Smile is a 1975 satirical comedy-drama film directed by Michael Ritchie and starring Bruce Dern, Barbara Feldon, and Michael Kidd. The movie follows the behind-the-scenes events of a beauty pageant in Santa Rosa, California, and explores the dark side of the American Dream.

If you’re a fan of the movie and want to know where it was filmed, you’re in the right place. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the filming locations of Smile and share some interesting facts about the production.

Where Was Smile Filmed?

The majority of Smile was filmed on location in Santa Rosa, California. The city was chosen as the setting for the movie because it had a reputation for hosting beauty pageants, including the Miss California contest.

Some of the specific locations used in the movie include:

• Santa Rosa High School – The school served as the main location for the beauty pageant scenes.
• Empire College – The college was used as the location for the “Young American Miss” training sessions.
• Flamingo Conference Resort and Spa – The resort was used as the location for the “Young American Miss” banquet.
• Sebastopol – The town was used as the location for the “Young American Miss” parade.

It’s worth noting that some scenes were also filmed in Los Angeles, including the scenes featuring the character Big Bob Freelander (played by Bruce Dern) at his home and office.

Interesting Facts About the Filming of Smile

Now that you know where Smile was filmed, let’s take a look at some interesting facts about the production:

• The beauty pageant scenes were filmed during the summer of 1974, while the school was closed for renovations. The crew had to work around the clock to finish filming before the school reopened in the fall.
• The movie was shot on a tight budget of $1.5 million, which meant that the crew had to be creative with their resources. For example, they used a local car dealership to provide the cars for the parade scene.
• The movie was a critical success but a commercial failure, grossing only $1.2 million at the box office. However, it has since gained a cult following and is considered a classic of its genre.

Conclusion

Smile is a classic movie that offers a satirical take on the beauty pageant industry. If you’re a fan of the movie, we hope this article has helped you discover more about where it was filmed and some interesting facts about the production.