Summary:
The rise and fall of three young women in show business.
My Thoughts:
I heard about this film and it’s pseudo-sequel/parody “Beyond the Valley of the Dolls” when watching John Waters’ Criterion Collection Closet raid video, and based on Waters’ gushing love for the sequel, I picked up both films, and, as of this moment, I’ve seen both of them. This film is fine- just fine- not bad, not good; a bit boring at times, but fine. The sequel, a parody of this film, is one of my favorite trashy movies ever. “Beyond” is ludicrously written to the point of bat-sh*t insanity; the plot progression makes zero-sense; most of the characters are crazier than the combined populous of the Oregon State Hospital (where “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” takes place); and the ending is so bizarre that it requires a voiceover and an epilogue in order for things to make sense. I absolutely love that film to death. I think anyone who likes schmaltzy, cheesy, bizarre films should see “Beyond the Valley of the Dolls”, provided they can get over the content (lots of nudity, but most of it played for laughs).
This film, however, is one that I think only the biggest of cinephiles will get a kick out of, because, as I mentioned before, it’s sort of boring. From a cinematic perspective, this film is incredibly middle-of-the-road. The story, while compelling, isn’t approached from a directing standpoint with any kind of pizazz or finesse. Our characters are all relatable, the acting is fine, the story is fine, but the pacing is just slow and uninspired. I honestly came very close to giving this film a 2.5/5 Star rating, but, because of the historical context, I think it is worth watching.
For me, personally, I wanted to see this film because of Sharon Tate’s (“The Fearless Vampire Killers”) appearance. Tate was, of course, murdered at Cielo Drive under the direction of Charles Manson, and because of that I’ve always been sort of morbidly fascinated by her life and career (much like others are fascinated by the short careers of James Dean or, more recently, Heath Ledger). I’ve made it a goal in my life to see every movie she’s appeared in, and since there are only seven films in total, it makes each one a bit of a special treat, even if they aren’t remarkably good.
The best parts about this movie are some of the songs and some of the campy elements. This film begs you to take it seriously, and there are so many moments that come off as more cheesy than genuine, and therein lies some of the fun. This movie is so earnest in it’s pleading for the viewer to understand the issues of the fast and famous lifestyle, that it begins to wade into satire-territory, much like cult classics like “Reefer Madness”. The problem is that this film never goes full-blown off the rails as its sequel does; it’s tame and believable and not as much fun.
Verdict:
Though I gave this film a 3/5 star, I honestly would not recommend it unless you have some sort of fascination with the Hollywood golden years (the Manson/Tate Murders are often used as the event to signify the end of that era). I, personally, found a bit of enjoyment from the history behind the film, I enjoyed a few of the songs, and I loved seeing Tate onscreen.
I do, however, wholeheartedly recommend the sequel. It’s so amazing that I have plans to watch it twice with two groups of people within the next week.
Review Written By: