Valley of the Dolls (1967)

Director:

Mark Robson

Writers:

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

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 | Sex | New England | Show Business | Alley

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
Susan Hayward	...	Helen Lawson
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Richard Angarola	...	Claude Chardot (uncredited)
Mikel Angel	...	Man in Sleazy Hotel Room (uncredited)
Penny Antine	...	Nurse in Sanitarium (uncredited)
David Arkin	...	Western Union Boy (uncredited)
Philippe Auber	...	Jennifer's Leading Man (uncredited)
Billy Beck	...	Man Sleeping in Movie Theatre (uncredited)
Pat Becker	...	Telethon Telephone Girl (uncredited)
Richard Brander	...	Assistant Director (uncredited)
Marvin Brody	...	Movie Theatre Manager (uncredited)
Norman Burton	...	Neely O'Hara's Director (uncredited)
Owen Bush	...	Reporter at Suicide (uncredited)
Barry Cahill	...	Rough Character in San Francisco Bar (uncredited)
Frank Coghlan Jr.	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Gene Columbus	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Darlene Conley	...	Nurse in Sanitarium (uncredited)
Mason Curry	...	Waiter at New Haven Hotel (uncredited)
Richard Dreyfuss	...	Assistant Stage Manager (uncredited)
Diana Eden	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Ella Edwards	...	Nurse in Sanitarium (uncredited)
Allen Emerson	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Tom Falk	...	Neely O'Hara's Stage Manager (uncredited)
Roy Fitzell	...	Choreographer (uncredited)
Gertrude Flynn	...	Ladies' Room Attendant (uncredited)
Jennifer Gan	...	Show Girl Actress (uncredited)
Jeanne Gerson	...	Neely O'Hara's Maid (uncredited)
Robert Gibbons	...	Desk Clerk at Lawrenceville Hotel (uncredited)
Laurence Haddon	...	Frank - Blue Angel Nightclub Owner (uncredited)
Paul Hahn	...	Captain of Waiters at Chasens (uncredited)
Marvin Hamlisch	...	Pianist (uncredited)
Ernest Harada	...	Lyon's Houseboy (uncredited)
Jonathan Hawke	...	Doctor in Sanitarium (uncredited)
Richard Hoyt	...	Reporter #2 at Suicide (uncredited)
Kathryn Janssen	...	Extra (uncredited)
Jason Johnson	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Maurice Kelly	...	Dance Director in Montage (uncredited)
Charlotte Knight	...	Neely O'Hara's Maid (uncredited)
Ted Kristian	...	Nightclub Waiter (uncredited)
Gerry Lock	...	Nurse in Sanitarium (uncredited)
Judith Lowry	...	Aunt Amy (uncredited)
Donna Mantoan	...	Girl in Sanitarium (uncredited)
Mardie March	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Marian Mason	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Bob McCord	...	Edward - Playhouse Bartender (uncredited)
Leslie McRay	...	Ted's Girl (uncredited)
Ralph Montgomery	...	Man in Bar (uncredited)
Dorothy Neumann	...	Helen Lawson's Maid (uncredited)
William H. O'Brien	...	Bartender (uncredited)
Barry O'Hara	...	Asst. Stage Manager (uncredited)
Linda Peck	...	Telethon Telephone Girl (uncredited)
Thelma Pelish	...	Rehearsal Hall Receptionist (uncredited)
Gil Peterson	...	Neely's Leading Man (uncredited)
Don Pethley	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Leona Powers	...	Woman at Martha Washington Hotel (uncredited)
Peggy Rea	...	Neely O'Hara's Vocal Coach (uncredited)
Margaret Shinn	...	Nurse (uncredited)
Ted Stanhope	...	Maitre D' at Chasens (uncredited)
Joe Stefano	...	San Francisco Bartender (uncredited)
Margot Stevenson	...	Anne's Mother (uncredited)
Gail Stone	...	Autograph Seeker (uncredited)
Robert Street	...	Choreographer (uncredited)
Corinna Tsopei	...	Telethon Telephone Girl (uncredited)
John Ward	...	Neely O'Hara's Psychiatrist (uncredited)
Darryl Wells	...	Boyfriend Left Behind at Train Station (uncredited)
Louis Whitehill	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Margaret Whiting	...	Helen Lawson (uncredited) (singing voice)
Patricia Winters	...	Redhead (uncredited)
William Wintersole	...	Tony's Doctor (uncredited)
Charles Woolf	...	Reporter (uncredited)

Directed by
Mark Robson

Writing credits
Jacqueline Susann		(novel "Valley of the Dolls")
Helen Deutsch		(screenplay) &
Dorothy Kingsley		(screenplay)

Produced by
Mark Robson	....	producer
David Weisbart	....	producer

Cinematography by
William H. Daniels		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Dorothy Spencer

Casting by
Joe Scully		(uncredited)

Production Design by
Philip M. Jefferies		(uncredited)

Art Direction by
Richard Day
Jack Martin Smith

Set Decoration by
Raphael Bretton		(as Raphael G. Bretton)
Walter M. Scott

Costume Design by
Travilla		(gowns)

