tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2627032459273165000.post2176359707918850162..comments2024-03-26T05:01:57.793-07:00Comments on DREAMS ARE WHAT LE CINEMA IS FOR...: THE OSCAR 1966Ken Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04940648971296673233noreply@blogger.comBlogger56125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2627032459273165000.post-87603583287849764282022-02-15T14:15:53.842-08:002022-02-15T14:15:53.842-08:00Youthful ego and naïve overconfidence has torpedoe...Youthful ego and naïve overconfidence has torpedoed many a promising career. Ken Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04940648971296673233noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2627032459273165000.post-40331966910315905072022-02-15T07:50:00.114-08:002022-02-15T07:50:00.114-08:00Poor Eva Renzi! Out of nowhere she was offered a f...Poor Eva Renzi! Out of nowhere she was offered a first-class career, but her temperament stood in her way. After insulting pretty much everyone in the business (from Guy Hamilton to Delbert Mann to Edith Head to James Garner and so on), her career was pretty much over before it had really begun.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2627032459273165000.post-78371345517098386142021-09-29T22:52:45.249-07:002021-09-29T22:52:45.249-07:00Interesting observation.
I've read a couple of...Interesting observation.<br />I've read a couple of Sinatra bios and he definitely seemed to be a guy who was a tower of decency and generosity to some (those he liked) and a Frankie Fane to others (if you got on his bad side).Ken Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04940648971296673233noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2627032459273165000.post-34070849787660292632021-09-28T12:49:20.500-07:002021-09-28T12:49:20.500-07:00Here's an obvious contradiction about The Osca...Here's an obvious contradiction about The Oscar: Sinatra, as the award's winner at the film's climax, is portrayed as the Good Guy...The Establishment...the anti-Frank Fane. The truth is that Mr. 4-F, during his Rat Pack days, was, from numerous accounts, despicably worse than was Stephen Boyd's vicious fictional portrayal here. You didn't want 'Ol Blue Eyes, with his flunkie Underworld enablers, as an enemy.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10249353141698536285noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2627032459273165000.post-80828280651447038732020-09-12T20:22:40.560-07:002020-09-12T20:22:40.560-07:00Hi Pete
How terrific to see THE OSCAR for the firs...Hi Pete<br />How terrific to see THE OSCAR for the first time via a pristine Blu-ray (something I never thought I'd live to see!).<br />I hope it lived up to expectations. Often when a film is touted as being the best of the worst, a newcomer is apt to find the film not nearly as bad as its reputation. <br /><br />That's a great list you compiled of memorable moments from the film, particularly the cut-aways when Edith head is about to open her mouth!<br />I'd forgotten the role heaping platters of spaghetti played in the film A NAME FOR EVIL (so cool you're familiar with that oddity!) making me wonder if, because of its inexpensiveness, it was the go-to for cheap party catering...like ramen of its day.<br />Thanks for this very fun-to-read comment, and welcome to the asylum of fans of THE OSCAR. And you're right about the ending... I've always felt Boyd was absolutely perfect at the end. The more I see it the more I'm aware of how, had it not been played just right, the rest of the film would have collapsed. He really delivers and seals the deal.<br />Thanks, Pete. Always appreciate your contributions.Ken Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04940648971296673233noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2627032459273165000.post-81951579849082452932020-09-11T17:15:48.754-07:002020-09-11T17:15:48.754-07:00Hi Ken-
With it making the "hall of shame&quo...Hi Ken-<br />With it making the "hall of shame" sections of two bad movie books I regularly reference, I've looked forward to seeing The Oscar for a number of years. Having it get reissued on blu-ray was such a welcome surprise. I don't know about any of your other readers, but I love purposely owning bad films on the best resolution home video format possible.<br /><br />Some of my favorite aspects: <br />-Jill St. John's brilliant stripper outfit & nailed gloves<br />-Broderick Crawford eating out of a half gallon(!) ice cream brick<br />-every single one of Edith Head's appearances, cut off right as her mouth opens to speak<br />-Borgnine over-enthusiastically dragging Sommer around the dance floor to a Tijuana Brass knock-off under a giant disco ball<br />-Boyd's enormous studio lot dressing room with full bar and GIANT brandy snifter just for candy (which is awfully low to the bottom to actually reach...imagine attempting while tipsy!)