Reviews (60)

First Class Entertainment
I first watched this film on the television at Christmas in about 1982 (under the title "Dance Of The Vampires"), and even then, as a 12 year-old, was impressed by this superior vampire 'caper'. The film starts with a beautifully haunting score (by the late Christopher Komeda) and the arrival of a pair of intrepid vampire killers to a Transylvanian Inn. Throughout the film, the viewer is treated to a visual and musical feast, enhanced by brilliant acting from the likes of Ferdy Mayne, Jack MacGowran, Alfie Bass, and of course, Iain Quarrier as the token gay vampire! The enchanting qualities of Sharon Tate as the inn-keeper's young daughter, Sara, add to the overall enjoyment of the film; which, in my opinion, is easily the best vampire and/or Polanski movie to date.

A Comedic Rendition of Bram Stoker's "Dracula"
"The Fearless Vampire Killers" is producer/director/screenwriter/actor Roman Polanski's comedic rendition of Bram Stoker's "Dracula" legend. The bumbling Professor and his timid assistant Alfred (played by Roman Polanski) travel to Transylvania to study vampires. The Professor and Alfred rest at an inn festooned with garlic. That evening, the innkeeper's daughter (played by the *stunningly beautiful* Sharon Tate) is kidnapped by the Count (played with a characterization combining elements of Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing). The distraught innkeeper (played with a Zero Mostel characterization) runs out into the night to rescue his kidnapped daughter and never returns alive. The Professor and Alfred seek the Count's castle. The Count invites the Professor and Alfred to stay at his castle and to study in his library. The Professor and Alfred agree, they learn that the Count and his flock are planning a formal dress ball, and the real fun begins ...

This film's scenic vistas and its theatrical sets are impressive -- they are complex, ornate, and convey a somber atmosphere. And Sharon Tate's beauty is impressive -- previously an unknown actress, this film gave general public recognition to Sharon Tate. Roman Polanski was involved in *all* aspects of this film's production, and his quality touch is visible throughout the film.

It is ironic that this film's plot revolves around Sharon Tate's kidnapping by the Count and his flock. After this film was released, Sharon Tate and her real life friends were murdered in their home by members of the Charles Manson family.

Not his best
... when u compare it with Rosemary`s Baby, Repulsion and Frantic. But it DOES have its moments... What really saves this film is the music by Komeda, choreography by Norwegian Tutte Lemkow, the scenary, the make-up, the off-key characters, Sharon Tate and the costumes... Too often u find yourself wondering what-the-heck this is all about and why doesn`t Polanski move a bit faster into the action??? Still; it`s watchable and I`m glad that so many have found it to their hearts:-)

A Timeless Classic
This is one of my all-time favorite films. I first saw this movie as a young girl and never forgot it. I was thrilled when I found it on VHS years later and am now excited about owning the DVD. This film is a mixture of an early silent film and a Laurel & Hardy-type comedy. Our "fearless vampire killers" keep getting themselves into tight spots and then must work to get themselves out again. The sets are terrific, especially the castle. You can get wrapped up in this film, it won't bore you for a minute. It's a subtle spoof of a vampire movie keeping the thrills while adding comic relief. A must-see and a must-have.

A Vampire Classic
Late one night many years ago I had the pleasure of watching the great Roman Polanski vampire film. Now, many years later, I have added the complete and uncut edition to my collection.

This tongue-in-cheek begins with Professor Abronsius and his assistant (Polanski) arriving in Transylvania. The professor, who has one of the silliest mustaches of all time, is researching the legends of vampires. He is convinced that they really exist and that he can eliminate them. Shortly after their arrival it becomes apparent that there are indeed strange creatures about. All of the evidence convinces the professor that his suspicions are correct.

When the inn they are staying in is hit by a vampire the two journey to a bleak castle. There they encounter the local lord, who is a vampire. The lord and the professor hit it off quite well as both are men (ahem) of learning. During the day the professor and his assistant search for the vampires tomb. They find it but are unable to dispatch the creatures and wind up losing all of their tools in the process. Then night falls.

