Stockard Channing in The Girl Most Likely To (1973)

Obscurity factor: 8

Before there was Carrie and Heathers, there was this TV movie. Written in part by Joan Rivers, it tells the story of Miriam Knight, a poor, schlumpy girl who can't seem to find a boyfriend or even make platonic friends at the many colleges she attends. Her latest school is no different. She tries and tries, but can't seem to find her niche. The men she meets all play cruel tricks on her and the girls are no better. One night, after a particularly unpleasant experience, she runs away and gets into a terrible automobile accident. The plastic surgery she had to have as a result of the accident turns the ugly duckling into a beautiful swan. Now that she's a knockout she returns to school to reap revenge on the dolts who tortured her so. The story line isn't earth shattering but what really makes this film a gem is Ms. Channing. She throws herself into the role and goes through an amazing transformation. She starts out as a genuine ugly duckling, but the makeup is extremely subtle, and I think it's a real testament to her acting as well that she so naturally transforms herself into a credible schlub. When she's revealed after the surgery, it's as if a different actress is playing the part. It's all very impressive, especially for 70's TV. The writing is very nicely done as well. Some of the early scenes could have been extremely painful to watch, but you really get a sense of Ms. River's humor coming through. She and her co writer, Agnes Gallin are able to mix tragedy and comedy in a way that honors both and is very enjoyable. This film is choc full of recognizable faces. Look for Ed Asner, Fred Grandy, Jim Backus, Ruth McDevitt, Larry Wilcox and Annette O'Toole.

 

This was a made-for-television movie and there is very little video of it available online. The clip above is the only one I could find, and doesn't even feature Ms. Channing. It's uploaded by p0dlingface. The film was released on DVD in 2005, but is currently out of print and highly collectible. The only copies on Amazon go for upwards of $75. You can, however find it on iOffer.com for a lot less.

Update: You can see the film in its entirety right here, thanks to an upload by Charles787980:

Obscurity factor: 8 (on DVD, but very hard to find, not available online)