Cookie's Fortune (1999)

Director:

Robert Altman

Writer (WGA):

Anne Rapp (written by)

Release Date:

2 April 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

Welcome to Holly Springs... home of murder, mayhem and catfish enchiladas.

Plot:

Conflict arises in the small town of Holly Springs when an old woman's death causes a variety of reactions among family and friends.

Plot Keywords:

Easter | Friend | Small Town | Suicide | Theatre Director

Awards:

3 wins & 8 nominations

Cast

Glenn Close	...	Camille Dixon
Julianne Moore	...	Cora Duvall
Liv Tyler	...	Emma Duvall
Chris O'Donnell	...	Jason Brown
Charles S. Dutton	...	Willis Richland
Patricia Neal	...	Jewel Mae 'Cookie' Orcutt
Ned Beatty	...	Lester Boyle
Courtney B. Vance	...	Otis Tucker
Donald Moffat	...	Jack Palmer
Lyle Lovett	...	Manny Hood
Danny Darst	...	Billy Cox
Matt Malloy	...	Eddie 'The Expert' Pitts
Randle Mell	...	Patrick Freeman
Niecy Nash	...	Wanda Carter
Rufus Thomas	...	Theo Johnson
Ruby Wilson	...	Josie Martin
Preston Strobel	...	Ronnie Freeman
Ann Whitfield	...	Mrs. Henderson / Herodias
Hank Worsham	...	Tigellinus
Kenny Pillow	...	Soldier #1
Derek Guyer	...	Soldier #2
Emily Sindelar	...	Marlene
Heath Lail	...	Prop Boy
Shari Schneider	...	Mrs. Tippit
John M. Sullivan II	...	Mr. Tippit (as John Sullivan)
Red West	...	Mr. Henderson
Ferguson Reid	...	Deputy
Christopher Coulson	...	Deputy (as Chris Coulson)
Cheryl Cole	...	Picnic Lady
Fred Sanders	...	Guitarist
Jimmy Ellis	...	Drummer
Solomon McDaniel	...	Keyboardist
Terris Tate	...	Bass Guitarist

Directed by
Robert Altman

Writing credits (WGA)
Anne Rapp		(written by)

Produced by
Robert Altman	....	producer
Willi Bär	....	executive producer (as Willi Baer)
David Levy	....	co-producer
James McLindon	....	co-producer
Ernst Etchie Stroh	....	producer (as Etchie Stroh)

Original Music by
David A. Stewart

Cinematography by
Toyomichi Kurita		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Abraham Lim

Casting by
Pam Dixon		(as Pam Dixon Mickelson)

Production Design by
Stephen Altman

Art Direction by
Richard L. Johnson		(as Richard Johnson)

Set Decoration by
Susan Emshwiller		(as Susan J. Emshwiller)

Makeup Department
Susan Buffington	....	assistant hair stylist
Martial Corneville	....	key hair stylist
Linda Melazzo	....	makeup artist
Manlio Rocchetti	....	key makeup artist
Aldo Signoretti	....	wig designer
Gloria Belz	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Barbara A. Hall	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Stephen Altman	....	second unit director
David Ascher	....	second assistant director
Tommy Thompson	....	first assistant director
Elaine Wood	....	dga trainee

Art Department
Kevin Bakeksdale	....	laborer
Louis Bernard	....	painter
Sean Bernard	....	paint foreman
Chris Coulson	....	lead man
Steven T. Duke	....	swing gang
'Turk' Edwards	....	swing gang
Terry Hopkins	....	propmaker
Dedrick Lesure	....	laborer
Anthony Maccario	....	property master
James Passanante	....	construction coordinator
Steve Powers	....	propmaker
Douglas Roberts	....	propmaker
Robert Shelby	....	propmaker
Phillip Thoman	....	on-set dresser
Kristin Webb	....	art department coordinator
Bruce White	....	swing gang