With the fall of night the two become targets and must avoid their vampiric hosts. then they make a startling discovery. There are more vampires in the castle than just the lord and his son. There is a graveyard filled with generations of bloodsuckers. As the vampires hold an annual ball at which they will feast on a number of locals, the professor and his protégée manage to make off with one of the victims and successfully flee into the night pursued by a hunchback sledding in a coffin.

The film then ends with a very dark note. The woman they have saved makes the complete transition to vampire while they are fleeing and she bites the young assistant. It is in this way that the bumbling Professor Abronsius enabled vampirism to spread out of Transylvania into the rest of the world.

This edition restores the twenty minutes that were cut out when the film was first released in America. This is an unusual film in that much is communicated through action. The dialogue is rather sparse throughout. But with the almost exaggerated actions of a silent film combined with a haunting score result in a richer movie than had it been full of dialogue. The special effects, what few there are, are quite effective and possibly more effective than current effects. In one scene the vampire killers and the woman they are trying to rescue are leading a dance at the ball. The procession advances towards a mirror and only the three are reflected although dozens are in direct line. Spectacular. The rest of the film uses small dashes of comedy to season an otherwise dark story. This is a true classic among vampire films. If you have not seen it you should. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

List of Episodes
Side A:
Jethro goes to school
Pygmalion & elly
Elly races jethrine
the great fued
home for christmas

Side B:
No place like home
Jed rescues pearl
Back to californny
Jed's dilemma
Jed saves the drysdal's marriage

I didn't remember the show being so funny !
Hilarious is all I can say; every episode is good. I remember watching this show on TV in color and I certainly don't think it was as funny as the episodes on this DVD.
Sure the collection is old and scratchy-looking with no theme song, but was there one when it was origionally shown in black & white? Who knows. I could care less, the DVD is worth every penny I paid for it. I also got Vol 2, which is darn funny as well.
I highly recommend both Vol 1 and Vol 2; you won't be able to help laughing out loud!!!

Do they actually own the rights?
They don't have the original theme song or credits...It makes me wonder if these are pirates or are these the episodes that no one wanted when they were sold one time or what gives?

Its some of the old balck and whites...the transfer is not good...unless you are trying to own all the Hillbillies I would give this a pass...

Same as Madacy.....
As With Madacy's release of THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES, these two Brentwood DVDs feature re-edited opening and closing credits without the original theme songs. The prints used are watchable, but unremarkable with plenty of dropouts and splices/scratches. For the price, though I give 2 stars for the amount of episodes featured - all early b/w episodes from 1962-1963. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

List of Episodes
Side A:
Elly's Animals
Jed plays Solomon
Duke steals a wife
Jed buys the freeway
Jed becomes a Banker

Side B:
The Family tree
Jed pays his income tax
The clampetts are overdrawn
The giant jackrabbit
The clampetts & dodgers

So why don't you list the episodes?
OK, previous reviewer, or somebody who owns it, why don't you list the episodes, so the rest of us know whether to buy it or not?

Good shows/Title Confussion
My 5 yr old loves watching these funny old shows. She has a copy of the Beverly Hillbillies Vol. 1 distributed by Intercoastal Studios. After watching it constantly, we really needed a change so I thought I would order her a new series of episodes. (We know all of the lines on our old one.) I, thinking logically, ordered the Beverly Hillbillies Vol. 2. Unfortunately, Amazon does not list the episodes in the discriptions, so when the new DVD arrived it had the very same episodes as our Vol. 1. It seems they are distributed by different companies. Now I have to go through the hassle of returning this DVD, and wait to get another one shipped, not to mention the fact we'll be seeing the same 10 episodes until it arrives. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

funey
this movie is one of the funnest tv movie adaptions ever

California is the place this movie should be
What should have been a delightful romp into nostalgia turned into a joke. Leah Thompson, who made a name for herself in "Back To The Future" should have borrowed Doc's time machine. Just too campy for words, the directors were unable to find the innocence that made the show such a hit. What a shame. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Complete Season DVD Boxsets Would Be Very Nice!
I didn't grow up watching The Beverly Hillbillies, it aired on TV a few years before I was born and I didn't watch the reruns when I was a little kid but I watched this show for the first time when TV Land started rerunning the episodes and I liked it and I think it is a cute show with some very funny humor. It's great that some episodes are on DVD but even better would be complete season DVD boxsets with the original music included, so please lets get the Beverly Hillbillies on DVD! Irene Ryan was terrific as Granny and so were Buddy Ebsen as Jed Clampett, Donna Douglas as his daughter Ellie May, Max Baer as lunkhead cousin Jethro Bodine, etc.

