The tragic story of Robert Opel, the man who starred in another historic scandal at the Oscars in 1974

The 2022 Oscar Awards ceremony was held with great success thanks to the modifications that the Academy has heard over the years and has now decided to apply them in its 94th edition. Despite that, the most important thing of the night was not the winners of the most relevant categories, but the scandalous situation that Will Smith and Chris Rock starred in where he won Best Actor for the film by King Richard: A winning family physically assaulted the comedian after a joke about his wife's alopecia.

After this moment, which has not ceased to be viral on social networks, media and even public debates among the acting guild, since the 2022 Oscars were awarded to be in favor of peace and even somehow expressed their support for Russia's invasion of Ukraine, it has caused another one to return to the mind of the world collective. of the great controversies: Robert Opel, the man who ran naked in 1974 during the award for Best Film.

At the 1974 Academy Academy Awards ceremony everything was within the norms of a film awards: applause, smiling movie stars and a paraphernalia of glamour and talent without unexpected twists in his script. But that all changed when actor David Niven invited actress Elizabeth Taylor to the stage to reveal the winner in the category of best film.

“The award for best film is never likely, and now to disseminate the content of this year's most important envelope is a very important person for the entertainment world...”, said Niven - The Pink Panther 1963, Casino Royale 1967 or The Cannons of Navarone in 1961 - in an important English accent, as a preamble to the appearance of Taylor.

And it was right after that dialogue that the story at the Oscars would be marked with one of its most embarrassing moments: a man running completely naked appeared behind the actor's back, smiling while the camera recorded his micro marathon for recognition. The man, later identified as Robert Opel, raised his fingers making the sign of victory as the audience uttered a unanimous cry of surprise.

The audience from their homes, actors, actresses, directors and others did not understand what was happening either, but it would be the presenter's reaction that was the main one since he didn't seem to understand what happened when his welcome speech to a colleague who was interrupted by the unusual act of naked irreverence. But from his confusion he passed to a smile watching as Opel was lost at the end of the stage.

In a little more than seven seconds, this character, who would later be known to be a photographer and artist, gained a little fame and even admiration from millions of gala fans, having managed to sneak without shame and intimacy into a party that seemed very exclusive and that since then had great security logistics, being another of the greatest mockery of maximum security in history.

Then the live orchestra played some music to try not to give such importance to the situation. Actors, producers and others from the film world applauded endlessly, while David Niven released but it is fascinating to think that probably his last comment.

“This was meant to happen but isn't it fascinating to think that the only laughter that man can unleash is the one he generates when he takes off his clothes and shows his... trifles? ”, he said with that British subtlety that characterized him.

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