| Genre: | Drama |
| Director: | Robert Day |
| Starring: | JoAnna Cameron Eleanor Parker Robert Cummings Louis Jourdan Farrah Fawcett |
| Music: | Kenneth Wannberg |
| Country: | United States |
| Language: | English |
| Executive Producer: | Leonard Goldberg Aaron Spelling |
| Producer: | Everett Chambers |
| Location: | Los Angeles County Ambassador Hotel - 3400 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, California |
| Cinematography: | James A. Crabe |
| Editor: | James D. Mitchell Bruce Schoengarth Frank Capacchione |
| Runtime: | 74 minutes |
| Company: | ABC Circle Films Spelling-Goldberg Productions |
| Budget: | $410,000[1] |
| Network: | ABC |
The Great American Beauty Contest is a 1973 American satirical comedy–drama television film, starring JoAnna Cameron and featuring Eleanor Parker, Robert Cummings, Louis Jourdan and Farrah Fawcett in an early film appearance.[2] [3] [4]
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."
The Los Angeles Times called it "witty, perceptive."[7]
The New York Times wrote "Even with some biting dialogue that often rings true, this drama... is essentially a sour‐tasting mess of pottage. "[8]