Educational Entertainment
I remembered the Beverly Hillbillies fondly-but-vaguely. Watching this DVD collection, I came to realize just how fundamentally good and smart that show was. It was brilliant in its conception and execution. Jed Clampett is the show's moral compass; he is a New Testament figure in his fundamental good-will toward all, trusting, forgiving, and absolutely lacking in any sort of irony or sarcasm. Granny is the ultimate Old Testament fiesty matriarch, whose superstitious beliefs are based on mistrust, fear, and retribution. Ellie May is the Wood Nymph, who most closely resembles Jed in attitude (by way of her heart, more than the moral thinking of Jed). Lastly, Jethro is the the Modern Man, who is driven by ambition, with few thoughts of consequence, who sides with Granny in schemes, tempered by his naive/shallow beliefs in Good Results. As a foursome, they confound the world that confounds them.

Mr. Drysdale and Miss Hatheway provide bookends to the Clampett clan, in the roles of Id and Super Ego, each attempting to direct and/or prevent the family's actions at cross-purposes to the other.

Everything about the show is brilliant, sweet, and silly, with a massive moral lesson hidden in the guise of a goofball comedy.

Buy this DVD and learn what you missed in Sunday School.

An Excellent DVD, with some flaws
20 episodes of the greatest show of all time, what more could you ask for? Well, the theme song would be nice, but it's not a huge deal. Who evere chose these episodes clearly knew what they were doing, "The Gient Jackrabbit" Could very well be the funniest thing I've ever seen. I have never gotten the "Buddy Ebsen Bio" to work, but that could very well be my DVD player.

Garbage
This is a waste of money. A poor collection of odd, forgotten episodes with no original music. The producers of this "classic collection" should be tarred, feathered, and pilloried.

Where`s Flatt and Scruggs
It`s like meeting old friends again.When this show first ran here in the U.K it was the highlight of my weeks viewing. To show how much Jed and his family are remembered when I mentioned to a friend I had ordered this set his first words were "Weeeellll Doggy". Now the down side. The quality is`nt what you would normally expect from D V D but I suppose to re-master all these episodes would be quite expensive. The biggest mistake is where`s the theme gone. When they all appear at the end of each episode in the doorway you expect to hear. "Come and listen to my story `bout a man named Jed". This was one of the most famous themes on T.V. Its like watching Rawhide without Frankie Laine. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

From a big Christmas fan
This DVD was okay, but not what I had hoped. There are 5 shows: Jack Benny's Christmas, Jack Benny's New Year (rather droll), Ozzie and Harriet's Christmases, and Beverly Hillbillies Christmas. The best episode in my opinion was of Ozzie and Harriet with Ozzie being too busy at Christmas. Very funny. I have that on VHS and liked it so much I bought this DVD when I found out it was on it. Otherwise, the sound quality on the Jack Benny episodes is very poor. I found myself turning the tv up and down with each episode. The Beverly Hillbillies episode was "same old theme", different day. I guess it's not bad for the price.

1954 shows with 1939 picture quality
Having seen the excellent picture quality of the Jack Benny Shows when they went to film in the mid fifties (there were 104 0f them), what a pity that these shows are taken from the kinescope versions - or are they kinescopes of the film versions, its hard to tell. Jack Benny is great in the two programmes featured, but in 2002, shouldn't we get better picture and sound quality. Worth having, but a big disappointment.>

golden years of comedy
Coming from England,I took a risk in buying this dvd,not knowing that much about the artists. After seeing Jack Benny in his own show for the first time,I realised how fantastic he really was. His first episode Christmas shopping is the best,turning the clerk (Mel Blanc) into a nervous wreck! Jack Benny's second episode is about New Year. The Beverly Hillbillies Christmas Day episode is good,even if it's just to see Granny trying to figure out what she thinks is a washing machine,but is infact a tv. I'm sure Ozzie & Harriet never aired in England,it's not so much funny,but very strange acting,it's so innocent and wonderful, almost like another world compared to todays teen garbage,where morals are unknown. I do hope someone releases many more Jack Benny shows,and more American Christmas shows from the wonderful 50s.

