The Oscar (1966)

27% of critics liked it
(11 reviews)
54% of users liked it
(66 ratings)

A heartless actor scrambles to the top of show business' sleazy summit in this drama. Frank Fane (Stephen Boyd) is a Hollywood leading man who is desperate to boost his career by winning an Academy Award, and he doesn't care who he has to betray to achieve his goals -- including his former best… More A heartless actor scrambles to the top of show business' sleazy summit in this drama. Frank Fane (Stephen Boyd) is a Hollywood leading man who is desperate to boost his career by winning an Academy Award, and he doesn't care who he has to betray to achieve his goals -- including his former best friend and PR man, Hymie Kelly (Tony Bennett), lonely acting coach Sophie Cantaro (Eleanor Parker), slimy agent Kappy Kapstetter (Milton Berle), and long-suffering girlfriend Kay Bergdahl (Elke Sommer). However, as Frank waits for his name to be called, certain that victory is in his grasp, fate has a little secret in store for him. The Oscar marked Tony Bennett's onscreen acting debut. The screenplay, based on the novel by Richard Sale, was written in part by award-winning author Harlan Ellison, who is known to often take comical potshots at the film, which he considers a low point in his career. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 59 min.
Directed By: Russell Rouse
Genres: Drama

In Theaters: Jul 8, 1966 Wide

Critic Reviews

Variety Staff, Variety
This is the story of a vicious, bitter, firstclass heel who rises to stardom on the blood of those close to him. Without a single redeeming quality, part played by Stephen Boyd is unsympathetic virtually from opening shots.
Bosley Crowther, New York Times
A piece of expensive claptrap, loaded with harrowing clichés.
Rob Gonsalves, eFilmCritic.com
It may be the quintessential Hollywood movie, except that it was greeted with guffaws on sight.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
A dreadful empty film.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
The plot here is so melodramatic and so unrealistic that the film becomes laughable.
, Time Out
Tacky Tinseltown soaper, logging the unscrupulous rise to stardom of an Academy-nominated actor in a succession of flashbacks, featuring numerous stellar walk-ons and dreadful dialogue.
Nell Minow, Movie Mom at Yahoo! Movies
Hilariously bad!
Bob Bloom, Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN)
Another bad movie about Hollywood.

Read all 8 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

jay n

Overblown and hoky but compulsively watchable nontheless.

Cast

            Stephen Boyd as Frank 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

            Walter Brennan as Orrin C. Quentin

            Broderick Crawford as Sheriff

            James Dunn as Network Executive

            Peter Lawford as Steve Marks

            Jack Soo as Sam

            Jean Hale as Cheryl Barker

            Chris Alcaide as Ledbetter

            Ed Begley Sr. as Grobard

            John Dennis as Sid

            Ross Ford as Lochner

            Johnny Grant as Himself

            John Holland as Stevens

            Bob Hope as Guest

            Hedda Hopper as Herself

            Peter Leeds as Bert

            Merle Oberon as Guest

            Walter Reed as Pereira

            Eddie Ryder as Marriage Broker

            Nancy Sinatra as Herself

            John Crowther as Wally

            Edith Head as Herself

            Frank Sinatra
            
See full cast