CORPORATE LINE: Film adaptation of Jacqueline Susann’s melodramatic, bestselling potboiler. The story tracks the lives of three women — naive New Englander Anne Welles, aspiring singer Neely O’Hara, and buxom beauty Jennifer North — as they attempt to achieve fame and fortune in Hollywood. But as each starlet either rises to the top or falls to the bottom, she discovers that Hollywood is full of pitfalls and heartbreak. Instead of the happiness they seek, the trio finds only alcoholism, wild sexcapades, tantrums, porno roles, suicide, marital woes, wigs in the toilet, and a dependence on “dolls” — slang for pills. Which of these ingenues will survive her “trip” through Hollywood?
THE REVIEW: The Valley Of The Dolls is full of sexy woman. It really feels like a film that should have been better than it is. Because there are so many sexy woman it almost feels like a one of those porn movies that wants to be classy but when you get down to it there is little more than sex and naked people—not that there is anything wrong with that. But when Valley Of The Dolls throws in little more than eye candy and then tries to give us substance about drug abuse it doesn’t work.
THE EXTRAS:
Audio Commentary by Actress Barbara Parkins and E!’s Ted Casablanca
“Gotta Get Off This Merry Go-Round: Sex Dolls And Showtunes” – This is a nice documentary.
“The Divine Ms. Susann” – An interesting featurette that goes through the life of Jacqueline Susann.
“Hollywood Backstories: Valley Of The Dolls” – A featurette that discusses what happened behind the scenes and all of the drama and might actually be better than the movie.
“Valley Of The Dolls” – A World Premiere Voyage Documentary Featuring Rare Footage.
Jacqueline Susann And Valley Of The Dolls Documentary Featuring Rare Footage
“Pill Pop-Up Karaoke” – Follow The Bouncing Doll On Three Songs!
Screen Tests Of The Stars
FRANKLY: Valley Of The Dolls is a mess. And yet it is an interesting mess. It’s not the sort of movie that is so bad that you have to shut it off. Even through all the ridiculousness you are absorbed by the drama which says something. What it says I haven’t quite figured out. If you have a rainy day and need something to fill a void then Valley Of The Dolls will keep you busy for a bit.
+ Charlie Craine
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.