Smile
 | Directed by Michael Ritchie Starring: Bruce Dern, Barbara Feldon, Michael Kidd, Geoffrey Lewis, Nicholas Pryor MGM (Video & DVD), 1975, DVD Customer Rating: 21 reviews Recommend |
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Get ready for a hilarious (Variety) look at one of America's most beloved institutions: the beauty pageant! OscarÂ(r) nominees* Bruce Dern and Melanie Griffith wind their way throughpageant hell in this twisted exposition of Americana that deserves a high place among successful film spoofs (Cue)! The bleached-blonde town of Santa Rosa, California, is very excited aboutits annual Young American Miss Pageant. Chief judge Big Bob Freelander (Dern) promises his town a good contest. But the battling bombshells are growing ruthless in their quest for the crown! Can Big Bob make sure that his bevy of Beauties remains civil so that audiences don't discover what really lies behind those smiles?! *Dern: Supporting Actor, Coming Home (1978); Griffith: Actress, Working Girl (1988)
A small-town beauty pageant, and the turmoil it causes in the lives of its participants and sponsors, is the focus of this dark and witty cult comedy from Michael Ritchie (The Bad News Bears, Fletch). Bruce Dern shines in a rare comic lead as the chief judge of the "Young American Miss" contest, and his ability to find humor and pathos in his sad-sack character is well-matched by Barbara Feldon as a glacial former contestant, Geoffrey Lewis as a densely heartless sponsor, and famed choreographer Michael Kidd as (what else) the disillusioned pageant choreographer. Ritchie and writer Jerry Belson split the film's focus between the contestants (among them Annette O'Toole, Melanie Griffith, and Colleen Camp) and the sponsors and judges, and if the plot takes an absurd turn at the climax, Smile is ultimately a rare satire that cares for its characters while skewering their foibles. — Paul Gaita
Title: Smile
Sales Rank: 24433 in DVD
Actor: Bruce Dern, Barbara Feldon, Michael Kidd, Geoffrey Lewis, Nicholas Pryor
Director: Michael Ritchie
Studio: MGM (Video & DVD), 2004-08-24, Theatrical Release: 1975
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dubbed, DVD, Letterboxed, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC, Acpect Ratio 1.85:1
Languages: English (Original Language), Spanish (Original Language), English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), Spanish (Dubbed)
Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Region Code: 1
Running Time: 113 minutes
Item Dimensions: 1 pounds
Package Dimensions: 7.1 x 5.42 x 0.58 inches, 0.18 pounds
- Nice Piece of Americana
- This is an enjoyable piece of Americana of the 1970's. Its satire is gentle and understanding of that part of American society that thinks beauty pageants mean something. The movie only loses its footing and pacing when it tries to make a serious point.
Bruce Dern's character is a great comic turn for a serious actor in his role as "Big Bob Freelander". He is head… More reviews
- Smile
- I received Smile, one of my all-time favorite parodies, this time of beauty pageants, in perfect condition and on time. Couldn't ask for anything more.… More reviews
- Hilarious and nicely done
- Long before Little Miss Sunshine, there was this funny 1975 spoof of American teen beauty pageants, nicely directed by Michael Ritchie and featuring Barbara Feldon and Bruce Dern. Many hilarious scenes, great dialogue, and a few adult-ish parts you might not expect.… More reviews
- Smile
- Don't miss Michael Ritchie's subtly devastating take on small-town life and conventions. Dern is a hoot in a rare comic role, and Feldon (from TV's "Get Smart") also scores as Brenda, a former beauty queen who uses her job to avoid a failing marriage. Yet it's Kidd, a first-rate dancer and choreographer from Hollywood's golden age of musicals, who steals the… More reviews
- Best Bruce Dern Movie Ever Made
- Bruce Dern was often cast as a bad guy; after all he was the guy who killed John Wayne (in the Cowboys, I believe). In this movie he takes on a completely different role, which really showcases his talent and makes you realize that the man is not just great at bad-guy roles, but is an outstanding actor. This a wonderful satire on the… More reviews
