Disaffected dropout Stuart Guber (a solid and likable performance by John Vickery) decides to rejoin the mainstream rat race by leaving his performance artist girlfriend Josey (sweetly played by pretty blonde Diane Thomas) and accepting a job in the PR department at a major record label. However, Stuart soon becomes disillusioned with the shady wheeling and dealing of the whole plastic Hollywood scene. Writer/director David Gottlieb neatly captures the seamy, superficial, and duplicitous cutthroat dog-eat-dog nature of behind the scenes show business in Los Angeles: Gottlieb addresses such pertinent issues as racism, sexism and the objectification of women in the entertainment industry, homosexuality, and compromising one's values in a smart and compelling manner. Moreover, Gottlieb makes excellent use of various LA locations and makes a provocative central statement about how show business ain't exactly what it's cracked up to be. The sound acting by the capable cast helps a whole lot: Diane Sommerfield as the naive and spunky Cici, Gilbert DeRush as sleazy CEO Roger Feinstein, Nick Pellegrino as smarmy executive Arnold, and, best of all, the always delightful Dick Miller in an especially stand-out turn as an unctuous low-rent game show host. Look fast for 70's B-movie starlet Cheryl "Rainbeaux" Smith in a fleeting uncredited bit role. The crisp cinematography by Alan Capps provides an attractive bright look. The funky syncopated score by Willie Bobo and Christopher Robin Culver hits the eclectic groovy spot. Worth a watch for fans of offbeat 70's fare.
Review of Game Show Models
