With such friends, who needs enemies?
Russell Rouse’s The Oscar is a trashy, lurid melodrama about the murky, behind-the-scenes operations of the coveted golden statue.
Grade C: 1*1/2* out of *****
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Theatrical release poster
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Stephen Boyd is the protagonist, Frankie Fane, a contender who would do everything and anything to achieve commercial success and win the award.
As co-written by Rouse, Harlan Ellison and Clarence Greene, the tale unfolds in a series of flashbacks that depict that ruthless career of Boyd.
The cast includes singer Tony Bennett (in a dramatic role), Elke Sommer as the love interest, Eleanor Parker, Milton Berle, Joseph Cotten, Jill St. John, Ernest Borgnine, Ed Begley, Walter Brennan, James Dunn and Peter Lawford.
Among the cameo appearances were Bob Hope, Hedda Hopper, Merle Oberon, Frank Sinatra, and Edith Head (also nominated for an Oscar for this picture as costume designer).
Cashing in n Boyd’s sex appeal, The Oscar features him shirtless, with tight white shorts, and a variety of costumes by no less than the great Edith Head.
Cast
Stephen Boyd as Frankie Fane
Elke Sommer as Kay Bergdahl
Milton Berle as Kappy Kapstetter
Eleanor Parker as Sophie Cantaro
Joseph Cotten as Kenneth H. Regan
Jill St. John as Laurel Scott
Tony Bennett as Hymie Kelly
Edie Adams as Trina Yale
Ernest Borgnine as Barney Yale
Ed Begley as Grobard
Walter Brennan as Orrin C. Quentin
Broderick Crawford as Sheriff
James Dunn as Network Executive
Edith Head as herself
Hedda Hopper as herself
Peter Lawford as Steve Marks
Merle Oberon as herself
Frank Sinatra as himself
Nancy Sinatra as herself
Jack Soo as Sam
Jean Hale as Cheryl Barker
Eddie Ryder as Mexican Marriage Broker
Chris Alcaide as Ledbetter
John Dennis as Sid
Peter Leeds as Bert
John Holland as Stevens
Jean Bartel as Secretary
John Crowther as Wally
Credits:
Directed by Russell Rouse
Screenplay by Harlan Ellison, Clarence Greene, Russell Rouse, Based on The Oscar, 1963 novel by Richard Sale
Produced by Clarence Greene
Narrated by Tony Bennett
Cinematography Joseph Ruttenberg
Edited by Chester Schaeffer
Music by Percy Faith
Color process Pathécolor
Production company: Greene-Rouse Productions
Distributed by Embassy Pictures
Release date: March 4, 1966
Running time: 121 minutes
Surprisingly, the Academy honored this risible picture with two Oscar nods.
Oscar Nominations:
Art Direction-Set Decoration (color): Hal Pereira and Arthur Lonergan; Robert Benton and James Payne
Costume Design (color): Edith Head
Oscar Awards: None
Oscar Context:
The Art Direction Oscar went to Fantastic Voyage, and the Costume Design to Elizabeth Haffender and Joan Bridge for The Man For All Seasons, which swept the major Oscar, including Best Picture, Director (Zinnemann) and Actor (Paul Scofield).
