MovieChat Forums > The Girl Most Likely to... (1973) Discussion > AMAZING transformation!!

AMAZING transformation!!

posted 15 years ago by jeffreymkennedy
6 replies | jump to latest

I saw this as a kid (prob around 10-12 yrs old) and I can remember thinking that they just HAD to have used 2 different actresses for Miriam before and Miriam after the accident because her transformation was just so unbelievable.
I just rented this from NetFlix and enjoyed it every bit as much as I did as a Movie of the Week so many years ago and even though I now know that Stockard played the role before and after, I'm still just absolutely floored by what was accomplished in terms of making her over. Everything from her weight (obviously not a "fat suit") to her skin, hair, etc was really impressive to me considering this was pre CGI and before performances like Charlize Theron (Monster) and Christian Bale (The Machinist). I fell in love with SC when I saw this and continue to hold her as one of my fave actresses. BTW, I had forgotten that Joan Rivers wrote this- Does anyone else remember a film called "Rabbit Test" with Billy Crystal from the mid to late 70's? I saw it at the drive-in and I think it was either written or directed (or both) by Joan Rivers as well...

[–] DevilYouKnow 11 years ago

The makeup job on this movie was seamless! Modern movies could take a hint from it because everything looked so natural before and after.

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[–] timothy-5 11 years ago

I remember seeing her on a TV interview when the movie came out, and they asked her how they made her look ugly. She said they stuffed cotton in her cheeks. I am a guy and I relate to Miriam. I've had an enormous amount of alterations to my appearance, and even though I'm the same person inside, women are crawling all over the new me. Before, one time a girl yelled, "Ugly, ugly, ugly" at me from a car window when I walked by. Now, one woman told me she loved my green eyes and was staring at me constantly on a bus ride. Miriam had blue eye shadow on when they first took off the bandages. I wish Miriam had killed Annette O'Toole. She was the one who told Moose to ditch Miriam at the drive-in.

"What's wrong with that? You took me in there once. Only then, you were the operator. Now I guess you'll be the operatee. I'm Miriam Knight - remember?"

I've heard of Rabbit Test, but I didn't see it.

[–] JLA-2 10 years ago

What's interesting is that Miriam is completely transformed by plastic surgery. She goes from being ugly and rejected to being beautiful and popular. It's not hard to imagine that this is how Joan Rivers felt about her own plastic surgery. She hated her looks. She hoped that plastic surgery - aside from the effects on her again - would transform her into the person that she always wanted to be.

Kind of sad, when you think about it.

[–] borg1005-1 7 years ago

Seven years later, I'll add my compliments as well. Just saw it (again) this evening and made a point to catch the ending credits, expecting to see another actress who played the early Miriam. I was floored when she didn't show up. The makeup was flawless - not like that in "The List of Adrian Messenger".

Makeup or not, they couldn't hide what a great set of legs Stockard had. She used them to great affect when she seduced Moose - and, who could resist? 😍

[–] tpcorless 7 years ago

It's a remarkable transformation - and performance.

Stockard is absolutely brilliant in this film. Kudos must also go to her for the scene when she pretends to be the British lady when she visits Heidi. Another complete transformation.

[–] jeffreymkennedy 7 years ago

LOL! I posted that comment 8 years ago and just love that people are still seeing (and appreciating) that film and Stockard Channing's talent :)
I definitely agree with your mention of her in the scene as the British Lady but would add that the same must be said of the many personas she took on in this film. I think that it takes an extremely talented, willing and determined actor to cover as much ground for a role as she did here. Even the subtleties in body language, voice, etc from ugly duckling to stunning beauty were spot on! I think the funniest part of the whole movie for me was in one short & memorable line which still makes me laugh to this day- (delivered in a hilariously over-the-top Southern accent).... "Geronimooooooo"! friggin' hilarious.