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 | |
---|---|
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 |
Producers | Everett Chambers Robert Monroe (associate producer) |
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.
A feminist enters a beauty contest, hoping to win and deliver a speech on exploitation and sexism at the end.
The film was announced in December 1972.[5]
"It's turning out to be great camp", said Aaron Spelling during filming.[6]
AllMovie 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]