Valley of the Dolls (1967)
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Three young women navigate the treacherous path of the entertainment industry while grappling with the allure of substance abuse.
The story
Anne, a recent graduate, begins working as a secretary at a theatrical agency where she meets Neely and Jennifer. The three women form a close bond as they navigate the cutthroat world of show business and the personal challenges of seeking fame. As their careers take different paths, the trio faces the seductive but destructive influence of barbiturates, known as 'dolls.' The story follows their intertwined lives as they struggle to maintain their integrity and health while pursuing success in the entertainment industry.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Anne, Neely, and Jennifer become close friends while pursuing careers in show business. Neely moves to Hollywood, finds success, but falls into drug and alcohol abuse, eventually leading to a failed marriage and a stint in a sanitarium. Jennifer follows Neely to Hollywood, marries a man with a degenerative condition, and eventually dies of an overdose after being diagnosed with cancer. Anne experiences a complicated romance with Lyon Burke, who eventually leaves her. After a period of personal turmoil and a brief stint with 'dolls,' Anne eventually finds peace and independence in New England. The film explores their descent into addiction and the consequences of their choices in the spotlight.
- First release year
- 1967
- Runtime (minutes)
- 123
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Mark Robson
- Writers
- Helen Deutsch · screenplay; Dorothy Kingsley · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Barbara Parkins · Anne; Patty Duke · Neely O'Hara; Sharon Tate · Jennifer; Lee Grant · none; Susan Hayward · Helen Lawson; Paul Burke · Lyon Burke
- Genres
- drama
- Themes
- addiction; fame; show business
- Tone and mood
- melodramatic; campy
- Premise and plot tags
- drug addiction; showbiz; women in entertainment
- Source material / true-story basis
- Jacqueline Susann's 1966 novel
- Reception
- The film received mixed-to-negative reviews from critics but became a box office success and a cult classic.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 32% · scale: percentage · review count: 41; Metacritic · score: 49 · scale: 100 · review count: 10
- Production trivia
- The film was included in 'The Fifty Worst Films of All Time'.; The film's production was stalled by screenplay issues and a change in directors.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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