Sound Department
Joe Barnett	....	sound re-recording mixer
Javier Bennassar	....	sound effects editor
Frank Bradley	....	cable person
Mary Erstad	....	foley mixer
Alan Freedman	....	adr mixer
Robert Getty	....	assistant sound editor
David Grant	....	dialogue editor
Michael Hertlein	....	dialogue editor
Frederick Howard	....	supervising sound editor
Robert Jackson	....	dialogue editor (as Robert C. Jackson)
C.W. Jones	....	foley mixer
Thomas Jones	....	adr supervisor
Craig Jurkiewicz	....	foley editor
Ossama Khuluki	....	foley artist
Diane Marshall	....	foley artist (as S. Dianne Marshall)
Michael Mullane	....	sound effects editor
John Ross	....	sound re-recording mixer
Douglas Shamburger	....	boom operator (as Doug Shamburger)
Anne Slack	....	digital transfer engineer
Lucy Sustar	....	foley editor
Roland N. Thai	....	sound effects editor (as Roland Thai)
Mark Weingarten	....	sound mixer
Frank Bradley	....	second boom operator (uncredited)
Mark DeSimone	....	adr mixer: New York (uncredited)
Michael Hertlein	....	adr editor (uncredited)
Frederick Howard	....	sound designer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Thomas Kittle	....	special effects coordinator
Ken Gorrell	....	special effects (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Steven Fagerquist	....	digital effects artist (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Robert Reed Altman	....	camera operator
Robert Reed Altman	....	director of photography: second unit
Adam Baral	....	second assistant camera
Alicia 'Red' Burnett	....	rigging electrician
Snake Burnett	....	grip
Billie J. Cain Jr.	....	rigging electrician (as Billie Cain Jr.)
Paul Deely	....	grip
James A. Earley	....	grip (as Jim Earley)
Kevin Erb	....	key grip
Johnny Hale	....	best boy grip (as Johnny Montana Hale)
Paul Hauser	....	rigging gaffer
Michael Jacobson	....	rigging gaffer
Derek Jensen	....	grip
David Leonard	....	grip
Robert Lowe	....	electrician (as Rob Lowe)
Lee McLemore	....	additional best boy grip (as Lee Mclemore)
Lee McLemore	....	grip (as Lee Mclemore)
Dee Nichols	....	grip
Tim Pershing	....	key grip
Chris Reddish	....	best boy electric
Patrick Reddish	....	gaffer
Shayna Ritenour	....	camera loader
John 'Bones' Rogers	....	rigging electrician
Joyce Rudolph	....	unit photographer
Mike Satrazemis	....	first assistant camera (as Michael Edison Satrazemis)
Don Smiten	....	rigging electrician
Adam Smith	....	electrician
Wayne Stroud	....	dolly grip
Thomas E. Watson	....	electrician (as Tom Watson)
Don W. Wegner	....	grip (as Don Wegner)
Kevin B. May	....	electrician (uncredited)

Casting Department
Barbara Allen	....	casting associate

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Dona Granata	....	costumes
Mitzi Haralson	....	set costumer
Susan Kaufmann	....	costume supervisor
Michele Kohnhorst	....	costume assistant
Earlene Naylor	....	seamstress

Editorial Department
Susan Fitzer	....	assistant editor
Melisa Kashiwahara	....	apprentice editor
Christine Lee	....	assistant editor (as C.Y. Lee)
Dan Muscarella	....	color timer
Tyson Sawyer	....	post-production assistant

Music Department
Helena Lea	....	music editor
Stephen McLaughlin	....	music producer: Gohl McLaughlin Prods.
Chucho Merchan	....	musician: double bass
Patrick Seymour	....	musician: harmonium
David A. Stewart	....	musician: guitar
The Edge	....	musician: guitar

Transportation Department
Debra Baker	....	driver
Russell Davis	....	driver
Roy A. Grace	....	driver (as Roy Grace)
Jerry Jackson	....	driver
Skip Long	....	driver
Steve Moffit	....	driver (as Steve Moffitt)
Tom Moore	....	transportation captain
Carole Nance	....	driver
Ken Nevin	....	driver (as Ken Nevin Jr.)
Ken Nevin	....	transportation co-captain (as Ray Nevin)
Billy Parker	....	driver
Bill Pitts	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
Gregory Alpert	....	location manager (as Gregory H. Alpert)
Jacqueline S. Beatka	....	draper/cutter (as Jacqueline Beatka)
Scott Bourke	....	food server
Peter Budd	....	production assistant
Paula Cantu	....	assistant: Robert Altman (as Paula J. Cantu)
Frank Chapin	....	stager: "Salome"
Matthew Cope	....	production assistant
Rose Cox	....	craft service assistant
Tammy R. Dickson	....	set production assistant (as Tammy Dickson)
Martin L. Diggs	....	production assistant (as Martin Diggs)
Denis Doyle	....	set production assistant
Joann Edwards	....	dialect coach
Suzanne Farese	....	production assistant
Sergio Giacoman	....	prep cook
Reece Gilmore	....	programmer
Reva Grantham	....	craft service
Edward Hogan	....	security coordinator
Scott Klier	....	assistant: Glenn Close
Cheryl Kurk	....	production accountant
Warren Langton	....	assistant: Patricia Neal
Lexie Longstreet	....	script supervisor
Lee Manning	....	engineer: Chapel Studio
Michelle M. Mcguire	....	payroll accountant
Jane Meek	....	production assistant
Jennifer M. Mizenko	....	choreographer: Salome
Robin Mulcahy Fisichella	....	production coordinator (as Robin Mulcahy)
Mary Cates Permenter	....	accounting assistant
Ferguson Reid	....	company physician (as Ferguson Reid M.D.)
Patrice Ryan	....	title designer (as Patty Ryan)
George Sheanshang	....	legal services (as George Sheanshang Esq.)
John Shibata	....	assistant chef
Kennedy Sones	....	production assistant
Timothy D. Spurry	....	assistant location manager
Derek Jan Vermaas	....	assistant production coordinator
Robert P. Williams	....	assistant accountant
Ron Yakshe	....	head chef
Michael Altman	....	projectionist (uncredited)
Julian Del Valle	....	balloon lights (uncredited)
Kate Jones	....	assistant: Liv Tyler (uncredited)
Peter Kelley	....	dialogue coach: Chris O'Donnell (uncredited)

