THE MISS NUDE AMERICA CONTEST
USA 1975
MISS NUDE '80 PAGEANT
USA 1980

Director: James P. Blake
Unlike other films of sexy beauty contests, this isn't a thinly disguised girlie movie, but is, rather, a serious documentary covering the behindthe-scenes activities of the annual Mr and Miss Nude America Contest held at Naked City, Indiana - the world's largest nudist colony. Realising that the title and subject matter were enough to ensure an audience, the director cleverly avoids aiming his film at the T&A crowd, though there is enough bare flesh on display to keep them happy. Rather, the film is more a study of Naked City's owner Dick Drost. A paraplegic suffering from muscular dystropy, Drost is shown as being a sharp businessman, a dreamer, a rampant egotist (at one pount he discusses his desire to move into politics, but states that he could only be a leader such as president, prime minister or - preferably - king) and, finally, a rather sad character. The film moves along at a brisk pace, and manages to capture the both the fun of the event, and the matter-of-fact realities of the nude lifestyle. A hidden gem.