Valley of the Dolls

Name: Valley of the Dolls
Released: 1967-12-15
Cast: Barbara Parkins, Patty Duke, Paul Burke, Sharon Tate, Tony Scotti

Valley of the Dolls

PG-13
2h 2m
1967

35%

age 15+

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Lured by their dreams of fame and fortune, three ambitious young women enter the world of show business and discover how easy it is to sink into a celebrity nightmare of ego, alcohol and 'pills' - the beloved "dolls." A prim New Englander (Barbara Parkins) unexpectedly skyrockets from her job as secretary in a talent agency to a glamorous TV model. A determined singer (Patty Duke) finds that Hollywood success can also spell self-destruction. And a beautiful sex symbol (Sharon Tate) is torn between the money commands and the shame of feeling exploited. Based on Jacqueline Susann's phenomenal best-seller about the underside of Hollywood, this fascinating melodrama was once seen as a shocking behind-the-scenes look at how show business creates instant stars, destroys romances and changes personalities forever.

Director:

Mark Robson

Producer:

David Weisbart

Writer:

Helen Deutsch, Dorothy Kingsley

Cast:

Barbara Parkins, Patty Duke, Paul Burke, Sharon Tate, Tony Scotti, Martin Milner, Charles Drake, Alexander Davion, Lee Grant

Rotten Tomatoes® Score

TOMATOMETER®

35%

Critics Consensus: Trashy, campy, soapy, and melodramatic, Valley of the Dolls may be a dud as a Hollywood expose, but has nonetheless endured as a kitsch classic.

Reviews

Refinery29

Anne Cohen

A must-watch even if the movie had nothing else going for it, which happily, it does.

I knew the clothes would be terrific when I spotted "Handbags by..." in the opening credits. And it's the outfits (along with the unintentionally fevered atmosphere) which stretches this film up to two stars.

The cliche of show business as a dream world may have been wide-eyed and saccharine. But Novelist Susann's view of Hollywood as nightmare Valley merely adds up to the old naivete in reverse.

March 27, 2019

FULL REVIEW

Senses of Cinema

Alexandra Heller-Nicholas

Valley of the Dolls rose from the ashes to become a so-bad-it's-good cult film of the highest order.

August 27, 2018

FULL REVIEW

Scene Creek

Chelsea Phillips-Carr

In its melodrama, Valley of the Dolls may be reduced to trashiness, but we'd be denying its skill and sensitivity, and perhaps the value of trash. It's not so bad it's good; it's just good in a different way.

July 20, 2018

FULL REVIEW

Common Sense Media

age 15+

Common Sense Says

Dark, campy melodrama with focus on sex and drugs.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Valley of the Dolls is an intense melodrama (and cult classic) based on the novel by Jacqueline Susann about the darker side of fame. Drinking and prescription drug use is a central theme, though the film clearly illustrates how destructive addiction is. Adult sexuality also is a core theme (sex, pornography, and abortion all are plot points), and some adult language is used ("bitch," "ass", "queer"), making this film best for older teens and up.

A Lot or A Little?

The parents’ guide to what’s in this movie.

Positive Messages

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Positive Role Models

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Violence

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Sex

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Language

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Consumerism

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Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

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Additional Info

Genre:Drama
Release Date:December 15, 1967
Languages:English
Captions:English, Spanish
Audio Format:
5.1
Screen Pass Eligible:Yes

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Valley of the Dolls

Rotten Tomatoes® Score

Common Sense Media

What Parents Need to Know

A Lot or A Little?

Additional Info

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