Thanks
Wren Arthur	....	special thanks: Sandcastle 5 Productions
Joshua Astrachan	....	special thanks: Sandcastle 5 Productions
Brad Athey	....	special thanks
Frederick Bakey	....	special thanks
Jon Beatty	....	special thanks
Tom Boone	....	special thanks: director, Holly Springs Utility Department
Vicki Bowlin	....	special thanks: Bell South
Suzanne Calvert	....	special thanks
May Chan	....	special thanks
Hal Cohen	....	special thanks
John Paul Daniel	....	special thanks
Marilyn Deighton	....	special thanks: costume department, Mississippi State University
James Q. Dickerson	....	special thanks: district engineer, Mississippi Department of Transportation
Kenneth A. Dickerson	....	special thanks: sheriff, Marshall County Sheriff's Office
Kenneth Dixon	....	special thanks
Michael Drucker	....	special thanks: associate council, Collegiate Licensing Company
Ward Emling	....	special thanks: director, Department of Economic and Community Development, Mississippi Film Office
Bert Foregger	....	special thanks: University of Mississippi
Peter Graham	....	special thanks
Bea Green	....	special thanks: First State Bank of Holly Springs
Eileen Gregory	....	special thanks
Kenneth L. Holbrook	....	special thanks: fire chief, Holly Springs Fire Department
Heather Holst	....	special thanks
George Humphreys	....	special thanks: superintendent, Holly Springs Utility Department
Kate Jones	....	special thanks
Michael Kasher	....	special thanks: Moonstone Entertainment
Clint Mahle	....	special thanks: University of Mississippi
Greg Majerus	....	special thanks: Moonstone Entertainment
Laurie McBride	....	special thanks
Jean Miller	....	special thanks: Moonstone Entertainment
Mark Miller	....	special thanks: Miller's Department Store
Sherri Mills	....	special thanks
Ritchie Montgomery	....	special thanks
Marie S. Moore	....	special thanks: Holly Springs Marshall County Film Commission
Luz Moretti	....	special thanks: Moonstone Entertainment
Susan Muir	....	special thanks
Thomas Hal Phillips	....	special thanks
Gale Rice	....	special thanks: Bell South
Lauren Sanders	....	special thanks: Moonstone Entertainment
Leah Sanders	....	special thanks: Moonstone Entertainment
Diane Sellers	....	special thanks
Linn Sitler	....	special thanks: director, Memphis & Shelby County Film, Tape and Music Office
Eddie Lee Smith	....	grateful acknowledgment: mayor of Holly Springs
Johnnie C. Smith	....	special thanks: police coordinator, Holly Springs Police Department (as Sgt. Johnnie C. Smith)
Danielle Sotet	....	special thanks: Sandcastle 5 Productions
Art Stribley	....	special thanks (as Arthur Stribley)
Yael Stroh	....	special thanks: Moonstone Entertainment
Janis Tingle	....	special thanks: licensing manager, Mississippi State University
Michael Toji	....	special thanks: Moonstone Entertainment
Chris Turner	....	special thanks: National Cellular Rentals
Jack West	....	special thanks
Dana Williams	....	special thanks: Moonstone Entertainment
Kenneth Williams	....	special thanks (as Dr. Kenneth Williams)
R. Milton Winter	....	special thanks: First Presbyterian Church of Holly Springs (as Reverend R. Milton Winter)
Brian Wong	....	special thanks: The Travel Circuit

