MovieChat Forums > The Oscar (1966) Discussion > Frank Fane, quintessential sociopath

Frank Fane, quintessential sociopath

posted 11 years ago by yesbets
4 replies | jump to latest

I've wondered why no one has brought this up. Who did the writers have in mind when they wrote it - both the book author and the screenwriter. It may have been ironic humor to cast Frank Sinatra as the winner if he were the tough talking New Yorker, Frank Fane, who used acquaintances to get ahead.

So, who else could they have had in mind as Frank?

[–] tmaj48 11 years ago

They could at least have gotten someone who was attractive, with some sex
appeal. Stephen Boyd is unbelievable in the role of a handsome, magnetic star
who can afford to treat women as shabbily as he does. He's haggard looking,
his accent is shaky, and he has all the personality of a piece of wood in this
movie. What's particularly annoying is the way Eleanor Parker is used as the
"older" woman who is pathetically drawn to this "boy," when Boyd looks older
than she does. They should have gotten Robert Redford or someone else with
some charisma for the role.

I'm not crying, you fool, I'm laughing!

Hewwo.

[–] lambiepie-2 11 years ago

Stephen Boyd is unbelievable in the role of a handsome, magnetic star
who can afford to treat women as shabbily as he does. He's haggard looking,
his accent is shaky, and he has all the personality of a piece of wood in this
movie.

Exactly. While we look at this movie 50 some odd years later, sure, the role could have been played by a handsome young'en. But the fact that a BULLY personality like Steven Boyd to play it was genius. It is campy but Stephen was believable as a hard headed oaf that had a mommy complex and treated women like dirt and his friends like a carpet. Back then, Redford would not have been as believable as such as cold-hearted snake. Boyd was a rough, bad boy, hard cold hearted snake. Redford...well, actually, he would have been a nice Hymie. Think abut it. Tony Bennett was too--yuch--to play that role. Boyd needed a softie to play against him to make it work. A young softie like a Redford back then who WOULD have married the Jill St. John character because he had such a softer heart, but could also be a flunkie to Boyd's character's harshness.

What was wrong was Eleanor Parker playing the "older" woman. Perhaps, she was TOO young to play that role, not that Boyd was too old. They needed someone like a made-up Ethel Merman or such, but in looking at the film, they relied too heavily on Vaseline to smear on the camera lens when ANY lead woman in that film had a close up.

Okay, I'll admit it: I need Edith Head!

[–] mls4182 9 years ago

You know with all the ego, press, money and women throwing themselves at them, I think a lot of actors.became jerks. Frankie was a bit extreme.

[–] lnoft97-412-316846 8 years ago

"Frankie Fane" is such a stupid made-up name!

I agree, this dooshnozzle is a sociopath, but the problem with his portrayal, besides being one-note obnoxious/hostile/and wooden - is he has no opposite, manipulative 'schmoozing' side. Sociopaths are horrible people, but they get through life lying lying lying, using using using, all to their own advantage. This jerk is mean, hostile, and bitter all the time, 24/7, demanding and using people, no social skills at all. How he attracted women is a mystery. You catch more flies with honey than vinegar, but I saw no honey dripping from Frankie Fane's tongue. He shouts and stamps his feet like a disgruntled toddler, threatening, demanding, excoriating.