THE NIGHT THEY TOOK MISS BEAUTIFUL (1977)

[The Burgomaster]

Here's one of those bad, but lovable, made-for-TV movies from the 1970s.  You can find it in Mill Creek's SUSPENSE CLASSICS 50 MOVIE PACK.

A group of criminals (including Gregory Sierra from Barney Miller) hijack a small plane carrying several beauty contest participants, a contestant's mother, the host of the contest (Phil Silvers!), pilots, and co-pilots (including Gary Collins!).  The kidnappers demand a $1 million ransom.

Back at the airport, security director Chuck "The Rifleman" Connors streaks into action.

This movie is chock full of embarrassing moments, including one of the beauty contestants doing a dreadful Groucho Marx impersonation.

* * * SPOILER ALERT - - LUDICROUS PLOT TWIST * * *

One of the contestants turns out to be an American spy transporting a deadly virus to a friendly nation so a cure can be developed.  The virus is concealed in a plastic cigar tube.  This has nothing to do with the kidnapping . . . the kidnappers know nothing about the virus . . . they just want the ransom.

There is also one scene that is pretty sleazy and tasteless for a TV movie.  The mother of one of the contestants forces her daughter (a virgin) to have sex with Gregory Sierra.  When the daughter returns from the ordeal, emotionally scarred, her mother shows no remorse or compassion.

If this isn't enough, watch for stellar (???) performances by Henry Gibson, Sheree North, Victoria Principal, and Stella Stevens.  TV movie gold!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzYVqk81KoA