Harper Valley P.T.A. (1978)

Stella Johnson is a single mother living in the town of Harper Valley. Now most of the townspeople, particularly on the PTA board, think that she is a little too liberal and liberated for ... See full summary »

Director:

Richard C. Bennett

Writers:

George Edwards (screenplay), George Edwards (story),

Stars:

Barbara Eden, Ronny Cox, Nanette Fabray

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Barbara Eden	...	Stella Johnson
Ronny Cox	...	Willis Newton
Nanette Fabray	...	Alice Finely
Louis Nye	...	Kirby Baker
Audrey Christie	...	Flora Simpson Reilly
Ron Masak	...	Herbie Maddox
John Fiedler	...	Bobby Taylor
Susan Swift	...	Dee Johnson
Pat Paulsen	...	Mr. Harper
Bob Hastings	...	Skeeter
Fay DeWitt	...	Willa Mae Jones
J.J. Barry	...	Tex
Royce D. Applegate	...	Dutch
Irene Yah-Ling Sun	...	Myrna Wong
Louise Foley	...	Mavis

Storyline

Stella Johnson is a single mother living in the town of Harper Valley. Now most of the townspeople, particularly on the PTA board, think that she is a little too liberal and liberated for them, so they are making things tough for her and her daughter. When the PTA board threaten to have her daughter expelled unless Stella changes her ways, she decides to get back at them by first exposing all their hidden secrets and then pulling all sorts of humiliating pranks on them. When she decides to run for the position of PTA President, they are really infuriated and try to stop her any way they can.

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Plot Keywords:

pta | prank | single mother | makeover | mother daughter relationship | 

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Taglines:

The song was scandalous. The movie is hilarious!

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

June 1978 (USA)

Also Known As:

Os Vizinhos da Discórdia

Filming Locations:

Lebanon, Ohio, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

April Fools Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

All but the last 2 weeks of filming were directed by Ralph Senensky. He left after expressing concern that the elephants would be spooked on Halloween night, when a scene was scheduled to be shot. As it turned out he was right and Nanette Fabray was injured.

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Goofs

The helicopter's shadow can be seen during an aerial scene.

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Quotes

Alice Finely: [Stella has just come up with a plan to take care of Kirby Baker] Where are you going?
Stella Johnson: I'm off to get me something Chinese... and I don't mean chop suey!

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Crazy Credits

Manure was courtesy of 1977's Triple-Crown Winning horse, Seattle Slew.

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Connections

Referenced in Mystery Science Theatre 3000: The Million Eyes of Sumuru (1989)

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Soundtracks

"HARPER VALLEY P.T.A."
Words and music by Tom T. Hall
Performed by Jeannie C. Riley

User Reviews

hypocrisy won't stand

In a role not too far removed from a certain voluptuous bottled spirit, Barbara Eden plays a widow whose attire and attitude don't please the authority figures in her conservative small town. The local PTA threatens to expel her daughter from school, so the mom calls each of the members on their hypocrisy. After they get nasty, she engages in some cool revenge, including what has to be THE best sex ed movie EVER.

It was only through "Harper Valley P.T.A." that I learned that there's a song by the same name (sung, appropriately, by a woman named Jeannie). Whatever the case, it's just a funny movie. The first 15 or 16 minutes are based on the song's lyrics, and then begin the REAL pranks, culminating in a run for PTA president. The whole thing is a real pleasure.

Also starring Ronny Cox (Drew in "Deliverance"), Nanette Fabray, Susan Swift (the daughter in "Audrey Rose"), Louis Nye, John Fiedler (the voice of Piglet in the Winnie-the-Pooh productions), Pat Paulsen, Clint Howard, and a young Woody Harrelson.