Drop Dead Gorgeous (1999)

User Rating:

6.2/10   

Director:

Michael Patrick Jann

Writer (WGA):

Lona Williams (written by)

Release Date:

23 July 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

The battle between the good and the bad is bound to get ugly.

Plot:

In a small Minnesota town, the annual beauty pageant is being covered by a TV crew. Former winner Gladys...

Plot Keywords:

Beauty Pageant | Black Comedy | Swan | Teen Movie | Small Town

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Kirsten Dunst	...	Amber Atkins
Ellen Barkin	...	Annette Atkins
Allison Janney	...	Loretta
Denise Richards	...	Rebecca 'Becky' Ann Leeman
Kirstie Alley	...	Gladys Leeman
Sam McMurray	...	Lester Leeman
Mindy Sterling	...	Iris Clark
Brittany Murphy	...	Lisa Swenson
Amy Adams	...	Leslie Miller
Laurie A. Sinclair	...	Michelle Johnson (as Laurie Sinclair)
Shannon Nelson	...	Tess Weinhaus
Tara Redepenning	...	Molly Howard
Sarah Stewart	...	Jenelle Betz
Alexandra Holden	...	Mary Johanson
Brooke Elise Bushman	...	Tammy Curry
Matt Malloy	...	John Dough, Judge #1
Michael McShane	...	Harold Vilmes, Judge #2
Will Sasso	...	Hank Vilmes
Lona Williams	...	Jean Kangas, Judge #3
John T. Olson	...	Pat (as Jon T. Olson)
Casey Garven	...	Brett Clemmens (as Casey Tyler Garven)
Ashley Dylan Bullard	...	Fry Girl
Jacy King	...	Pregnant Fry Girl (as Jacy Dumermuth)
Nora Dunn	...	Colleen Douglas, State Pagent
Mo Gaffney	...	Terry Macy, State Pagent
Adam West	...	Himself
Mary Gillis	...	Chloris Klinghagen
Richard Narita	...	Mr. Howard
Patti Yasutake	...	Mrs. Howard
Seiko Matsuda	...	Tina / Seiko Howard
Allyson Kearns	...	Candy Striper
Tom Gilshannon	...	Lars Larson
Claudia Wilkens	...	Iona Hildebrandt, 1945 Winner
Dale Dunham	...	Mount Rose Mayor
Amanda Detmer	...	Miss Minneapolis
Thomas Lennon	...	Documentarian (voice)
Eric D. Howell	...	Sound Recordist
Matthew G. Park	...	Crew Guy
Terry Hempleman	...	Cop #1
Chris Carlson	...	Cop #2
James Cada	...	Lisa Swenson's Father
Kristin Rudrüd	...	Connie Rudrüd, the Pork Products Lady
Luke Ingles	...	Rocker Kid #1
Nick Ingles	...	Rocker Kid #2
Jimmie D. Wright	...	Doctor
Peter Aitchinson	...	Male News Anchor
Mary Rehbein	...	Female Reporter #1
Jeany Park	...	Female Reporter #2
Richard Ooms	...	Pastor
Robert-Bruce Brake	...	Mr. Melchoir
Bruce Linser	...	Ed
Tiffany Engen	...	Tap Dancer
Jennifer Baldwin Peden	...	Opera Singer
Annalise Nelson	...	Violinist
Samantha Harris	...	Miss Burnsville
Kari Ann Shiff	...	Miss Duluth
Mark Dahlen	...	COPS Crew Guy
Jeff Tatum	...	Fireman
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Paul Cram	...	Beauty Pageant Fan (uncredited)
Amy Lithander	...	Fry Girl (uncredited)
Josh Minnie	...	Trailer Park Resident (uncredited)
Robb Ross	...	Swat cop (uncredited)
Darla Rothman	...	Prom Queen (uncredited)
Emily Trempe	...	Miss Buffalo (uncredited)

Directed by
Michael Patrick Jann

Writing credits (WGA)
Lona Williams		(written by)

Produced by
Judy Hofflund	....	producer
Donna Langley	....	executive producer
Michael Nelson	....	co-producer
Gavin Polone	....	producer
Claire Rudnick Polstein	....	executive producer
Lona Williams	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Mark Mothersbaugh

Cinematography by
Michael Spiller

Film Editing by
David Codron
Janice Hampton

Casting by
John Papsidera

Production Design by
Ruth Ammon

Art Direction by
Maria L. Baker

Set Decoration by
Helen Britten
Tammara Melloy
Mitchell Rosen

Costume Design by
Mimi Melgaard

Makeup Department
Crist Ballas	....	special makeup effects supervisor
Mary Flaa	....	key makeup artist
Sherry Heart	....	key hair stylist
Desne J. Holland	....	key makeup artist
Mela Murphy	....	key hair stylist
Kristin Robinson	....	additional makeup artist
Stephanie Von Brunner	....	additional hair stylist