<br />-the every-shade-of-possible-pink apartment AND wardrobe of Edie Adams, made even more delirious by her bending over the couch for that one camera shot. Angling for other sexpot roles, Edie? (pun intended)<br /><br />A special shout-out goes to the swinging village party that Boyd and Bennett go to, which is the second time I've ever seen people eating random spaghetti in a social gathering on film. (The first was in the Robert Culp cult classic "A Name For Evil", where it's even more up front and hilarious.) Was this actually ever a real occurrence at a casual hang?<br /><br />Thank you for pointing out that you always see showgirl extras for any backlot shot. Where are all these other Hollywood films that feature showgirls? Did all their scenes get cut? It was probably just the required outfit for the casting couch.<br /><br />Regardless of what transpires in the two hours before it, Boyd's reaction shot is so priceless that it instantly cements its status as an utter classic of camp for the ages. Brilliance.<br />Petepetlodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01271851273533301436noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2627032459273165000.post-25888833333909781822020-08-26T15:29:41.043-07:002020-08-26T15:29:41.043-07:00Hi Leslie
Thank you for adding this link to the co...Hi Leslie<br />Thank you for adding this link to the comment section. It provides a little info about Boyd for those who may be unfamiliar with him and his work. Thanks, Leslie.Ken Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04940648971296673233noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2627032459273165000.post-53908820628246752792020-08-26T12:26:01.875-07:002020-08-26T12:26:01.875-07:00Hi Ken
I am sharing a link which provided some goo...Hi Ken<br />I am sharing a link which provided some good information about Stephen Boyd. It is very unlikely that my favorite BoyD would have wanted to play Frankie for some sort of self promotion. Hope you take a moment to read it. https://www.kqek.com/dvd_reviews/s/3905_StephenBoydManWhoNeverWas.htm<br /><br />Thank you LeslieWindyCityGalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16641400317292086628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2627032459273165000.post-14338664486299322322020-08-24T18:10:11.750-07:002020-08-24T18:10:11.750-07:00Boy, am I late in noticing this comment! Sorry Pet...Boy, am I late in noticing this comment! Sorry Pete!<br />Yes, I think Robson might have punched up (or eliminated entirely) much of Ellison's heavy-handed dialogue, and perhaps kept things moving at such a pace you don't notice how seriously it takes itself. <br />And yes, the color palette and those overlit interiors that scream "soundstage" are a thing of joy!Ken Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04940648971296673233noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2627032459273165000.post-16345696082057823062020-08-24T18:04:32.218-07:002020-08-24T18:04:32.218-07:00Love looking at him!Love looking at him!WindyCityGalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16641400317292086628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2627032459273165000.post-20914129268020981002020-04-24T01:02:44.513-07:002020-04-24T01:02:44.513-07:00if mark robson had directed this little diddy, it ...if mark robson had directed this little diddy, it would have been the male version of valley of the dolls. unfortunately, it lacks a dionne warwick worthy theme song, but the color palette is deliriously giddy.petercox97https://www.blogger.com/profile/05818754297522029991noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2627032459273165000.post-68775882137887402792020-03-15T11:27:34.751-07:002020-03-15T11:27:34.751-07:00Yay! Another convert. Congrats for giving the film...Yay! Another convert. Congrats for giving the film a try, and I'm glad your earlier disinterest in it at least led to your first exposure being a pristine Blu-ray copy (which I never thought I'd live to see).<br />I know a film like this isn't everyone's cup of tea, but for fans of a certain kind of '60s over-the-top aesthetic, THE OSCAR is, as you say "Male camp Heaven."Ken Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04940648971296673233noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2627032459273165000.post-48369408671153709182020-03-15T07:02:22.799-07:002020-03-15T07:02:22.799-07:00I just watched The Oscar for the first time on the...I just watched The Oscar for the first time on the very good Kino Lorber BR. Reading your essay was decisive in doing so, I had always thought it was a plain stinker (the film). I loved it and laughed out loud a number of times, dialogues and situations. Stephen Boyd acts over the top but you like looking at him, don't you? Male camp heaven and one of my favorite films of the kind.Tom Peepinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10287456988389518571noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2627032459273165000.post-16016370626766554982020-02-08T20:06:19.792-08:002020-02-08T20:06:19.792-08:00Hi Rick
