Skip to content
What's After the Movie?
Romantic comedy

The Fortune (1975): Cast, Ratings & Plot

The Fortune (1975) movie poster

The Fortune is a 1975 romantic comedy directed by Mike Nichols, starring Ian Wolfe, Jack Nicholson and Stockard Channing. It runs 1 hour 28 minutes. It earned 1 award nomination, including New Star of the Year – Actress at the Golden Globes 1976. Critics gave it 58 on Metacritic.

award nomination
1
Metascore
58
Loading streaming availability…
The Fortune (1975) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 28m (88 min)
Director
Mike Nichols
Genres
Comedy , Romance , Crime
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is The Fortune About?

The premise of The Fortune without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

During the roaring twenties, two charming con artists set out to manipulate a wealthy heiress and steal her inheritance. Their elaborate scheme unfolds with increasing risk and audacious maneuvers, pushing them to the edge of legality as they pursue their ambitious goal. As the stakes rise, they find themselves entangled in a dangerous game where nothing is off-limits in their pursuit of fortune.

The Fortune Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • neo screwball comedy
  • f rated
  • prologue
  • justice of the peace
  • baby chick
  • mustache
  • jalopy
  • jump seat
  • rattlesnake
  • steam trunk
  • married man single woman relationship
  • bickering
+38 more
  • implied sex
  • exit through a window
  • tango dancing
  • birthday cake
  • snake charmer
  • birdbath
  • flat tire
  • traffic jam
  • woman in steamer trunk
  • long beach california
  • handcuffed
  • dark comedy
  • beatty and nicholson
  • scheme
  • across state lines
  • will
  • 1920s
  • heiress
  • con artist
  • lingerie slip
  • screenwriter credited under pseudonym
  • travel
  • wit
  • wealth
  • sea
  • police
  • con game
  • bumbler
  • sanitary napkin
  • slapstick comedy
  • motorist
  • los angeles california
  • loot
  • inheritance
  • extramarital affair
  • confidence
  • arrest
  • landlady
Loading streaming availability…
Cast & crew

The Fortune Cast

Ian Wolfe leads the cast, with Jack Nicholson and Stockard Channing. Directed by Mike Nichols; 10 actors are credited in all.

From the director

More from Mike Nichols

More films directed by Mike Nichols, best-rated first: The Graduate, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Carnal Knowledge and Primary Colors.

Full filmography
Ratings

The Fortune Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave The Fortune 58 on Metacritic.

Plot

The Fortune Plot Summary

What happens in The Fortune from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 1-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

In the vibrant backdrop of the Roaring Twenties, two inept swindlers, Nicky Wilson and Oscar Sullivan, unexpectedly discovered a golden opportunity in the shape of the mysterious heiress, Fredericka Quintessa “Freddie” Bigard. Freddie, who held the key to a lucrative sanitary napkin empire, found her heart ensnared by the already married Nicky, creating a web of forbidden desire complicated by the Mann Act, which forbade crossing state lines with any immoral intent.

Full summary

The whole story of The Fortune, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Awards

The Fortune Awards & Nominations

The Fortune earned 1 award nomination, including New Star of the Year – Actress at the Golden Globes 1976.

1 nomination1 ceremony

Videos

The Fortune Videos

The clip of The Fortune.

The Fortune - Trailer
Quiz

How Well Do You Know The Fortune?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

Who plays the character Nicky Wilson?

Cars

Cars in The Fortune

6 cars on screen, including the 1930 Ford Model A and the unknown.

All 6 cars
  • 1930 Ford Model A in The Fortune 1930 Ford Model A Main role
  • unknown in The Fortune unknown Main role
  • 1928 Chevrolet National in The Fortune 1928 Chevrolet National Minor role
  • 1929 Ford Model A in The Fortune 1929 Ford Model A Minor role
Details

The Fortune Also Known As

15 alternative titles, including “O Golpe do Baú” and “La Bonne Fortune”.

Also known as
  • O Golpe do Baú
  • La Bonne Fortune
  • Due uomini e una dote
  • Kincs ez a nő
  • Dos pillos y una herencia
  • Bohatství
  • Состояние
  • Богатството
  • Mitgiftjäger
  • 财富
  • 더 포춘
  • Fortuna
+3 more
  • Dos estafadors i una herència
  • Sėkmė
  • Tango för tre

Seen The Fortune?

FAQ

The Fortune FAQ: Cast, Awards & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of The Fortune, each answered in a sentence.

How long is The Fortune?

The Fortune runs 1 hour 28 minutes (88 minutes).

When was The Fortune released?

The Fortune was released on May 20, 1975.

Who directed The Fortune?

The Fortune was directed by Mike Nichols.

More films by Mike Nichols

Who is in the cast of The Fortune?

The Fortune stars Ian Wolfe, Jack Nicholson and Stockard Channing, among 10 credited actors.

How is The Fortune rated?

The Fortune has 58 on Metacritic and 53% on TMDB.

Was The Fortune nominated for any awards?

The Fortune received 1 nomination across 1 ceremony.

Does The Fortune have a post-credit scene?

No. The Fortune has no extra scene during or after the credits.

Coming soon to your phone

The Plot Explained Movie Summary App

From blockbusters to hidden gems: plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Save your favorites and never miss a twist again.

Be the first to know when it launches. Your email stays private, always. Learn more about the app