Production Companies

• Elysian Dreams
• Kudzu
• Moonstone Entertainment
• Sandcastle 5 Productions

Distributors

• Argentina Video Home (Argentina) (video)
• Bac Films (France)
• Budapest Film (Hungary)
• K2 Entertainment
• Momentum Pictures (1999) (UK) (all media)
• New Films International
• New World Films Internacional S.A. (Spain)
• October Films (USA)
• Primer Plano Film Group (Argentina)
• RCV Film Distribution (Belgium)
• RCV Film Distribution (Luxembourg)
• RCV Film Distribution (Netherlands)
• Top Tape (Brazil) (video)

Other Companies

• AON/Albert G. Ruben Insurance Services  insurance
• Aerosoles  special thanks
• Anheuser Busch  special thanks
• April Cornell  special thanks
• Austin Nicols & Co.  special thanks
• Axium Payroll Services  payroll services
• Bisou Bisou  special thanks
• Chapel Studio  music mixed at
• Coca-Cola Company, The  special thanks
• Consolidated Film Industries (CFI)  titles and opticals
• Digital Sound and Picture  sound post-production
• Digital Sound and Picture  sound re-recording
• Dive Shop  special thanks
• Dr. Pepper-Seven Up  Dr. Pepper is a registered trademark of
• Film Finances  completion bond
• Gohl McLaughlin Prods.  music produced by
• Hasbro  Scrabble is a registered trademark of
• Haspel  special thanks
• Hush Puppies  special thanks
• Krispy Kreme  special thanks
• Lewis Horwitz Organization  production financing
• Lightnin' Production Rentals  transportation equipment
• Mississippi Department of Archives and History  special thanks
• Mississippi Film Office  special thanks
• Production Express  special thanks
• RCA Victor  soundtrack
• Rick Brainin Catering Inc.  catering
• Studio Meduse  music recorded at
• Sunrise Films  negative cutting

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for the depiction of a violent act, and for sensuality

Runtime:

118 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

UK:12 | Iceland:L | Taiwan:GP | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Finland:K-12 | France:U | Germany:6 | Hong Kong:IIA | Ireland:15 | New Zealand:M | Spain:13 | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | USA:PG-13 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Holly Springs, Mississippi, USA

Company:

Elysian Dreams

Trivia:

Robert Altman hired a local theater group to stage a scene from Oscar Wilde's "Salome". He then copied their staging for the rendition of that same scene in the film.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: In the opening scene where the police car backs up and then pulls away, you can see the cameraman's shadow and then also his reflection on the side of the car.

Quotes:

[the police lab reports that Camille is a hemophiliac]
Otis Tucker:A condition under which, in times of extreme stress, her blood will not clot properly. Emma, Camille Dixon is your aunt, isn't she?
Emma Duvall:Unfortunately.
Otis Tucker:You ever seen her suffer from this condition?
Emma Duvall:Unfortunately not.

Movie Connections:

References Sunset Blvd. (1950)

rather sweet; left me with a smile when I first saw it

One might call Cookie's Fortune a 'minor' effort from Robert Altman, a filmmaker who once commented that each film "is all part of the same picture", or rather one long movie with bits and pieces making up a career whole. But it has enough going for it through its very competent cast and interesting script to keep it afloat from being the kind of small film little old ladies might watch on TV during the day. In that sense it isn't as 'heavy' as some of Altman's other work. It is also cool enough to treat the subject of a mystery around a suicide with enough humanity to make some scenes smile-worthy. Considering some of the darker elements in the script, Altman depicts this to the point where- get this- Cookie's Fortune is sometimes shown on the HBO family channel!

Is it really a kid's film? I'm not sure, but it isn't work for only one age group- its appeal from its cast of a collective of small towners is appealing to most in the audience. That the cast- Glenn Close, Liv Tyler, (especially) Charles S. Dutton, even Chris O'Donnell- gels and plays some of the dialog sincerely even when its meant to not be taken seriously at all, is a credit to the filmmaker. That it also might not be quite as memorable as some of the director's major films is and is not a fault. It is a fault because the subject matter is sort of stuck in a certain genre realm. It is not because the subject mater is also very much more intelligent than would be expected at times. I was also fond of certain scenes and interactions with the actors, the rhythm of it all, like early on with Dutton and the actress Patricia Neal who plays the old lady. I also really like the climax.

So it's a good work about the rumblings and eccentricities of a small town, the good in people as well as the lesser parts, and parts of greed and death seen through a light that is not aiming for anything 'cheap', so to speak.