Beautifully and concisely expressed, as us...Hi Rick<br />Beautifully and concisely expressed, as usual. Defining camp, or at least trying to parse out what constitutes it, is no easy task, but I think you are onto something when making reference to the excesses. <br />I think the repressed '50s and the over-structured middle class affectations of the '60s produced an outsider's sensibility in gays that made poking fun of the artifice into a lot of great camp. Without rigid formality to bump up against (rigid definitions of masculinity, femininity, notions of class and/or style) I don't know that camp is all that meaningful. You have to have a clear sense of the boundaries of something before anything appears to have gone over the top of it.<br />Always enjoy your thoughtful contributions, Rick. Hope your vacation from your blog isn't too extended. Thanks!Ken Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04940648971296673233noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2627032459273165000.post-59959604095248779792020-02-07T23:10:08.870-08:002020-02-07T23:10:08.870-08:00Of course “The Oscar” is camp – in that especially...Of course “The Oscar” is camp – in that especially wondrous way when an artform thinks it’s refining itself, but in truth is just polishing turds. As Baroque “evolved” into Rococo, the films of Joseph E. Levine you mention are both decoratively and technically excessive, and in turn disturbing for no good reason. With Hollywood itself as the subject matter, all will be told except the truth. The idea that writers often write good books about writers doesn’t often translate when Hollywood attempts to depict itself.<br /> <br />In asking "What is masculinity's relationship to camp & vice-versa" (on Twitter) I was probably asking a skewed question, since camp is probably of male gayness and that has to be good enough. If we can howl laughing at the demented extremes a woman resorts to in order to find male approval (or herself), we’ve moved beyond a drag sensibility. It’s become quite obvious that non-gay appropriation and definition of camp misses the boat altogether.<br /><br />And I mostly agree with Isherwood & Sontag. While camp can be particularly defined, as artform / sensibility it requires recognition to exist. And without a doubt, gay male intelligence and true wit makes camp live. Our touchpoints are (or were…) usually the movies, and we wickedly relish unintended excesses, things that are just plain wrong and the darkly disturbing. Movies nowadays are much more carefully envisioned, scripted and assembled than they were during the Golden Years and subsequent decline, and I'd say input like "That's a bit weird..." would be enough to excise it from a modern film. <br /><br />Perhaps society’s changed and we’ve changed too. The more I think about it, the more I miss camp and sharing it as a vibrant and rewarding part of everyday culture. <br />Rickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14830683664085967410noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2627032459273165000.post-33154257252122022772020-01-17T14:38:14.812-08:002020-01-17T14:38:14.812-08:00Any streaming service offering access to "The...Any streaming service offering access to "The Oscar" gets the Camp Lover's Seal of Approval straight away.Ken Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04940648971296673233noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2627032459273165000.post-53003346851134176812020-01-17T12:43:31.333-08:002020-01-17T12:43:31.333-08:00My pleasure! Although Imdb gives many quotes from ...My pleasure! Although Imdb gives many quotes from the film, that one was not mentioned. I found the film such plush trash that I said to my wife, 'okay, Saturday night film chosen' and I will dip in again. So stunning on a number of counts.. Tony Bennett.. poor Tony Bennett.. Eleanor Parker, Joseph Cotten.. I feel bad for them. By the way.. Kanopy is not terribly well known but couldn't be much better in my opinion. You just have to have a library card and, if your library participates, then download the app and dive in. Free. MikeyLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04136453322031177469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2627032459273165000.post-68896027927713813272020-01-16T02:46:11.733-08:002020-01-16T02:46:11.733-08:00Thanks for passing on the info about Kanopy, a str...Thanks for passing on the info about Kanopy, a streaming site I was unfamiliar with. <br />It's terrific that you caught it for the first time and immediately seized upon the absurdities in the script. Bravo for citing that line of dialogue from Elke Sommer--I've always been amazed that no one (a copy editor, a script person, the director, an extra, the dialogue coach) ever called it to anyone's attention that the refined, educated Kay Bergdahl mislabels the word she's trying to make a point about. Hilarious! Thanks, again!Ken Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04940648971296673233noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2627032459273165000.post-84327830739588560722020-01-15T20:32:50.913-08:002020-01-15T20:32:50.913-08:00I might also point out that this masterpiece of sc...I might also point out that this masterpiece of schlock is available on the streaming service, Kanopy. That's where I found it, unexpectedly, and watched it for the first time, glorious, time. Many script highlights of course, but this from Elke Sommer.. "If you're grasping for a verb to describe how I'm feeling try 'frustrated'... er, no darling, 'frustrated' is an adjective. Delirious trash. MikeyLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04136453322031177469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2627032459273165000.post-71183897106296757062020-01-13T04:20:31.557-08:002020-01-13T04:20:31.557-08:00Hi Eric
