this makes them expensive and unavailable via usual retail channels, at worst it creates an artificial scarcity in supply.
But then there are the kind of films that benefit from the treatment. Forgotten films that can be given a chance to bask in the warm glow of rediscovery. The Fortune is such a film: despite boasting impressive credits, the film remains little-known and unavailable on DVD. This is an exceptionally welcome release for anyone who’s spent years trying to get their hands on a decent copy.
The Package
The Fortune comes to Blu-ray in a limited edition of 3000 units from Twilight Time. Per their modus operandi, the package includes an 8-page booklet with insightful notes on the film written by historian Julie Kirgo.
Special Features
Isolated Music and Effects track
A/V Out.
Available from Screen Archives Entertainment.