All actors, no matter how well they are doing, pray for that one career changing role. Walter Matthau had come close to playing Richard Sherman in Wilder's 'Seven Year Itch' ten years earlier but it would have been cruel for Tom Ewell to be denied the chance of reprising his Broadway performance. Although not first choice, Matthau finally hit the jackpot with Willie Gingrich, a shyster lawyer described as one who could 'find a loophole in the Ten Commandments'. Despite the presence of Jack Lemmon and a strong supporting cast the film essentially belongs to Matthau. It was he who scooped the awards. Harry Hinkle played by Lemmon, has suffered minor concussion and is persuaded by Gingrich to fake paralysis so as to claim maximum compensation. This entails being examined by a team of medical experts on behalf of the insurance company which gives rise to the funniest scene in the film where Professor Winterhalter, played by Sig Ruman, describes the 'snake pit' method of determining a genuine or fake injury claim. Lemmon never disappoints of course and Judi West is excellent as Hinkle's ex wife whose sudden concern for his welfare appears perfectly genuine........ Andre Previn has written the score and there is good use made of Cole Porter's 'You'd be so nice to come home to'. It beggars belief that at one time critic Andrew Sarris did not consider Billy Wilder a top rank director. At least he had the good sense to change his opinion.