Beyond the Valley of the Dolls (1970)

Three girls come to Hollywood to make it big, but find only sex, drugs and sleaze.

Director:

Russ Meyer

Writers:

Roger Ebert (screenplay), Roger Ebert (story)

Stars:

Dolly Read, Cynthia Myers, Marcia McBroom

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Dolly Read	...	Kelly Mac Namara
Cynthia Myers	...	Casey Anderson
Marcia McBroom	...	Petronella Danforth
John Lazar	...	Ronnie (Z-Man) Barzell (as John La Zar/John LaZar)
Michael Blodgett	...	Lance Rocke
David Gurian	...	Harris Allsworth
Edy Williams	...	Ashley St. Ives
Erica Gavin	...	Roxanne
Phyllis Davis	...	Susan Lake
Harrison Page	...	Emerson Thorne
Duncan McLeod	...	Porter Hall (as Duncan Mc Leod/Duncan McLeod)
James Iglehart	...	Randy Black (as Jim Iglehart)
Charles Napier	...	Baxter Wolfe
Henry Rowland	...	Otto
Princess Livingston	...	Matron

Storyline

This film is a sequel in name only to Valley of the Dolls (1967). An all-girl rock band goes to Hollywood to make it big. There they find success, but luckily for us, they sink into a cesspool of decadence. This film has a sleeping woman performing on a gun which is in her mouth. It has women posing as men. It has lesbian sex scenes. It is also written by Roger Ebert, who had become friends with Russ Meyer after writing favorable reviews of several of his films.

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Plot Keywords:

friendship | satire | cult film | drugs | band | 

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Taglines:

This time... they've really gone

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Music

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Certificate:

NC-17

Did You Know?

Trivia

The theme song was re-recorded by Josie Cotton and released on the CD 'Invasion Of The B-Girls'. Russ Meyer threatened to sue Cotton if she put any of his title songs on her CD, but he died before he could follow through. Josie says that she didn't mean to steal from Meyer, but that she is a fan and it was meant as an homage.

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Goofs

During the Carrie Nation's performances, horns can be heard in the music. There is no horn section in the band.

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Quotes

Harris Allsworth: [sitting in a wheelchair] Checkmate. I can't move.

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Crazy Credits

Opening credits prologue: Disclaimer: THE FILM YOU ARE ABOUT TO SEE IS NOT A SEQUEL TO "VALLEY OF THE DOLLS." IT IS WHOLLY ORIGINAL AND BEARS NO RELATIONSHIP TO REAL PERSONS, LIVING OR DEAD. IT DOES, LIKE "VALLEY OF THE DOLLS" DEAL WITH THE OFT-TIMES NIGHTMARE WORLD OF SHOW BUSINESS BUT IN A DIFFERENT TIME AND CONTEXT.

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Alternate Versions

The British Board of Film Classification have cut the UK video release by 53 seconds. New opening credits were required for this release, as the BBFC would not allow a montage shot of a gun being pushed into the mouth of a sleeping woman, a scene that also reappears in full at the end of the movie (and was also cut). Ironically, the film has been broadcast uncut several times on UK network TV, by Channel 4.

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Connections

Featured in Casey & Roxanne: The Love Scene (2006)

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Soundtracks

Beyond The Days Of Now And Then
(uncredited)
Written by Bob Stone and Stu Phillips

User Reviews

The Citizen Kane of camp.

Russ Meyer's most lavish production is still jaw dropping, and still beyond comparison. BTVOTD is the ultimate camp film that, unlike Valley of the Dolls, is knowingly campy, deliberately absurd, never comes down to earth, and achieves a non stop contact high. Beyond description, it must be seen to be believed. A rapid fire, mind-rending parody of virtually every genre and cliché squeezed into a 2 hour film which hasn't aged a bit and has seen its reputation grow since its initial release in 1970. The songs, dialog, direction, editing, music, and acting all provide endless amazement every time I see it. In the 30 plus years since its release nothing else comes close to the experience of this film. Even more than The Rocky Horror Picture Show, BEYOND is a true audience film with so many lines and scenes that viewers have memorized. BEYOND is and was ahead of its time, and remains essential viewing.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 June 1970 (USA)

Also Known As:

Beyond the Valley of the Dolls

Filming Locations:

California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$900,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox

Technical Specs

Runtime:

109 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1