Production Management
Carla Fry	....	executive in charge of production
Robert Graf	....	production supervisor
Diana Kaufman	....	post-production supervisor
Michael Nelson	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Linda Brachman	....	first assistant director
Darrell Woodard	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Wendell Jon Andersson	....	storyboard artist
Warren Barrows	....	set dresser
Chad Branham	....	property master
Anne Hyvarinen	....	lead scenic
Matt Mellin	....	construction production assistant
Bradford Richardson	....	lead graphic designer
Tim Schwob	....	construction coordinator
Stuart Skrien	....	assistant propmaster
Jennifer L. Stumm	....	property assistant
Ryan Swanson	....	prop intern (as Ryan M. Swanson)
Lynny Warner	....	lead man

Sound Department
Javier Bennassar	....	sound effects editor
Dorian Cheah	....	sound effects editor
Louis Creveling	....	dialogue editor
Tom E. Dahl	....	sound re-recording mixer
Jed M. Dodge	....	dialogue editor
Mary Erstad	....	foley mixer
David A. Fern	....	foley artist
Alan Freedman	....	adr mixer
Cormac Funge	....	supervising sound editor
Robert Getty	....	assistant sound editor
John Glaeser	....	boom operator
David Grant	....	supervising dialogue editor
Chato Hill	....	assistant sound editor
Frederick Howard	....	supervising sound editor
Craig Jurkiewicz	....	foley editor
Steve Kohler	....	sound recordist
Diane Marshall	....	foley artist
Mack Melson	....	sound mixer
Michael Mullane	....	sound effects editor
Myriam Nelson	....	foley artist
John Ross	....	sound re-recording mixer
Susan Shin	....	adr supervisor
Anne Slack	....	digital transfer supervisor
Lucy Sustar	....	foley mixer
Roland N. Thai	....	sound effects editor
Eric Thompson	....	adr mixer
Elliot Tyson	....	sound re-recording mixer

Special Effects by
Tim Drackert	....	special effects foreman
Steven Hintz	....	special effects foreman
Paul Murphy	....	special effects coordinator

Stunts
Eric D. Howell	....	stunt coordinator
Lisa Pederson	....	stunts
Luis Rosa	....	stunts
Michael Paul Stone	....	stunts
Rose Williams	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Dan Conklin	....	grip
Harve Cook	....	video assist operator
Slater Crosby	....	second assistant camera
Tom Franchett	....	gaffer
Michael Handley	....	rigging gaffer
Michael Hoffer	....	key grip
Storn Peterson	....	first assistant camera
Gerhard Riautschnig	....	grip
Blake Rizk	....	rigging grip
Lucas Roman	....	video assist operator
Afshin Shahidi	....	second assistant camera
Joseph Slagerman	....	best boy electric (as Joe Slagerman)
Steve Speers	....	camera loader
Jeff Villars	....	dolly grip
Jeff Villars	....	rigging grip
Niel Williams	....	best boy grip
Kimberly Wright	....	still photographer
Don Hayashi	....	assistant camera (uncredited)

Casting Department
Curt Akerlind	....	casting: Minneapolis
Elizabeth Davies	....	extras casting (as Liz Davies)
Joyce Kurtz	....	voice casting
Wendy O'Brien	....	casting associate
Sonya 'Sonny' Tormoen	....	extras casting
Erin Sahlstrom	....	extras casting assistant (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jeannine Bourdaghs	....	wardrobe supervisor
Trina Mrnak	....	key costumer
Shannon Rusten	....	wardrobe production assistant
Reese Spensley	....	set costumer (as Reese 'Spence' Spensley)
Susan Strubel	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Charise E. Angone	....	editorial apprentice
Gary Burritt	....	negative cutter
William Danaher	....	apprentice editor
Penny Lee Hallin	....	assistant editor
Jody Levin	....	executive in charge of post-production
Julian Lopez Jr.	....	post-production assistant
Stephanie Olah	....	post-production coordinator
Sam Seig	....	assistant editor
Mike Stanwick	....	color timer
Sean Thompson	....	first assistant editor

Music Department
Michael Baber	....	exploding music thresher
P.J. Bloom	....	music coordinator
Paul Broucek	....	music executive
Robert Casale	....	music mixer
Sandy DeCrescent	....	music contractor
Ray Espinola Jr.	....	music coordinator
Bruce Fowler	....	orchestrator
Mark Kaufman	....	music clearance executive
Evyen Klean	....	music supervisor
Edie Lehmann	....	vocal contractor (as Edie Lehman Boddicker)
Lori Silfen	....	music business affairs
DJ Swamp	....	musician: scratching
Booker White	....	music preparation
Michael Baber	....	music editor (uncredited)
Kevin Crehan	....	music editor (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Michael Kennedy	....	transportation coordinator
John Rehborg	....	transportation captain

