Watch Crowned and Dangerous
- PG-13
- 2001
- 1 hr 28 min
-
4.7 (483)
Crowned and Dangerous is a thrilling made-for-television movie released in 1997 starring Yasmine Bleeth, Jill Clayburgh, and Cassidy Rae. The story revolves around a young woman named Danielle Stevens (played by Rae) who finds herself caught up in a complicated web of intrigue and danger when she enters a prestigious beauty pageant.
When her mother, a former beauty queen, encourages her to enter the pageant, Danielle initially resists. However, with her mother's persuasive words echoing in her head, Danielle ultimately decides to go for it. She begins to prepare herself for the pageant by getting a makeover, learning how to walk and talk like a beauty queen, and practicing her talent.
As the preparations for the pageant begin to heat up, Danielle soon realizes that the competition is much more than just about looks and talent. She soon comes across several shady characters involved in the pageant, including a controlling pageant director named Candace Cain (played by Clayburgh), a sleazy judge, and a group of jealous contestants who will stop at nothing to win the crown.
Despite these challenges, Danielle remains determined to win the pageant and make her mother proud. With the help of her new friend, the seemingly well-connected Claudia (played by Bleeth), she starts digging deeper to uncover the truth behind the pageant's darker elements. Along the way, she uncovers shocking secrets that put her in grave danger.
The tension builds as the pageant approaches its climax, and both Danielle and Claudia begin to realize that there may be no way out of this dangerous game alive. Will the pageant be Danielle's way to a better life, or will it be her downfall? Will Claudia be able to help her before it's too late, or will she fall victim to the powerful and corrupt forces behind the event?
Crowned and Dangerous is a tense, engaging thriller with strong performances from its cast. Rae is excellent as Danielle, a naive but determined young woman who finds herself in way over her head. Clayburgh is similarly excellent as Candace Cain, the pageant director whose control-freak tendencies threaten to derail the event entirely. Bleeth, who rose to fame with her role on Baywatch, is a charming presence as Claudia, Danielle's new friend who may hold the key to unraveling the pageant's secrets.
The movie is directed by Christopher Leitch, who has directed many other made-for-television movies, including a number of other thrillers. The cinematography is solid, with some striking shots of the pageant itself, as well as some tense moments that keep the audience on edge throughout.
In terms of themes, the movie touches on issues related to beauty, power, and corruption. The pageant is shown as a world where appearance is everything, and winning is worth any cost. The contestants are portrayed as being both desperate and ruthless, willing to betray each other in order to come out on top. At the same time, the pageant directors and judges are shown as equally corrupt, with their own agendas to pursue.
Overall, Crowned and Dangerous is an entertaining thriller that will keep viewers engaged from beginning to end. It's not without its flaws, of course - some of the dialogue can be clunky, and some of the plot twists may be easy to predict. However, the strong performances from its cast and the tension it builds make it a worthwhile watch for anyone in the mood for a suspenseful movie.
Crowned and Dangerous is a 2001 special interest movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 28 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 4.7.