IMDb > Smile (1975)
Smile
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Smile (1975) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

User Rating:
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Up 7% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Michael Ritchie
Writer:
Jerry Belson (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for Smile on IMDbPro.
Genre:
Comedy See more »
Tagline:
This beauty pageant's about to get ugly. See more »
Plot:
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... See more » | Add synopsis »
Plot Keywords:
See more »
Awards:
1 nomination See more »
NewsDesk:
(83 articles)
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Interview: Al Jardine of The Beach Boys on New Solo Album, 50th Anniversary Band Tour
 (From HollywoodChicago.com. 11 April 2012, 5:44 PM, PDT)
Characters Welcome at the 2012 White House Easter Egg Roll
 (From Speakeasy/Wall Street Journal. 9 April 2012, 8:34 AM, PDT)
User Reviews:
Beauty's slimy underbelly See more (31 total) »

Cast

  (in credits order) (complete, awaiting verification)

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
George Skaff ... Dr. Malvert
Helene Nelson ... Young American Miss
Joy Carlin
Joan Prather ... Robin - Young American Miss
Denise Nickerson ... Shirley - Young American Miss

Melanie Griffith ... Karen - Young American Miss

Annette O'Toole ... Doria - Young American Miss
Maria O'Brien ... Maria - Young American Miss

Colleen Camp ... Connie - Young American Miss

Caroline Williams ... Helga - Young American Miss
Maureen Abbott ... Young American Miss
Leslie Anderson ... Young American Miss
Janette Butler ... Young American Miss
Shawn Christianson ... Young American Miss / The Winner
MaryStella Church ... Young American Miss
Dana Couey ... Young American Miss
Deborah Coy ... Young American Miss
Marie Curry ... Young American Miss
Teri Duggan ... Young American Miss
Mary Gannon ... Young American Miss
Nancy Hess ... Young American Miss
Owens Hill ... Young American Miss
Joanna Marie Jones ... Young American Miss
Catherine Klein ... Young American Miss
Christie Lawrence ... Young American Miss
Amy Leitman ... Young American Miss
Barbara McCutchan ... Young American Miss
Dona Miller ... Young American Miss
Karen Miller ... Young American Miss
Sadie Raker ... Young American Miss
Janis Russell ... Young American Miss
Frances Sartori ... Young American Miss
Lisa Scott ... Young American Miss
Melinda Smith ... Young American Miss
MaryAnn Stineman ... Young American Miss
Beth Turner ... Young American Miss
Andy Backer ... Judge #1
Dan Barrows ... At the Party
James Bates ... Pianist
Robert Behling ... Workman
Robert Breen ... Tony
Shannon Christie ... Roberta
Tom Dahlgren ... Host Father

Fay DeWitt ... Mrs. Chambers (as Fay De Witt)
Mara Finerty ... Maggots Girl
Tom Harris ... Phil Persky
Mark Anger ... Mr. Crosby (as Irving Israel)
Ted Johnson ... Marine
Alice Lassiter ... Mother Hen
Ross Liscum ... Marine

James Carroll ... Guard (as James Lough)
Kit McDonough ... Willetta

Terence McGovern ... Judge #2 (as Terry McGovern)
Betty Macik ... Sandra Kay
Winifred Mann ... Shirley's Mother
Don Michaelian ... Shirley's Father
Thom Alan Phillips ... Judge #3
Elsie Ritchie ... Secretary
Jean Robinson ... Mother
Gregory Smith ... Policeman
Don Spruance ... Alan

Richard Talbot ... Jay
Robert Waite ... Local Emcee
William Eden Wolf ... Priest Judge
Gloria McMillan ... Lady Judge
Doc Scortt ... Stage Manager
Sally Pavese ... Mother
Walter O'Banion ... Bear
Linda Smith ... Lady Judge
Jack Denton ... Phil La Barr
Virginia Johnston ... Organizer
Del Dimmick ... Nick
Jerry Belson ... Drummer
Deborah Ghisla ... Singing Voice (voice)
Scott Tauzer ... The Voice of Major Weenie (voice)
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Directed by
Michael Ritchie 
 
Writing credits
Jerry Belson (written by)

Produced by
Marion Dougherty .... executive producer
David V. Picker .... executive producer
Michael Ritchie .... producer
Tim Zinnemann .... associate producer
 
Cinematography by
Conrad L. Hall (director of photography) (as Conrad Hall)
 
Film Editing by
Richard A. Harris 
 
Casting by
Patricia Mock 
 
Costume Design by
Patricia Norris 
 
Makeup Department
Gae Clark Butler .... hair stylist (as Gae Clark)
Gary Liddiard .... makeup
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Charles Myers .... second assistant director
Tim Zinnemann .... assistant director
 