Makeup Department
Kenneth	....	hair styles designer: Miss Parkins
Edith Lindon	....	makeup supervisor
Ben Nye	....	makeup artist
Kaye Pownall	....	hair stylist (as Kay Pownall)

Production Management
Francisco Day	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Eli Dunn	....	assistant director
Robert J. Koster	....	first assistant director: New York (uncredited)
Arthur Steckler	....	second unit director (uncredited)

Sound Department
Don J. Bassman	....	sound
David Dockendorf	....	sound

Special Effects by
Gerald Endler	....	mechanical effects (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
L.B. Abbott	....	special photographic effects
Art Cruickshank	....	special photographic effects
Emil Kosa Jr.	....	special photographic effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Doug Byers	....	electrician (uncredited)
Thomas Del Ruth	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Bill Johnson	....	camera operator (uncredited)

Music Department
Herbert W. Spencer	....	orchestrator (as Herbert Spencer)
Kenneth Wannberg	....	music editor
John Williams	....	conductor
John Williams	....	music adaptor

Transportation Department
Chris Haynes	....	driver (uncredited)
Frank Khoury	....	transportation (uncredited)

Other crew
Robert Sidney	....	choreographer
Edward Folger	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Arthur Steckler	....	additional production assistant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Red Lion

Distributors

• Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation (1967) (USA) (theatrical)
• Centfox (1967) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2003) (USA) (VHS)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD) (widescreen)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1972) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Fox Video (1993) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Fox Video (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Magnetic Video (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2004) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Lewis Purses  handbags

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for thematic elements involving substance abuse, some sexual content, partial nudity and language (2006 re-rating)

Runtime:

123 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

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

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

Red Lion

Trivia:

Judy Garland kept her costume when she was fired from the film, and proceeded to wear the sequined pantsuit while performing in concerts around the world.

Goofs:

Continuity: Toward the end of the movie, a drugged Anne staggers into the ocean, becoming soaked and muddy. When she returns to the house shortly after, her robe is immediately dry.

Quotes:

Neely O'Hara:Mel? God? Neely?... NEEEEEEELYYY O'HARAAAAAAAA!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Simpsons: Lisa vs. Malibu Stacy (#5.14)" (1994)

Soundtrack:

Theme from Valley of the Dolls

No flick is for literally EVERYone...

I find it interesting that so many feel it is essential to lambaste a film like VOTD. It is what it is -- and, like it or not, it does "work."

Is it dated? Well, let me answer that by asking the eternal question, "Does Raggedy Ann have cotton BOOBIES?" (Perhaps they're polyester, but you get the...uh -- point.) One simply cannot view all movies the same way -- let alone expect the same 'standards' for/from them. Were some of you anticipating Shakespeare or perhaps 'The Lion in Winter' when viewing VOTD?

This film sought to depict the PERCEIVED lives of entertainment professionals of the era, and in most ways it succeeds. Anyone worthy of his PEOPLE magazine subscription knows full-well that a great many such individuals lead tawdry lives and quite regularly spout inane, and mundane (not to mention SO VERY lame) bits of 'dialogue' ...

And has there ever -- and I do mean EVER -- been a bio of such a person that did NOT include the requisite drug addictions and 'rite-of-passage' stay at Betty Ford (or its predecessors), abortions, suicide attempts, medical emergencies, or otherwise 'near-tragic' near-endings?

There are many questions one really must ask himself when attempting to absorb fare such as this. And I actually believe that at least on one level VOTD is bona fide brilliant. Consider from whose point of view this material is seen. What did the consumers of entertainers expect or presume about the lives of 'stars' and public persons based on the limited blurbs of truth, rumor and innuendo leaked out in the 60's?

This flick is attempting to convey the general theme that people of that ilk and the lengths to which they were willing to go to achieve or maintain their perceived "status" were simply 'NOT TO BE BELIEVED' ... And finding fault with the production design or style of images filmed in the late 1960s is simply irrelevant in a story about people from (not to mention filmed in) that era!

One should also consider whether or not it was possible for the average viewer to have -- in any sense -- a "realistic" image of individuals who occupied this starry realm in a time long before 'Biography,' 'The E! True Hollywood Story,' and 'VH1's Behind the Music' ... With free love bustin' out all over why on earth would the people out there 'in the dark' want or expect those giant heads to look, act, or sound like the person sitting beside them (or those pitiful small, shrunken-by-censors heads from television)?

And if the hindsight of such expository cable programs today have told us anything at all about 'celebrities' it's that their lives actually ARE -- in so very many ways -- clichés!

By my accounting VOTD got it right -- exactly right. And I'll stake my film school (AND academic) education(s) and unfailing, critical eye on that. I love this film. Is it one of the ten best films of all time? Well, no -- it certainly isn't. But it IS one of my ten most favorite films of all time. (And not only should the theme song have been nominated for 'Song of the year' by the Academy -- it should have WON the Oscar... And I'll stake my undergrad music major education on THAT! It never ceases to amaze me how consistently the voters get that category exactly WRONG...)