The Oscar movie storyline. It’s Oscar night. Frank Fane, who is in the audience, has been nominated for his first ever Oscar for Best Actor. Hymie Kelly, perhaps Frankie’s oldest friend and confidante and who is also in the audience, recounts Frankie’s rise from their humble and what may be seen as unsavory beginnings to this night. Frankie fell into acting by accident, but his foray into it was based on some talent, especially in roles most closely mirroring his own cutthroat personality and streetwise background, upon which he could draw.
As his fame increased, he believed there was no way that trajectory could change course, and even if there was a hint at that happening, that he would do whatever required to get out of that hole. With this belief, he overextended his finances to live the life of luxury. As such, he ended up using people – many who in turn used him – for short term gain. He was also vindictive and ruined people solely because they at one time didn’t help or screwed him.
The one person he seemed to exclude from this behavior was aspiring costume designer Kay Bergdahl, who he professed to love, but who didn’t give him the time of day unlike most of his adoring fans. Frankie also manipulated situations to his benefit, no matter who was hurt along the way, including his so-called friends. Hymie also explains the unlikeliness of the nomination and why it is so important in Frankie’s mind for him to win.
The Oscar is a 1966 American drama film written by Harlan Ellison, Clarence Greene and Russell Rouse, from the novel by Richard Sale, directed by Rouse and starring Stephen Boyd, singer Tony Bennett (in his film debut), comedian Milton Berle (in a dramatic role), Elke Sommer, Ernest Borgnine, Jill St. John, Eleanor Parker, Joseph Cotten, Edie Adams, Peter Lawford, Broderick Crawford, Ed Begley, Walter Brennan, and Jack Soo. Also appearing as themselves are Bob Hope, Hedda Hopper, Merle Oberon, Frank Sinatra, and Nancy Sinatra. Paramount costume designer Edith Head appears in two scenes as herself, and was used by Paramount as a promotional force for the film.
The Oscar features several real Oscar winners in its cast and crew: along with Head (who would also be nominated, but not win, for The Oscar), the film features Best Actor winners Borgnine and Crawford; Best Supporting Actor winners Begley, Brennan (three wins), Sinatra, and James Dunn; and cinematographer Joseph Ruttenberg. Also in the cast were Oberon and Parker, who had been nominated for Oscars but did not win.
The Oscar (1966)
Directed by: Russell Rouse
Starring: Stephen Boyd, Elke Sommer, Milton Berle, Eleanor Parker, Joseph Cotten, Jill St. John, Tony Bennett, Ernest Borgnine, Ed Begley, Walter Brennan, Edith Head, Hedda Hopper
Screenplay by: Harlan Ellison, Clarence Greene, Russell Rouse
Production Design by: Frank Caffey, Maurie M. Suess
Cinematography Joseph Ruttenberg
Film Editing by: Chester W. Schaeffer
Costume Design by: Edith Head
Set Decoration by: Robert R. Benton, James W. Payne
Art Direction by: Arthur Lonergan, Hal Pereira
Music by: Percy Faith
MPAA Rating: None.
Distributed by: Embassy Pictures
Release Date: February 15, 1966
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