Art Department
Matty Azzarone .... assistant property (as Matthew Azzarone)
Nino Candido .... assistant property
Alan Levine .... property master (as Allan Levine)
Patrizia von Brandenstein .... associate consultant (as Patrizia Von-Brandenstein)
Ed Wittstein .... visual consultant
John Alvin .... poster artist (uncredited)
 
Sound Department
Gene S. Cantamessa .... sound mixer (as Gene Cantamessa)
Richard Chew .... sound editor
Don Merritt .... boom operator
Richard Portman .... rerecordist
 
Special Effects by
Dell Rheaume .... special effects
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Thomas Del Ruth .... camera operator (as Tom del Ruth)
Edd Hearn .... camera assistant
Daniel R. Jordan .... key grip (as Danny Jordan)
Rick Martens .... gaffer
Robert Moore .... grip (as Bob Moore)
Steve Pellant .... electrician
Georgina Ritchie .... still photographer
Ronald Vidor .... camera assistant (as Ron Vidor)
 
Costume and Wardrobe Department
Nancy Martinelli .... wardrobe
 
Editorial Department
Jack Garsha .... color timer
Bobbie Shapiro .... assistant film editor
 
Music Department
LeRoy Holmes .... additional arrangements (as Leroy Holmes)
LeRoy Holmes .... additional music (as Leroy Holmes)
John Turner .... lyricist: "Smile"
Ted Whitfield .... music editor
 
Transportation Department
Henry Travers .... transportation
 
Other crew
Jim Bates .... choreographer
Judy Bates .... assistant choreographer
Philip DeGuere .... production assistant (as Phil DeGuere)
Peter Gethers .... courier
Gloria Hoffman .... welfare worker
Virginia Johnston .... location coordinator
Tom Kirk .... production assistant
Monica Lauer .... production secretary
Gene Levy .... auditor
Lillian O. MacNeill .... script supervisor (as Lillian MacNeill)
Larry Mark .... production assistant
Michael Maslansky .... unit publicist
Jerry Miller .... first aid
Ann Monette .... production secretary
Caryn Picker .... production assistant
David V. Picker .... presenter
Don Record .... titles designer
Nanette Siegert .... production secretary
 
Thanks
Neil Sedaka .... acknowledgment: is heard through the courtesy of Polydor International/Rocket Records
 
Crew verified as complete


Production CompaniesDistributors
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
See more »
Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents
Runtime:
113 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 See more »
Sound Mix:
Mono
Certification:
USA:TV-MA (L, V) | USA:PG
Filming Locations:
Santa Rosa, California, USA
Company:
David V. Picker ProductionsSee more »

Did You Know?

Trivia:
The final scenes were staged at the actual pageant, and no one - except script writer Jerry Belson and director Michael Ritchie - knew the winner, so the conclusion seems realistic.See more »
Goofs:
Continuity: One of the audience members seen prominently during opening scene in Imperial Valley pageant later shows up again in closeup as Santa Rosa businessmen attending Bears Club luncheon.See more »
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.See more »
Movie Connections:
References Buck Rogers (1939)See more »
Soundtrack:
The Star-Spangled BannerSee more »

FAQ

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User Reviews

   (Review this title)
30 out of 30 people found the following review useful.
Beauty's slimy underbelly, 17 March 2000
Author: Marquis Déjà Dû (marquis@sepulchritude.com) from Philadelphia

So rarely do we find such a dark and acidic commentary filmed in such an exquisitely light fashion. "American Beauty" is an example of success in this genre, but the relatively obscure "Smile" reigns supreme.

It lays bare all the emptiness and hypocrisy of suburban America relentlessly and without mercy, and yet somehow manages to keep itself funny and bright and rarely deals with its subject matter with an overt contempt or scorn.

"Agent 99" Barbara Feldon is superb as the veneer ice-queen teen beauty pageant coordinator -- all diplomacy and smiles glossing over a charred and empty soul. (She greets the dog with smiles and kisses then ignores the husband.) Likewise, Bruce Dern portrays his vapid community leader role with perfect candor, and it becomes delicious to see him question what he perceived as the status quo.

A truly classic and trail-blazing film, well directed and edited and brilliantly written and acted. Such a shame it remains so obscure and unknown. This is one of my top five favourite films and becomes richer and more intricate with each viewing.

And I will never hear Nat King Cole sing the title song again and not picture the strained and pained perma-grins as the opening shot pans across the hopeful beauty contestants.

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See more (31 total) »

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Smile (1975)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Why Didnt Barbara Feldon Act More? bartf-4
jelly jar comment, huh? miriamwebster
Michael Kidd's character practicepiano
Technical goof in movie peterboil694u
SMILE, the musical ciocio-2
YOUR FAVORITE COMEDIES wendyluhardy
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