This is great!
This a great dvd of five tv episodes: they are1. CHRISTMAS AT THE CLAMPETTS (The Beverly Hillbillies)2. JACK BENNY'S CHRISTMAS PROGRAM (The Jack Benny show)3. JACK BENNY'S NEW YEARS PROGRAM (The Jack Benny show) 4. BUSY CHRISTMAS (Ozzie & Harriet)5. LATE CHRISTMAS GIFT (Ozzie & Harriet)A great Christmas dvd for fans of the shows! (Also great for non fans) ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Good Picture Quality - Bad Replacement Singer
I got this DVD set a few weeks ago. The picture quality is very good, but one thing that annoys me is that it is missing the original opening and closing, and the replacement singer sounds irritated and rather menacing when he sings the famous "Ballad of Jed Clampett". Not only that, but they must not have the rights to the original recordings of anyone saying 'The Beverly Hillbillies' on these DVDs - for example, on the first episode, when the original narrator says, "This is Beverly Hills, and here come the Beverly Hillbillies!", the last three words are cut off, and you can hear the replacement yelling "THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES!!!" as loud and rather unsettling as possible. I actually recommend the Platinum Disc Corporation's Beverly Hillbillies Four Disc Set more than this, but there are a few episodes on this that aren't featured in that set, and this would be good to pick up if you find it for a good price somewhere.

Heapin' helpin' of hospitality----hillbilly, that is!
This DVD contains four of the earliest episodes of "The Beverly Hillbillies," but because these are not released by the copyright holder, the actual open and close we all know is not on the DVD. Instead, there's an Elvis sounding impersonator handling the singing made famous by Jerry Scoggins. Hopefully, CBS will release "Beverly Hillbillies" on DVD soon, so better prints with the actual opens and closes are available. The episodes on this DVD do a pretty good job of showing why the first two seasons of the program are actually among the best written in the history of television. Snobs hate the program, but the writing, character definition, and evolution of the characters all get off to a good start. And the music of Perry Botkin is used in a very sophisticated way to underscore the action on the screen, compared to the music of Curt Massey whose background music is heard on the later color episodes. Instead of using the music to set up a gag or to get a reaction, Botkin's masterful use of music sets up certain motifs for each of the characters to define them. That's something rarely done in a filmed sitcom--if it was ever even done prior to this show.
The quality of the prints from which these episodes were taken is not particularly good. But until CBS releases the show on DVD, this is what you've got.

almost true to the original series...
The first thing I noticed when playing this DVD is that the theme song had changed. Instead of the original put together by Paul Henning it's got some new guy trying to sing with the same voice as in the original theme - and failing miserably. What a shame...

The editing of this DVD is choppy in a few places so the DVD master wasn't proofed well.

Basically, how difficult could it have been for them to transfer the originals to DVD - theme song and all? This would also have been nice for the end song played after each original episode when it aired. That song is not present on the DVD.

Overall though, this DVD is enjoyable to watch.

It's about time you came back.
I'm not sure what Granny and the gang would think of their show being put on these little round mirrors with the hole in the center of each one, but if anyone can find fault with these shows, just go dunk your fool head in the cement pond! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Odd, but intensely compelling film
I am surprised this movie is not out on DVD or video because it's one of the few films of the beautiful Sharon Tate, the actress killed by the Mason Cult. Supposedly her "introduction" film along with fellow actor David Hemmings, MGM made a big todo of showcasing them before the films release.

