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Confessions Of Southern Beauty Queen

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Confessions of a Southern Beauty Queen is a 1980 comedy-drama film directed by Robert Moore and starring Farrah Fawcett, Paul Le Mat, Harry Dean Stanton, and Stacey Nelkin. The film is based on a 1967 novel of the same name by Florence King.

The film tells the story of Carla Sue Johnson (Fawcett),a small-town Mississippi girl who dreams of becoming a beauty queen. When she wins the Miss Firecracker pageant, she is sent to the Miss America pageant in Atlantic City. However, Carla Sue's dreams are quickly shattered when she realizes that the beauty pageant world is a cruel and unforgiving place.

Confessions of a Southern Beauty Queen

by Julie Hines Mabus

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	3259 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	245 pages

Confessions of a Southern Beauty Queen is a sharp and funny satire of the beauty pageant industry. The film skewers the superficiality and the backstabbing that goes on behind the scenes. However, the film also has a heart, and it shows that even the most shallow people can have their dreams crushed.

Cast

Farrah Fawcett as Carla Sue Johnson
Paul Le Mat as Bobbie Hart
Harry Dean Stanton as Frank Jackson
Stacey Nelkin as Dee Dee Johnson

Critical reception

Confessions of a Southern Beauty Queen received mixed reviews from critics. Some critics praised the film's sharp satire and well-developed characters, while others found it to be too mean-spirited and misogynistic.

Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave the film three stars out of four and wrote, "Confessions of a Southern Beauty Queen is a sharp, funny, and sometimes cruel satire of the beauty pageant industry. Farrah Fawcett gives a winning performance as Carla Sue Johnson, a small-town girl who dreams of becoming Miss America. But when she gets to Atlantic City, she realizes that the beauty pageant world is a cruel and unforgiving place."

Vincent Canby of The New York Times was less impressed with the film. He wrote, "Confessions of a Southern Beauty Queen is a mean-spirited and misogynistic comedy that is as shallow as the beauty pageant industry it satirizes. Farrah Fawcett is wasted in the lead role, and the film's supporting cast is equally uninspired."

Box office

Confessions of a Southern Beauty Queen was a commercial success, grossing over $10 million at the box office. The film's success helped to launch Farrah Fawcett's career as a movie star.

Legacy

Confessions of a Southern Beauty Queen has become a cult classic over the years. The film has been praised for its sharp satire and its well-developed characters. It is also considered to be one of the best films of Farrah Fawcett's career.

Awards

Confessions of a Southern Beauty Queen was nominated for two Golden Globe Awards, for Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy and Best Actress - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy (Farrah Fawcett).

The film also won the National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actress (Stacey Nelkin).

Home media

Confessions of a Southern Beauty Queen was released on DVD in 2002. The DVD includes a commentary track by director Robert Moore and producer Lorimar Telepictures president Lee Rich.

The film was also released on Blu-ray in 2015. The Blu-ray includes the same commentary track as the DVD, as well as a new interview with Farrah Fawcett.