How kind of you to pass on the news! I had...Hi Eric<br />How kind of you to pass on the news! I had heard of the good news and was so excited I pre-ordered. Can't believe Kino-lorber is giving it a full throttle release with a restoration and commentary tracks. I'm thrilled!<br />Those tales of Tony Bennett's film debut amnesia are hilarious! That and what you shared about Milton Berle.<br /><br />If THE OSCAR if one of your favorites, like me, you must be keen to finally see a good print of it. Never thought I'd see the day! Thanks again for thinking to stop by and share the news. A public service to visitors to this post who may not have heard!Ken Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04940648971296673233noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2627032459273165000.post-79100246534108179202020-01-12T16:21:43.929-08:002020-01-12T16:21:43.929-08:00Just a heads up to let you know, in case you weren...Just a heads up to let you know, in case you weren't aware, "The Oscar" is finally coming to DVD/Bluray in February 2020 from Kino. 4K restoration no less. Tony Bennett appears to have forgotten all about "The Oscar" these days. A while back I read an interview with him and he mentioned that Cary Grant advised him to skip making movies. No mention of his immortal portrayal of Hymie Kelly. I also saw a comment somewhere from someone who saw Bennett at an event and called out to him "Thanks for The Oscar" to no noticeable response. Milton Berle DID think he had a chance for a Best Supporting Actor nom according to 1966 press reports. Thanks for a great write up on one of my favorite movies.EricSwedehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18193841212565163376noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2627032459273165000.post-19077145023616921782019-05-02T11:01:06.029-07:002019-05-02T11:01:06.029-07:00Hi Rick,
I'm so impressed with your knowledge ...Hi Rick,<br />I'm so impressed with your knowledge of Euro starlets! Those I'm familiar with (and no doubt the great many I'm not) do indeed have Stateside careers that suffer due to the language barrier. Casting in the 60's and 70's seemed to only know how to cast Euro stars as sexy ornamentation, their accents branding them as "other" thus only suitable for villainesses, Bond Girls, and exotic seductresses. Usually I have to see them in a film from their native country before seeing them cast in a role of any substance.<br />Your informative comments post is a terrific primer guide to all those lovely ladies we perhaps recognized from these films, but knew nothing about. Thank you!Ken Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04940648971296673233noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2627032459273165000.post-28329294153409716672019-04-29T03:12:23.156-07:002019-04-29T03:12:23.156-07:00Ken
Sorry, but here's another remark on Euro ...Ken<br /><br />Sorry, but here's another remark on Euro starlets... ;)<br /><br />As much as I like Elke Sommer as a person -and she really is a nice one- I'm pretty sure that she's also one of the worst actresses to ever grace relatively prominent movies like Blake Edwards' "A Shot in the Dark" (1964)! I personally consider her performances in "The Oscar" here and her Hollywood debut "The Prize" (1963)-next to Paul Newman (!)- as her most believeable performances. She even won a Golden Globe as "Most Promising Newcomer - Female" for that one (an honour she had to share with Ursula Andress and Tippie Hedren, though). With her it's all about the looks!<br /><br />And yes: Between 1968 and 1980 Romy Schneider was one of the top-three actresses in France. With the right director she was able to show her enormous acting abilities. She was also very unhappy with being cast on her looks alone -see "What's New Pussycat" (1965) with Andress, Prentiss and Capucine as 'competitors'.<br /><br />Senta Berger was able to salvage her already fading career past age 40 in a good way via German television by really turning to acting mostly with comedic ("Kir Royal") and 'Krimi' ("Unter Verdacht")-seriels.<br /><br />When it comes to Teutonic language starlets from that era people always tend to overlook Karin Dor, who was competent as James Bond femme-fatale Helga Brandt in "You only live twice" (1967) and even more so as Juanita de Cordoba in Hitchcocks underrated "Topaz" (1969).