America the Beautiful; Miss America

During the 1945 Miss America competition, Bess Myerson (Miss New York) was advised by one official to change her name to something less Jewish, such as "Betty Merrick." Myerson kept her name, took the crown, and became a heroine to Jews across America. From 1921, when 16-year-old Margaret Gorman became the first Miss America, through Kate Shindle's controversial 1998 reign as an AIDS activist, Lisa Ades' engaging entry in PBS's landmark The American Experience series traces the changing rules, attitudes, personalities, triumphs and scandals of the nation's oldest beauty pageant, which originally began as a promotional gimmick to keep Atlantic City tourists in town beyond Labor Day. Combining interviews with former winners, historians, cultural critics (including Gloria Steinem), and others (Margaret Cho, Isaac Mizrahi, Julia Alvarez, and William Goldman, whose insights--collectively--are negligible, compared to non-celebrity commentators such as Kathy Peiss), Miss America features loads of nostalgia-producing archival footage of teary-eyed winners walking the aisle while Bert Parks croons ("there she is, Miss America…"), paired with a solid narrative. Wisely spending little time on the cookie-cutter blondes and brunettes that exited the runway into historical oblivion, the film concentrates on the key figures, such as Loretta Slaughter, the public relations powerhouse who brought a mixed respectability to the pageant (she insisted on curfews, no alcohol, etc., but also codified rules such as "number 7": "must be in good health and of the white race"), and Vanessa Williams (the first black Miss America, whose pre-contest nude photo shoot would cause the proverbial tempest in a teapot). Putting her finger squarely on the contradictory nature of Miss America, one commentator likens it to the Elvis Presley phenomenon: "shake your hips while singing 'Nearer My God to Thee'." An excellent examination of a contradictory American institution--the swimsuit competition reminds us of the show's objectification of women, while the fact that its also the largest scholarship program for women in the country suggests its higher aspirations--Miss America is highly recommended. Aud: H, C, P.Subtitled "A Musical Tribute to the Unity of Our Country," America the Beautiful's panoramic overview from "sea to shining sea" is absolutely true to its title. Produced in conjunction with Reader's Digest, this journey across 3,000 miles of American landscapes and landmarks serves up 19 musical homages ranging from the patriotic (the title track, "Star Spangled Banner," "Battle Hymn of the Republic") to celebrations of Americana ("Take Me Out to the Ball Game," "My Old Kentucky Home," "Chicago"). Watching a small-town Iowa parade during "76 Trombones," joining a church choir singing "Amazing Grace," or observing a multicultural group practicing tai chi during "This Land Is Your Land," America the Beautiful sports uniformly top-notch visuals that are colorful, crisp, and engaging, whether we're seeing action-packed shots of Pee Wee baseball players or gently swaying amber waves of grain. One of the most affecting montages, set to "New York, New York," reminds us all of the tragic events of September 11, 2001, and the indomitable spirit and resiliency of that quintessential American metropolis. A portion of the proceeds from sales of this program will go to New York firefighters and the families of the fallen. A stirring celebration of American beauty--both the land and her people--this is definitely recommended. Aud: P. (R. Pitman)