Valley of the Dolls (1967)

No Problems at All

It came in the mail quickly and I watched it quickly. No problems at all. In excellent condition. July 4, 2008

Sparkle! Sparkle!

Today's big celebrated DVD is the camp classic Valley Of The Dolls from 1967. Released as a two disc collection this DVD has a ton and ton of extras plus the 2 hour movie featuring Patty Duke as the over the top Neely O'Hara, Barbara Parkins as Anne Welles, and beautiful Sharon Tate as Jennifer North - the gal with no talent but a body to get her ahead. Why I've never seen this is beyond me - oh wait, I know why, because in 1981 there was a TV version of the film and in it Lisa Hartman played Neely; and to me that is the Valley I remember.

However, knowing this original film released shortly after the infamous book spent umpteen months at #1 on the Bestseller list, I was curious to know what the fuss was all about. Let me tell you, it is great. The songs are pretty sucky, the dialogue fairly cliched, and Patty's performance so over the top I'm surprised the scenery didn't come crashing down. Boobies, boobies, boobies! is just one classic line shooting forth from La Duke's pouty lips. I mean, she totally makes the movie, and mixed in with Barbara's classy Anne and Sharon's very subtle Jennifer, this is one classic flick.

Patty, up until just recently has complete disdain for this movie and hardly talks about it, but I am here to tell you that she rocks it. Screaming and pouting, laughing, crying and taking those dolls - she has the meatiest role in the film.

I've met Patty a few times when I lived in Idaho and she was always really cool and pleasant but to see her on the screen in this film gives me a whole new kudos for her. My pal just did her website and I can't wait to tell him to run and run until he finds his copy of this film because he's going to love it.

Now I have to go back and watch my 1981 version again and see if Lisa's Neely is anywhere near as over the top as Duke's. I hope so, I really can't remember. I do know that the 1981 version is supposedly closer to the original book than the movie (which Jacqueline Susann walked out of declaring, "You've ruined my book!") but the ending scene of the original with Patty and pretty much every scene with Neely is a complete riot. I'll have to get back to you on how it compares with my girl - if anything- I can say that Lisa's songs are much more interesting than Patty's but what can you do.

In short, rent it, buy it, love it and laugh!

June 25, 2008

I actually thought it was an okay movie

Sigh, I guess I'm not edgy/cool, because I found "Valley of the Dolls" simply to be an engaging, pretty good drama, not the huge make-fun-of-it laughfest all the gay icons and other followers of the movie say it is during the numerous special features. To be sure, there ARE several over-the-top moments- usually involving a character using pills and/or booze or commenting on another character's use of same- but they're just that, moments, not non-stop unintentional hilarity. Okay, the gay icons were right about the wig-in-the-toilet scene... THAT was pretty crazy. Endless special features throughout this two-disc set and an absolutely crystal clear restored print of the film make this DVD a must-see for fans of sixties cinema. And the gorgeous actresses don't hurt, either. April 8, 2008

A Classic from the 60's

Not a fan of show tunes, but the music from this classic movie is timeless. February 25, 2008

Valley of the dolls

The film was excellent and I would highly recommend it. It was received in a timely manner and in great condition. I would recommend both the film and the seller. February 8, 2008

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