Valley of the Dolls [Criterion Collection] [Blu-ray]

Valley of the Dolls [Criterion Collection] [Blu-ray]

Director: Mark Robson Cast: Barbara Parkins
Barbara Parkins
, Patty Duke
Patty Duke
, Sharon Tate
Sharon Tate
, Paul Burke
Paul Burke
Mark Robson
Valley of the Dolls [Criterion Collection] [Blu-ray]

Valley of the Dolls [Criterion Collection] [Blu-ray]

Director: Mark Robson Cast: Barbara Parkins
Barbara Parkins
, Patty Duke
Patty Duke
, Sharon Tate
Sharon Tate
, Paul Burke
Paul Burke
Mark Robson

Blu-ray (Color)

$39.99 
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Overview

A cinematic take on a 1960s best-seller, Valley of the Dolls traces the ups and downs of three young women as fame, booze, pills, and men consume their lives. Well-bred, small-town Anne Welles (Peyton Place star Barbara Parkins) arrives in New York eager for fame but settles for a job assisting theatrical attorney Henry Bellamy (Robert H. Harris). The job leads her to cross paths with Helen Lawson (Hollywood veteran Susan Hayward), the grand dame of Broadway musicals, and Neely O'Hara (sitcom star Patty Duke), an up-and-coming performer whom Lawson unceremoniously boots from her latest show. Neely lands on her feet thanks to a series of nightclub gigs, and soon she and Anne befriend Jennifer North (Sharon Tate), a buxom starlet. As Neely becomes a huge star of stage and screen and Jennifer appears topless in a string of European "art" films, Anne becomes a wealthy cosmetics spokeswoman and suffers though a passionate but failed affair with aspiring writer Lyon Burke (Paul Burke). As the pressures of fame and failed romance take their toll on all three women, they take refuge in food, sex, liquor, and pills -- especially Neely, who becomes downright monstrous (the titular "dolls" are the uppers and downers to which she becomes hopelessly addicted). Although the film's characters are fictitious composites, Neely most closely resembles Judy Garland; Garland herself was originally cast as Lawson, but she was replaced after only a few days by Hayward. Although the film's trailer played up the story's titillating subject matter, the script for Valley of the Dolls actually toned down Jacqueline Susann's novel. And despite the fact that Dionne Warwick can be heard singing "(Theme From) The Valley of the Dolls" twice during the film, contractual snags kept her from releasing the soundtrack version; a different arrangement later became a number two pop hit in 1968.

Product Details

Release Date: 09/27/2016
UPC: 0715515186414
Original Release: 1967
Rating: PG-13
Source: Criterion Collection
Region Code: A
Language: English
Time: 2:03:00
Sales rank: 9,624

Special Features

New 2k digital restoration, with 3.0 LCR DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack; Audio Commentary from 2006 featuring actor Barbara Parkins and journalist Ted Casablanca; New Interviews with Writer Amy Fine Collins about author Jacqueline Susann and the costumes in the film; New video essay by critic Kim Morgan; Footage from Sparkle Patty Sparkle!, a 2009 gala tribute to actor Patty Duke at the Castro Theatre in San Francisco; A World Premiere Voyage and Jacqueline Susann and "Valley of the Dolls, " two promotional films from 1967; Episode of the television program Hollywood Backstories from 2001 on the film; Screen tests; Trailers; PLUS: A booklet featuring an essay by film critic Glenn Kenny

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits
Barbara Parkins Anne Welles
Patty Duke Neely O'Hara
Sharon Tate Jennifer North
Paul Burke Lyon Burke
Tony Scotti Tony Polar
Susan Hayward Helen Lawson
Alexander Davion Ted Casablanca
Lee Grant Miriam
Martin Milner Mel Anderson
Charles Drake Kevin Gilmore
Naomi Stevens Miss Steinberg
Robert H. Harris Henry Bellamy
Jacqueline Susann Reporter
Robert Viharo Director
Mikel Angel Man in Hotel Room
Barry Cahill Man in Bar
Richard Angarola Claude Chardot
Joey Bishop MC at Telethon
George Jessel MC at Grammy Awards
Judith Lowry Aunt Amy
Jeanne Gerson Neely's Maid
Richard Dreyfuss Actor
Linda Peck Telephone Girl
Pat Becker Telephone Girl
Corinna Tsopei Telephone Girl
Robert Street Choreographer
Robert Gibbons Desk Clerk at Lawrenceville Hotel
Leona Powers Woman at Martha Washington Hotel
Barry O'Hara Assistant Stage Manager
Norman Burton Neely's Hollywood Director
Peggy Rea Neely's Voice Coach
Margot Stevenson Anne's Mother
Jonathan Hawke Sanitarium Doctor
Marvin Hamlisch Pianist
Billy Beck Man Sleeping in Movie House
Dorothy Neumann Neely's Maid
Richard Hoyt Reporter
Charlotte Knight Neely's Maid
Darlene Conley Actor
Robert McCord Bartender at New York Theater
Gertrude Flynn Ladies' Room Attendant
John Williams Composer

Technical Credits
L.B. Abbott Special Effects
Art Cruickshank Special Effects
Emil Kosa Jr. Special Effects
Mark Robson Director
David Weisbart Producer
Jacqueline Susann Screenwriter
Don Bassman Sound/Sound Designer
David Dockendorf Sound/Sound Designer
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