The Beauty Jungle

The British cinema had recently been cautiously dipping a toe in the salacious when veteran director Val Guest showcased former child star Janette Scott's transformation from an unspoiled young brunette into a glamorous swimsuited blonde in Eastmancolor & CinemaScope (with appropriately trashy music by Laurie Johnson) for this fascinating reminder of that long ago era when Britain was finally losing its inhibitions following the Lady Chatterly trial and the Profumo Scandal. (As well as of Ian Hendry as a dashing young blade before his drinking prematurely aged him.)

Miss Scott remains, however, an innocent abroad, and a more interesting film might have been one that concentrated upon the two seasoned contest regulars played by Jacqueline Jones & Jackie White we see earlier on to whom this is just a living; although that might have deprived us of the fantastic ending in which the impact is revealed that big sister's corruption has had upon her bright-eyed kid sister played by Janina Faye.

When I was young I had a "Picture-Goers Annual of 1953" - in it there was an article about Janette Scott. No description was too good for this young star who had made such a splash a few years before in "No Place for Jennifer". Big things were expected of her.

She had a reasonable career - appearing as Susie Dean in the remake of "The Good Companions" (a role that was forever associated with Jessie Matthews) was not a good career move.

"The Beauty Jungle" was one of her last films - an expose of beauty pageants. Shirley Freeman is on holiday when she is spotted by a model agent (Ian Hendry). He convinces her to enter a "prettiest girl in the cinema" competition and she wins 5 pounds.

She goes back to her humdrum life but she misses the applause and recognition so she decides to pursue a beauty pageant career. After dyeing her hair blonde (which makes her look cheap - her natural brunette hair suited her better and made her look younger but not so glamorous) she wins a chance to compete in the Rose of England Beauty Pageant.

Edmond Purdon, looking even younger than he did in "The Student Prince" plays a matinée idol who turns Shirley's head in Monte Carlo.

Considering that parts of the film were shot on location in Monte Carlo, there was no advantage taken of the scenery. Most of the scenes were indoors.

Stirling Moss and Norman Hartnell (the Queen's dress designer) appeared in cameos as themselves, the gowns were by Christian Dior - it was a film in which no expense was spared.

The end result, though, was a very over-long and mostly dull film which at nearly 2 hours could have done with some heavy editing.

After nearly a decade of Hammer science-fiction, war and film noir... from QUATERMASS to HELL IS A CITY... director Val Guest returns to his comedy roots for THE BEAUTY JUNGLE aka CONTEST GIRL...

But that's only the breezy first-act when handsome journalist Ian Hendry meets the girl of his dreams in London typist Janette Scott, initially building her up as an underdog against experienced (and jaded) pros...

By the time this girl-next-door gets backed experience on the beauty contest circuit, the edgy drama that Guest had been adapted to really kicks in... as does palpable suspense, like each time the announcer reads off the losers before the winner, which happens throughout various lowbrow contests leading a high-stakes worldwide competition...

Although a bit too old, Ian Hendry possesses the right amount of energy as a wheeler-dealer predictably (and logically) smitten with Scott, whose beauty fluctuates from down-home to bombshell given the scene...

While her overall transition from an oblivious working girl to cunning beauty contestant truly underlines what's really an expose on what it takes to survive this kind of lifestyle... that only seems easy from the sidelines.

I viewed this film in the 1990's and have always been interested in films which employ British locations. "The Beauty Jungle" uses it's locations to great effect. In particular, the West of England features prominently; Weston Super Mare and Bristol. Essentially the film is an expose on beauty contests and has excellent performances from the leading actors; Ian Hendry and Jannette Scott whom as Journalist/Promoter and Beauty Queen respectively give the film it's dramatic edge. Charting the rise of beauty contest hopeful Shirley Freeman (Jannette Scott) from pretty typist to glamour girl. The film was produced and directed by industry stalwart Val Guest and similar to his earlier works; "Hell is a City" (1959), "The Day the earth caught fire" (1961) and "80'000 Suspects" (1963) he keeps the tempo of the narrative moving at a rapid pace. Great soundtrack from Laurie Johnson and evocative of it's time the early 1960's. I also think the film still has a contemporary theme that of the transient status of 'Celebrity' which is clearly evident with the role of today's media.

I saw this film long back and liked it very much. This is an honest depiction about the ugliness behind beauty business. Late Ian Hendry is good and so is Janette Scott. The dark side of beauty business is vividly shown here, the middle class ambitions and its inability to take hard failure ultimately is wonderfully depicted here. Film also points a finger towards brutal journalistic trends which needs scapegoats or people who could be used as stories. It uses them and spits them away (like the case of leading lady of this picture). It is a wonder, why this film is not even heard of these days when so many fashion shows are taking place. This tells behind the scene truths about such beauty events and nothing much has changed.

It also has a shattering end that will move you to tears.

7 out of 10.