MovieChat Forums > The Fortune Cookie (1966) Discussion > Lemmon's best works...

Lemmon's best works...

posted 15 years ago by sriganesh-murthi
15 replies | jump to latest

I've so far just watched 4 of Jack Lemmon's movies -

Some like it hot
The Apartment
The Odd Couple
The Fortune cookie... in that order...

and I call myself a great fan of his already... Please let me know which of his other movies are really worth watching...

In Fortune Cookie, I would say Walter Mathau's character was much better(with great dialogues too), but Lemmon was just perfect in his role... Aw, how silly he is in, when in love... I'd like to see more movies of his with a happy ending(like The Apartment)....

[–] civicsi 15 years ago

You have to see The Great Race! He IS Professor Fate! Excellent character!

[–] nosnojsirhc 15 years ago

older roles: jfk glengarry glen ross & short cuts are all good, if smaller parts.

days of wine and roses is good for a period piece.

[–] greenbanzanas 11 years ago

That's awesome. A movie I've never heard of with one of the all-time greats.

[–] Shefhammer 15 years ago

You've only seen him in comedies, which is where he is, in my opinion, at his least convincing.

My absolute favourite role of his (and indeed probably my favourite piece of acting full stop) is his turn in The China Syndrome. Jane Fonda is magnificent too (maybe even a little better in fact.)

Glengarry Glen Ross, as mentioned, is definitely worth a look too. I much prefer him in straight roles.

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[–] hodie 15 years ago

Days of Wine And Roses and
China Syndrome were good dramatic roles. But for comedy, check our Mister Roberts.
God save Donald Duck, vaudeville and variety

[–] msdemos 15 years ago

I'm a huge fan of The Out-Of-Towners, but I'm pretty sure I'm in the minority with that one.....

As far as dramas go, I loved Lemmon's performance in Mass Appeal (though it's never been released on dvd).

I agree with the previous posters regarding Glengarry Glen Ross; it's simply amazing, and easily one of the best ensemble pieces ever put on film. The only "knock" against it, is it's a bit of a downer; though that definitely shouldn't stop anyone from seeing it........

[–] catlover11 11 years ago

Out of Towners is my favorite comedy of all time; then The Odd Couple

[–] dinasztie13 15 years ago

Oh well...:-) The Fortune Cookie is his weakest performance, still good. But watch Missing, The China Syndrome, The Days of Wine and Roses, Grumpy Old Men, Glengarry Glen Ross (quite painful to watch him being mentally tortured). Everything. he's my favorite actor ever and it's never gonna change. He was one of the few geniuses.

[–] WarpedRecord 14 years ago

Interesting that you should say this is one of Lemmon's weakest performances. He's my favorite actor as well, and I love him in everything, but I'm inclined to agree with you here. It's not that he's miscast here, and he's fine in the role, but his performance just doesn't stand out like it does in the films you mentioned (or in "Save the Tiger," "Short Cuts," "Mass Appeal" or "The Apartment.")

I guess part of the problem is his character spends most of the film in a wheelchair or in bed, but it seems more than that. He's also a bit of a doofus, but he's often a doofus in films where he's outstanding. Maybe his part is a bit underwritten. And Walter Matthau steals every scene, which was rarely the case when the two were paired in other films.

[–] arisdisc 12 years ago

I'm a huge fan also, but I actually think his last 10-12 movies are still his best stuff. As he aged, he just got better and better (and less 'animated').

I know this is an ancient thread, but just in case someone else looks, I highly recommend you start at the 'end' of his career and work backwards.
You'll still never be disappointed.

[–] sriganesh-murthi 12 years ago

More than 3 years after the original post, I've only seen Glengarry Glen Ross after that :-| Lots of catching up to do..

[–] MisterWilliamTell 12 years ago

I think one of the greatest male performances I've seen is his on Missing - truly an incredible interpretation.

[–] 12 years ago

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[–] Mister8tch 11 years ago

Yes, ancient thread, but surprised that no one mentioned his Oscar winning performance in Save The TIger. Or his cross-dressing turn in Some Like It Hot!! A consummate actor and gentleman, Lemmon reigns as one of the great actors of my time!

[–] Cinemaskype 8 years ago

1986's underrated "That's Life" where he plays a REALISTIC self centered hypochondriac in midlife crisis. In this film, his real life son plays his son and his wife is played by...Julie Andrews!