Oscar is a 1991 American comedy film directed by John Landis and starring Sylvester Stallone in the lead role. The film is an adaptation of the 1958 French play Oscar by Claude Magnier, which had previously been adapted for the screen in 1967 as a French-Italian production starring Louis de Funès. The 1991 version was produced by Warner Bros. Pictures and released on June 14, 1991, in the United States.
Plot
Set in 1930s New York City, the film follows Felix LaGuardia (Stallone), a well‑to‑do accountant who attempts to conceal an affair from his wife and navigate a series of escalating misunderstandings involving his business partners, a gangster, and a scheming socialite. The narrative unfolds as a farcical series of mistaken identities, deceptions, and slapstick situations that culminate in a chaotic courtroom showdown.
Cast
- Sylvester Stallone as Felix LaGuardia
- Marisa Tomei as Gabrielle LaGuardia, Felix’s wife
- Ornella Múñoz as Lucia LaGuardia, Felix’s daughter
- Tim Mason as Vito, a mobster ally
- Chazz Palminteri as Sills, a rival accountant
- Additional supporting roles include actors such as John P. Moran and William H. Bassett.
Production
John Landis, known for comedies such as An American Werewolf in London and Animal House, helmed the project with a screenplay that expanded upon Magnier’s original play to suit an American audience. Principal photography took place primarily at Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, California. The film’s production design emphasized Art Deco aesthetics to evoke the 1930s setting.
Release and Reception
Oscar opened in 1,738 theaters and earned a domestic gross of approximately $22 million against a production budget reported to be around $30 million, classifying it as a box‑office disappointment. Critical reception was mixed; reviewers praised Stallone’s departure from his typical action‑hero image and Landis’s comedic timing but criticized the film’s uneven pacing and reliance on broad slapstick. On aggregate review sites, the film holds a modest rating reflective of its divided critical response.
Home Media
The film was released on VHS and LaserDisc in 1992, followed by a DVD edition in 2002. A high‑definition Blu‑ray version was issued in 2015, featuring optional audio commentary by John Landis.
Legacy
While not considered a major success in either Stallone’s or Landis’s filmographies, Oscar has been noted by some scholars for its attempt to blend American slapstick with the farcical structure of French theatrical comedy. The film occasionally appears in retrospectives focusing on early 1990s comedic cinema.