The Great American Beauty Contest is a 1973 American satirical comedy–drama[2] television film, starring JoAnna Cameron and featuring Eleanor Parker, Robert Cummings, Louis Jourdan and Farrah Fawcett in an early film appearance.[2][3][4]
The Great American Beauty Contest | |
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Genre | Drama |
Written by | Stanford Whitmore |
Directed by | Robert Day |
Starring | JoAnna Cameron Eleanor Parker Robert Cummings Louis Jourdan Farrah Fawcett |
Music by | Kenneth Wannberg |
Country of origin | United States |
Original language | English |
Production | |
Executive producers | Leonard Goldberg Aaron Spelling |
Producer | Everett Chambers |
Production locations | Los Angeles County Ambassador Hotel - 3400 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, California |
Cinematography | James A. Crabe |
Editors | James D. Mitchell Bruce Schoengarth Frank Capacchione |
Running time | 74 minutes |
Production companies | ABC Circle Films Spelling-Goldberg Productions |
Budget | $410,000[1] |
Original release | |
Network | ABC |
Release | February 13, 1973 |
It was directed by Robert Day and was originally shown on the ABC TV network in the United States on February 13, 1973.
Plot
editA feminist enters a beauty contest, hoping to win and deliver a speech on exploitation and sexism at the end.
Cast
edit- Eleanor Parker as Peggy Lowery
- Robert Cummings as Dan Carson
- Louis Jourdan as Ralph Dupree
- JoAnna Cameron as Gloria Rockwell
- Susan Damante as Angelique Denby
- Farrah Fawcett as T L Dawson
- Kathrine Baumann as Melinda Wilson
- Susan Anton as previous Great American Beauty winner
- Tracy Reed as Pamela Parker
- Larry Wilcox as Joe Bunch
- Patricia Barry as Kay Earnshaw
- Christopher Norris as Miss Utah
- Barbi Benton as Miss Iowa
- Mady Maguire as Lib Girl
Production
editThe film was announced in December 1972.[5]
"It's turning out to be great camp", said Aaron Spelling during filming.[6]
Reception
editAllMovie characterizes the film as "An unsubtle but effective TV-movie satire of the 'Miss America' syndrome", and calls the belly dance performed by Farrah Fawcett "endearingly ridiculous."[2]
The Los Angeles Times called it "witty, perceptive."[7]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Norma, L. B. (Feb 11, 1973). "A bit of advice from a 'new star': 'forget it!'". Chicago Tribune. ProQuest 170362791.
- ^ a b c The Great American Beauty Contest at AllMovie
- ^ The Great American Beauty Contest at Louisjourdan.net
- ^ "Trio scheduled in ABC movie". Los Angeles Times. Dec 26, 1972. ProQuest 157097134.
- ^ "Trio Scheduled in ABC Movie" Los Angeles Times 26 Dec 1972: e28.
- ^ "What do you do with a crooked palm tree?". Chicago Tribune. Jan 5, 1973. ProQuest 170349778.
- ^ Thomas, K. (1973, Feb 13). "TV MOVIE REVIEW". Los Angeles Times
External links
edit- The Great American Beauty Contest at IMDb
- The Great American Beauty Contest at the TCM Movie Database
- The Great American Beauty Contest at AllMovie
- The Great American Beauty Contest in New York Times