Smile (1975)

The world of teenage beauty pageants is a swirl of cheesy hucksterism and institutionalized schmaltz on the part of the promoters, contrasted with raw innocent longing among the naïve and ruthless contestants. A cinematic gem from one of the great decades of American filmmaking, Michael Ritchie’s Smile (1975) perfectly captures the big time aspirations of small town dreamers pursuing a fleeting, fanciful helping of fame and fortune. Among the comely contestants are Shirley (Denise Nickerson), Maria (Maria O’Brien), Helga (Carol Ann Williams), Judy (Kate Sarchet), and Doria (Annette O’Toole) who isn’t shy about flashing her panties and bra-clad rack! Not to be outdone, Robin (Joan Prather) bares her buns and Karen (Melanie Griffith) shows off her side breast in a locker room. Unbeknownst to these naked ladies, pervy preteen Little Bob (Eric Shea) is documenting their skin through the window via his Polaroid Land Camera. Say Cheese! The film’s quirky characters also include Little Bob’s dad, used car salesman and head judge of the Young American Miss Pageant, Big Bob Freelander (Bruce Dern); the pageant’s executive director Brenda DiCarlo (Barbara Feldon); and curvaceous competitor Connie (Colleen Camp). Representing Imperial Valley, this built blonde exposes her imperial booty and side booby. Despite this fact, an outsider (Shawn Christianson) wins. Indeed, the cutthroat competition among the girls and the foredoomed projections of the adults would break a hardened viewer’s heart, except the imperfect people of Smile are presented with bittersweetness that’ll have you reaching for a box of tissues for a variety of reasons!