Valley of the Dolls (1967)

Director:

Mark Robson

Writers:

Jacqueline Susann (novel)
Helen Deutsch (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

9 February 1968 (Sweden)

Genre:

Drama | Music | Romance

Tagline:

The nation's most startling and hotly discussed best-seller now on the screen with every shock and sensation intact

Plot:

Film version of Jacqueline Susann's best-selling novel chronicling the rise and fall of three young ladies in show business.

Plot Keywords:

Actress | Show Business | Sex | New England | Broadway

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 4 nominations

Cast

Barbara Parkins	...	Anne Welles
Patty Duke	...	Neely O'Hara
Paul Burke	...	Lyon Burke
Sharon Tate	...	Jennifer North
Tony Scotti	...	Tony Polar
Martin Milner	...	Mel Anderson
Charles Drake	...	Kevin Gillmore
Alexander Davion	...	Ted Casablanca (as Alex Davion)
Lee Grant	...	Miriam Polar
Naomi Stevens	...	Miss Steinberg
Robert H. Harris	...	Henry Bellamy
Jacqueline Susann	...	First Reporter
Robert Viharo	...	Director
Joey Bishop	...	MC at Telethon
George Jessel	...	MC Grammy Awards

Also Known As:

La vallée des poupées (Belgium: French title) (France) [fr]
O Vale das Bonecas (Brazil) (Portugal) [pt]
Bebekler vâdisi (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
Das Tal der Puppen (West Germany) [de]
De val naar de top (Belgium: Flemish title) [un]
Dockornas dal (Sweden) [sv]
Dukkernes dal (Denmark) [da]
El valle de las muñecas (Spain) [es]
La valle delle bambole (Italy) [it]
Nukkelaakso (Finland) [fi]

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for thematic elements involving substance abuse, some sexual content, partial nudity and language. (2006 re-rating; rated GP in 1971)

Runtime:

123 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

USA:PG-13 (2006 re-rating) | USA:GP (1971 re-rating) | Singapore:PG | Norway:16 | Canada:18A (Ontario) | Germany:16 | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | UK:X (original rating) | USA:Approved

Filming Locations:

48th Street Playhouse, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Red Lion

Trivia:

Film debut of Richard Dreyfuss.

Goofs:

Continuity: While poolside at Neeley's house, Jennifer takes off her shoes which repeatedly appear and disappear under a coat Neeley throws on top of them.

Quotes:

Neely O'Hara: [catching her husband in the pool with a girl] Having fun, kiddies? Don't mind me. Go right ahead! I'll watch.
[girl runs away, naked, into the house]
Neely O'Hara: You'd better run, you little tramp. How dare you contaminate my pool! Here.
[emptiesl bottle of alcohol into the pool]
Neely O'Hara: Maybe this will disinfect it.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Die, Mommie, Die! (2003)

Soundtrack:

It's Impossible

"My beautiful little dolls. Just one...and one more."

The film adaptation of Valley of the Dolls is stupid, empty, overly melodramatic...and a lot of fun!

Jacqueline Susann's 1966 novel is my all-time favorite, and her gritty, glossy pulp material was severely diluted for the big screen. That is the main problem. Too many punches are pulled, the characters are sweetened up, and a completely ridiculous happy ending (which Jackie hated) is substituted for the book's bleak, satisfying conclusion. Mark Robson's film has none of the spirit of its basis.

With that out of the way, the movie is very enjoyable for what it is: An unintentional laugh riot. The dialogue is hilarious and eminently quotable--"Boobies, boobies, boobies! Nothin' but boobies! Who needs 'em? I never had any! Didn't hurt me none!" Most of the supposedly "dramatic" and "touching" scenes are a scream. Patty Duke is priceless as the speech-slurring, tantrum-throwing, self-destructive Neely O'Hara. Watch her flailing around during the "It's Impossible" number; notice the embarrassing position of her beads. Barbara Parkins seems to have taken one Seconal too many before shooting, as she appears to be completely anesthetized. Susan Hayward gets to bellow a lot, fight with Duke, and get her wig thrown into a toilet in the most famous scene. The only one who comes off really well is Sharon Tate, a talent who never got the attention she deserved in life. Hers are the only genuinely affecting moments in the film, especially her final scene.

The candy-colored photography is good, beautifully capturing the glossy red capsules taken at every turn. The hair and fashions are glamorous--and so is the hairspray can! Dionne Warwick sings the beautiful theme, and the rest of the songs are enjoyably silly. I have the soundtrack LP--TWO copies! In conclusion, the ultimate camp classic! I'm off to take another doll now....