The Great American Beauty Contest (1973)

The Great American Beauty Contest Poster

The pursuit by America's loveliest girls for a coveted beauty crown is threatened by a scandal which implicates a judge, a former winner, and one of the five finalists.

Introduction
"The Great American Beauty Contest", directed by Robert Day and launched in 1973, is an insightful, satirical American television drama comedy. With enticing discussion, the plot intertwines aspiration, deceit, charm, and the quest for fame. The cast consists of an ensemble of skilled actors like JoAnna Cameron, Robert Cummings, Larry Keith, and Eleanor Parker, among others.

Plot Summary
Set in the background of a national beauty pageant, the movie offers a nuanced view of the cutthroat competitors, the politicking behind the scenes, and the extreme drive of the entrants. The story starts with the choice of beauty candidates from all the American states, who then converge to compete at the grand final national contest.

The film highlights numerous candidates, each with distinct character qualities and differing aspirations. There is an extreme feminist hoping to mess up the event, a manipulative contestant aiming to seduce the contest's male organizers, and a grade school teacher whose primary goal is to advertise her educational viewpoints.

Considerable Relationships and Conflicts
The movie concentrates on the interaction between the participants and the organizers, creating a mix of alliances and rivalries in a high-pressure environment. For example, a dynamic relationship unfolds between the pageant's planner, Dan, and his old flame, Peggy, the mother of among the participants. Peggy looks for to manipulate Dan's affection to guarantee her child's victory, sustaining a considerable dispute in the plot.

While the appeal candidates intend to beat each other, they likewise unitedly hate their chaperone, Brenda, a stringent disciplinarian ensuring they follow the pageant's guidelines. The contestants' illegal efforts to rebel heighten the film's tension and comedic undertones, making it more appealing.

Resolution
In the denouement of the plot, numerous participants' efforts bear fruit, albeit in some cases suddenly, causing some comically paradoxical results. The reputed title of "Miss American Beauty" does not go to anyone with manipulative intents but rather the innocent teacher. Her victory is even more unexpected for audiences, considering her important interview on the absence of great education for children, a non-traditional subject for a beauty contest.

A Satirical Take on Beauty Contests
"The Great American Beauty Contest" provides a satirical, behind-the-scenes perspective on beauty pageants. It reveals the lengths entrants and their guardians might go to ensure victory - from seduction to manipulation, disobedience and even attempts at sabotage. The movie highlights the irony of a contest appraised on shallow charm being shrouded in less-than-beautiful objectives and actions. It also satirizes the objectification of females in beauty contests, subtly questioning whether such occasions really empower females or lower their worth to their physical looks.

Conclusion
"The Great American Beauty Contest" stages an amusing story, highlighting the typically hidden and unconsidered aspects of beauty pageants. With constant escapades, compelling character developments, and extreme conflicts, the film tends to keep viewers on the edge. It successfully highlights the raw realities behind glam-filled charm eyeglasses, making it an engaging watch. Remarkably, though the movie was released in the distant past, it still resonates with and offers commentary appropriate to modern charm culture.

Top Cast

  • Eleanor Parker (small)
    Eleanor Parker
    Peggy Lowery
  • Robert Cummings (small)
    Robert Cummings
    Dan Carson (as Bob Cummings)
  • Louis Jourdan (small)
    Louis Jourdan
    Ralph Dupree
  • JoAnna Cameron (small)
    JoAnna Cameron
    Miss Oklahoma, Gloria Rockwell
  • Farrah Fawcett (small)
    Farrah Fawcett
    Miss Texas, T.L. Dawson
  • Tracy Reed (small)
    Tracy Reed
    Miss New Jersey, Pamela Parker
  • Kathrine Baumann (small)
    Kathrine Baumann
    Miss Ohio, Melinda Wilson
  • Susan Damante (small)
    Susan Damante
    Miss Maine, Angelique
  • Christopher Norris (small)
    Christopher Norris
    Miss Utah
  • Patricia Barry (small)
    Patricia Barry
    Kay Earnshaw
  • Brett Somers (small)
    Brett Somers
    Miss Texas Chaperone