Other crew
Lisa Behlendorf	....	post-production accountant
Claire Best	....	production executive
Autumn Leigh Brown	....	stand-in
Keri Bruno	....	production assistant
Michael Buster	....	dialogue coach
Jeremy Ryan Carr	....	intern
Daniel J. Dustin	....	set medic
Kurt W. Gensmer	....	set medic
Giselle Gurza	....	production assistant
Mark Har	....	assistant location manager
Gretchen Hatz	....	set production assistant
Patti Hawn	....	unit publicist
Anne Healy	....	location manager
Susan Hegstrom	....	location assistant
Edward G. Hustad	....	set medic
Marc Jacobs	....	production resources
Kirsten Jacobson	....	studio teacher
Arik Johnson	....	payroll accountant
Linda Kuusisto	....	script supervisor
Jerry Mitchell	....	choreographer
Benjamin Nelson	....	production assistant
Rachel E. Prentiss	....	production accountant
Paul Prokop	....	production controller
Pamela Remler	....	assistant choreographer
Pamela Remler	....	dance double: Kirsten Dunst
Robert Saliterman	....	production intern
Barbara Spado	....	craft service
David Sporn	....	contract administrator
Dave Dustin	....	set medic (uncredited)
Sean Jordan	....	interactive media (uncredited)
Brian Rosenberg	....	assistant: Gavin Polone (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Capella International
• KC Medien
• New Line Cinema

Distributors

• New Line Cinema (1999) (USA) (theatrical)
• Fox Network (2002) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Capella International (non-USA)
• Concorde Filmverleih (Germany)
• Filmes Castello Lopes (Portugal)
• Icon Film Distribution (UK)
• Metropolitan Filmexport (France)
• New Line Home Video (USA) (DVD)
• Pony Canyon

Special Effects

• Metamorphosis (special makeup effects and prosthetics)

Other Companies

• Akerlind & Associates Casting Inc.  minneapolis casting
• Buena Vista Sound  re-recording facilities
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera dollies
• Digital Sound and Picture  sound post-production
• Hall of Fame  catering
• Hollywood Caterers  catering
• Hollywood Rental Company  lighting equipment
• Howard A. Anderson Company  titles and opticals
• Joyce's Voices  adr voice casting
• Lighthouse Studio Rentals  camera cranes and dollies
• Rescue Resources  medical services
• The Animal Connection  animals
• Twin City Lawmen  security
• yU+Co.  titles

Also Known As:

Dairy Queens (USA) (working title)
Gnadenlos schön (Germany)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for irreverent and crude humor, sex-related material and language.

Runtime:

97 min

Country:

USA | Germany

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Finland:K-11 | Argentina:13 | Iceland:L | South Korea:15 | Australia:M | Canada:14A | France:U | Germany:12 | Ireland:15 | Netherlands:12 | Portugal:M/12 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:PG-13 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Ardmore Village, Lakeville, Minnesota, USA

Company:

Capella International

Trivia:

The giant cow statue is located at a creamery in Bongards, Minnesota.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: The explosion seen on the video camera is seen directly in front of the camera, yet the large piece of debris that falls center screen comes at a diagonal angle from the right.

Quotes:

Jenelle Betz: [at the contestant interviews] The tard's pants are completely off
Harold Vilmes: [everyone looks at Hank who is obviously spanking his monkey] Close up shop! Close up shop!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Tru Calling: Drop Dead Gorgeous (#1.13)" (2004)

Soundtrack:

Fanfare For The Common Man

An outrageous, deliciously bad-taste classic.

From the moment front-runner Tammy Curry (Brooke Bushman) is blown to pieces on her sabotaged tractor, it's clear this beauty pageant will be fought tooth and nail. And it ain't gonna be pretty.

In the small Midwest community of Mount Rose, Minnesota, the Sarah Rose Miss Teen Princess contest is into the final furlong. But for all the sugar-coated spoutings of world peace and harmony hairspray, it's a question of victory by any means necessary - as a roving documentary film crew discovers.

In the Blue Ribbon rhubarb pie corner is Becky Leeman (Richards, rich kid daughter of former winner and rabidly proud officiating beauty pageant President Gladys (Alley). And in the red, trailer-trash corner is morgue make-up artist Amber Atkins (Dunst), championed by her boozy mother Annette (Barkin) and her mother's morally suspect best friend Loretta (Janney).

Casting wise it's spot on, as Alley launches with smiley, viper spitefulness into a beacon of single-minded hypocrisy, and is well matched by Richards, even if she looks the least convincing high school teenager since Stockard Channing's Rizzo enrolled in Rydell High. Dunst meanwhile blossoms into a very accomplished actress, and - together with Barkin and Janney - claims most of the prize lines.

If there's a weakness it's that the mockumentary approach doesn't always work, and the film drags on a little too long after a seemingly natural conclusion. Still, the dark laughs are consistent, and the parody of middle America's bizarre beauty contest fixation is spiked with some jolting shock tactics - from the nurse-assisted wheelchair dance by the reigning anorexic crown holder to Richards' hilarious (not to mention blasphemous) love song for Jesus - but such blackness never obstructs rooting for Dunst's likable teen. An outrageous, deliciously bad-taste classic.

8/10