Review of Valley of the Dolls (1967) by Heath C — 05 Sep 2012

Directed by Mark Robson, (Von Ryan's Express (1965), Earthquake (1974)), this is the film version of Jacqueline Susann's controversial 1966 bestseller, which turned heads and was an instant success.

The film version of the book is less successful, taking liberties here and there despite some good songs in it, maybe they had got it out a bit too quickly. It begins when Anne Welles (Barbara Parkins), comes to New York from her small New England hometown, and gets a job in a theatrical agency that represents legendary actress Helen Lawson (Susan Hayward), Anne becomes friends with singer Neely O'Hara (Patty Duke) and chorus girl Jennifer North (Sharon Tate), and they stick with each other through thick and thin over the years.

Neely becomes a big star, but the pressures of fame show on her and she turns to drink and drugs which nearly destroys her career, Jennifer marries nightclub singer Tony Polar (Tony Scotti), but ends up in Paris making dirty films while Anne ends up with attorney Lyon Burke (Paul Burke), who ends up sleeping with Neely, who eventually ends up in rehab due to her drug use.

The book takes place over 20 years, the film version seems to consolidate it into the space of a few years, plus it was made as the old studio system was dying out and New Hollywood was taking over, they should have waited another few years if they had wanted to make it, as they would have been able to depict the book's more graphic scenes better, but it's a bit half-arsed, despite a good score by John Williams.

Russ Meyer's pastiche was better.