Review of Beyond the Valley of the Dolls (1970) by Irvin C — 24 Apr 2013
How would one parody bad, sleazy, teen romp movies? You intentionally make it badder and sleazier. And that what's exactly what Fox Searchlight did in 1970 with Beyond the Valley of the Dolls. They let artsy, nudie-filmmaker Russ Meyers run riot with a studio budget assaulting the screenplay, written by a surprising source (go ahead, look it up) with a demented brio and a kookily square psychedelia.
Gloriously bad, endlessly quotable, and surprisingly restrained, especially by today's standards, but no doubt raunchy and taboo filled. Beyond the Valley of the Dolls features continuity errors out the wazoo, a British lead actress who lets her accent slip several times, and a tastelessly hilarious twist at the end that was a literal afterthought. It's a movie that doesn't take itself even remotely serious. And that's why I respect it. I didn't like it, but I was amused by it.
Besides, quality filmmaking is for squares, man. Peace out, daddy-o.
This review of Beyond the Valley of the Dolls (1970) was written by Irvin C on 24 Apr 2013.
Beyond the Valley of the Dolls has generally received positive reviews.
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