The Oscar

US (1966): Drama

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 on-screen 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. (Green-Rouse / Embassy) (Mark Deming, All Movie Guide)

 View a clip from this film on YouTube.com.


· Art Direction/Set Decoration (Color) 1966: Hal Pereira, Arthur Lonergan - Art Direction; Robert R. Benton, James Payne - Set Decoration
· Costume Design (Color) 1966: Edith Head

2 nominations