Smile (1975)

It's time again for California's "Young American Miss" beauty pageant, the biggest event of the year for Big Bob Freelander and Brenda DiCarlo, who give their all to put on a successful ... See full summary »

Director:

Michael Ritchie

Writer:

Jerry Belson

Stars:

Bruce Dern, Barbara Feldon, Michael Kidd

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Bruce Dern	...	Big Bob
Barbara Feldon	...	Brenda
Michael Kidd	...	Tommy
Geoffrey Lewis	...	Wilson
Eric Shea	...	Little Bob
Nicholas Pryor	...	Andy
Titos Vandis	...	Emile
Paul Benedict	...	Orren Brooks
William Traylor	...	Ray Brandy
Dennis Dugan	...	Logan
Dick McGarvin	...	Ted Farley
Adam Reed	...	Freddy
Kate Sarchet	...	Judy - Young American Miss
Brad Thompson	...	Chuck
George Wyner	...	Man at Party

Storyline

It's time again for California's "Young American Miss" beauty pageant, the biggest event of the year for Big Bob Freelander and Brenda DiCarlo, who give their all to put on a successful pageant. But Brenda is having marital difficulties and Bob's son is up to some mischief. Could this year's pageant be in jeopardy?

---

Plot Keywords:

beauty pageant | choreographer | dysfunctional marriage | tv dinner | talent contest | 

---

Taglines:

Raised on hamburgers and soda pop, She's got a winning smile that's hard to top. A credit to her family, the ideal teen, She's America's daughter, she's a beauty queen.

---

Genres:

Comedy

---

Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 July 1975 (USA)

Also Known As:

Lauter nette Mädchen

Filming Locations:

Santa Rosa, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

David V. Picker Productions, Twin Roads Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

113 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Since Paul Benedict and Joy Carlin are credited in the opening set of credits, but are not in the more comprehensive end credits, the opening credits are listed first, followed by those in the end credits not yet in, as required by IMDb policy on cast ordering.

---

Goofs

During pageant finale, many letters in the electrical Young American Miss sign are unlit in a long shot of stage, but shine brightly in other angles.

---

Quotes

Tommy French: Kick and Bend. Kick and Bend. No dear, if you kick and bend at the same time you're going to knock yourself out.

---

Connections

Referenced in A Decade Under the Influence (2003)

---

Soundtracks

"Me Ol' Bam-Boo"
(1968)
Written by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman

User Reviews

This is one of the great undiscovered comedies of all time.

Twenty-five years after this film about the Young America Miss contest was filmed in Santa Rosa, California, the fates sent me to that lovely town on business. During lunch in a local restaurant, I did an impression of one of the film's lines: "What does Santa Rosa think about that?" and half a dozen heads turned to stare at me in shock and anger. If a single line from a movie can still upset the local power structure of a self-satisfied town a quarter-century later, it must be doing something right. In fact, writer Jerry Belson, director Michael Ritchie and a great cast of veteran or young actors did about everything right. Funny, insightful and true. What more can a smart viewer want from a movie?