The American Venus (1926)
Directed by Frank Tuttle
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Synopsis by Hal Erickson
The physical attributes of lovely leading lady Esther Ralston are amply displayed in American Venus. This satire of beauty contests gets under way when two competing cosmetic companies seek the endorsement of the winner of the American Venus pageant (Ralston, of course). Complication ensue when it appears that our heroine's contest win was rigged. This plot point mirrored a real-life occurrence in 1925, when it was alleged that the Miss America pageant had been fixed; apparently it hadn't, since Miss America herself, Fay Lanphier, makes a cameo appearance in American Venus. Of more interest historically is the presence in the supporting cast of cult favorite Louise Brooks, not to mention the Technicolor bathing-beauty scenes.
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Keywords
America, beauty [physical], beauty-pageant, behind-the-scenes, business, business-rivalry, contest, endorsement, exploitation, pageant, rival, winner