<br /><br />I moreover have to mention hugely talented Eva Renzi who was just gorgeuos in her German debut "Playgirl" (1966). Harry Saltzman discovered her for "Funeral in Berlin" (1966) where she very succesfully replaced Anjanette Comer and even made her his first choice for aforementioned 'Helga Brand' in "You only live twice". Ill-adviced she rejected this with the words: "Bond pictures are good for pretty girls but not for actresses. I'd rather sell shoes".<br />She also rejected the female lead in "House of Cards" (1968) next to George Peppard but made "The Pink Jungle" (1968) with James Garner instead. It didn't help...<br />She's best known today for her strange but interesting part in Dario Argento's "The Bird with the Crystal Plumage" (1970) which she regretted taking until her early death in 2005.<br /><br />More examples of talented but underused 1960s German language starlets who were featured in what I call 'Let's satify the producer'-parts are<br />Maria Perschy as Paula Prentiss' unnecessary comrade 'Isolde Müller' in Howard Hawks' "Man's Favorite Sport?" (1964),<br />Susanne Cramer as Bürgermeister's daughter Anna in "Bedtime Story" (1964) who almost falls for Marlon Brando and<br />(Fassbinder regular) Kathrin Schaake as Woody Allens most probable girlfriend Jacqueline in "What's New Pussycat" (1965). <br /><br />As banal as it seems I guess part of the problen is the language barrier...Richardnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2627032459273165000.post-80126088365166564952016-07-11T07:15:49.985-07:002016-07-11T07:15:49.985-07:00Hi Ken,
I recommend Jill's movie "The Tr...Hi Ken,<br /><br />I recommend Jill's movie "The Trip" highly. It's low budget (it really shows in the wigs some of the performers wear!!) but I just found it so engaging. She's the performer with the highest name recognition in it but it's supporting cast is full of familiar faces and the two leads have a nice chemistry. Much of it was shot at Valentino's one time mansion Falcon Lair just before it was demolished, which killed me when I found that out-the house was beautiful. :-( It's not a missing masterwork or anything but well worth watching.<br /><br />I'm going to have to explore some of Senta Berger's more recent work. Now there's someone who really made very little impression on me in her American films. She was a knockout but beyond that I have almost no recollection of her.joel65913https://www.blogger.com/profile/14526657073681774683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2627032459273165000.post-12334126668720270222016-07-11T05:58:48.114-07:002016-07-11T05:58:48.114-07:00Hi Joel
Glad you enjoyed this piece, and I have to...Hi Joel<br />Glad you enjoyed this piece, and I have to return the compliment by saying I thoroughly got kick out of your comments regarding this dream (nightmare?) of a movie. There's something about this level of awfulness that inspires vivid description.<br /><br />My favorite perhaps being your noting that Parker was "just short one jeweled snuff box to clutch away from being a cartoon." So spot on in capturing the odd, very period, details in fashion and acting styles that makes "The Oscar" so fun to watch (and critique!).<br /><br />I saw that terrible Anthony Newly film you speak of, and Berle in that reminded me of Groucho in "Skidoo"...performances so lacking in anything resembling humor they call entire reputations into question.<br /><br />It's nice to hear from so many people how Elke Sommer is such a favorite. She's always registered so far below my radar, but it's wonderful to know that she made such an impression on so many. A real rare quality in any performer is when you find yourself liking them even while being wholly aware of how limited they are.<br /><br />Speaking of below the radar, I had to Google the Jill St John reference you mentioned. I'm often surprised by how good some of the glamour actresses of my youth can be when they grow older and at last are offered roles that are not merely ornamental. One of those CI shows seems to do a great job of casting a lot of 70s/80s stars against type and I'm always surprised at how good they are.<br />Lastly, you bring up a very good point about what perhaps made Sophia Loren different from the slew of European actresses we shoved in one nothing part after another, only to see them, in later years in their home countries, producing marvelous work (Senta Berger, of all people, seems to have matured into a very interesting actress).<br />Lastly, Stephen Boyd is my male Neely O'Hara, and for that I'm grateful, but he too had his occasional moments onscreen later in life (I remember liking him in the TV movie "Carter's Army" but haven't seen that since the 70s).<br />Great hearing from you, Joel, and thanks for making me laugh and nod with recognition at so many of your well-stated barbs (cyclone of hair!) Thanks!Ken Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04940648971296673233noreply@blogger.com