THE OSCAR

THE OSCAR-1966
Was probably the funniest movie that year. I have never seen so many beehives in my life! A honey bear would go wild on the set, every woman in the movie wore her hair up high like a towering inferno.
"The Oscar" starred Stephen Boyd as Frankie Fayne a young starving actor, together with the help of his wise cracking buddy from Brooklyn,Hymie Kelly (Tony Bennett), Frankie crawl, fight and sleeps his way up to the top in Hollywood.

Frankie has such lust for power and fame, he doesn't care who he hurt along the way... the list of his victims include, Joseph Cotton, Jill St. John, Elke Sommer. Milton Berle Eleanore Parker and Ernest Borgnine, like the cast of "The Poseidon Adventure".
This movie also featured a lot of cameos of famous Hollywood celebs like Bob Hope, Hedda Hopper (who looked a lot an older Debbie Reynolds to me), Peter Lawford, and Frank Sinatra.
I was delighted to see the mysterious Edith Head , whose name was practically seen in every movie credit as wardrobe designer throughout the 40's and 50's) make an appearance. It was fun to see her in person, with dark black hair, think black Harry Carrey glasses and stylish clothing, she resembled a lot like Edna E Mode of "The Incredibles".

Jean Hale plays Cheryl Barker, a Paris Hilton type, an obnoxious Hollywood bimbo full of herself who treated Frankie Fayne badly but by doing so, she literally helped him launched his career as Hollywood's # 1 bad boy.
Frankie is so evil, that you laugh with him as he come up with each rotten antic to reach to the top. You laugh and applaud as he calls the naked Eleanor Parker "OLD LADY" leaving her screaming and crying. You cheer as he slugs the sleazy Ernest Borgnine, sending him to a double somersault over a desk, then you'll hold your breathe in anticipation as they announce the winner of the best actor award that Frankie Fayne is nominated and risked everything for.


I love Peter Lawford as the one hit wonder, Steve Marks, who sank so low after his movie career failed, that he end up being the head waiter of a Hollywood lounge. I also laughed out loud at the idea of working on a TV pilot is so disgusting to any one in Hollywood, that no leading man would take the role unless he has hit rock bottom. Which said a lot about the old TV shows that featured former movie actors.
There are little gems like Frankie talking to his agent (Berle) about "a spy project" he might consider from Warner Brothers, But Berle answers "They gave that to Dean Martin"
"Dean Martin?!" Frankie reacts in disgust as if he were about the say: "Dean Martin?! That C*ck s*cker isn't good enough to smell my sh*t!"
This is a fun, laugh out loud movie that leave you cheering all the way to the bitter end!