The film was also called 13 in some releases, and the supposedly unlucky number seems apropos for the film with Tate later being murdered, and the trouble over initial casting. The simply gorgeous Kim Novak was set to play the lead, they had actually begun filming when she was thrown from a horse. A broken bone resulted in her being replaced by the powerhouse Deborah Kerr, who seems, truthfully, better suited to be playing David Niven's wife.

This is like no other Niven film, an high popular, but I believe, underrated actor. He made it seems so easy. But you watch him with Gregory Peck in GUNS OF NAVARONE and you will see he was a marvellous talent.

It's a low-key thriller, in the WICKERMAN vein. Kerr, Niven and family have been living a good life in Paris, but the arrival of mysterious priest from Niven's home, starts them spiralling into a nightmare of unbelievable proportions. Niven, says the countryside of his province requires the return of the Marquis de Bellac, there is a prolong draught of years, and he must go back, though he won't say what he can do to stop a draught. He insists Kerr and the children stay behind.

In typical headstrong fashion, Kerr is not content to remain behind being the 'little woman', so she and the children travel to the medieval honour of Bellac. Stuck in a time warp of the Middle Ages, Bellac is a total feudal estate. Niven in NOT happy to see she has come. She soon runs afoul of two strange young people (Hemmings, an archer, and the beautiful Tate, who shows disdain for all the males around her). Though they are not really a part of the estate, they seems to come and go as they please and laugh at Kerr's affront.

The strange priest, played by Donald Pleasence, continues to exert a strong hold over Niven, almost as if he is compelling and preparing Niven for 'what will come'. It is clear things are very wrong at Bellac. After a ride in the wood, she discovers that nearly every Bellac Marquis has died a mysterious death at an young age, and is harassed by hooded monk-like figures after finding the tomb of the last Marquis in the wood. There are strange comings and goings at all hours. Niven;s aunt tucks her head and ignores it all, but seems ready to burst into tears. A strange man is hiding in the attic and he warns her to leave before it's too late. Oddly, she discovered though the whole area is very religious, the religion has a taint of heresy about it.

One day, she catches Tate teaching the children to play on the edge of the crenellations of the roof. When she rushes up to stop it, she soon finds herself at peril, as Tate hypnotises her in to nearly stepping off the roof.

Worse, is the distance between her and her husband, and his insistence he has accepted his fate.

Very understated, mesmerising dancing in the ring of 13....with a knockout of an ending.

Ted Turner occasionally shows this - beware he cuts it bloody pieces!

POWERFUL!

Highly recommended to those who appreciate The WICKERMAN.

Weird film made very memorable by Sharon Tate...
I remember seeing this on late nite television when I was very young. It is funny how certain images stay with us. I remember being at once attracted to Sharon Tate (a true beauty) and yet kinda scared because she was a wicked girl in this movie and it made me very uneasy. But I was able to see this film, of all places at a midnight show in London (in August 1999) , and it has real atmoshpere and chills. And to be sure, Sharon Tate may finally be remembered for something else than the way she died. Her beauty is almost intoxicating and I don't mean that in a lesbionic way, she just was. Also note the location, so weird. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

They don't make 'em like this anymore. Well, John Waters might, if he ever had a big enough budget. A steamy "inside look" at the alternately sleazy and glamorous world of catfighting, backbiting show-biz starlets, this Hollywood hit from the bestselling novel by Jacqueline Susann is a high-gloss camp artifact--a time capsule (or some kind of capsule, anyway)--from the screwy '60s, when a broad was a broad, a bitch was a bitch (whether "her" name was Neely O'Hara or Ted Casablanca), and a "doll" was a prescription drug. These dames of whine and poses obsessed over their bust lines, booze, and barbiturates. The once-shocking and scandalous language and behavior of these Broadway babes has been eclipsed by Dallas, Dynasty, and Melrose Place, but time has only enhanced the stature of Valley of the Dolls as a classic--and it still puts Showgirls to shame. With Patty Duke, Susan Hayward, Sharon Tate, Lee Grant, Barbara Parkins, and Martin Milner (and juicy, scene-chewing dialogue such as the infamous: "They drummed you out of Hollywood, so you come crawling back to Broadway. But Broadway doesn't go for booze and dope--now get out of my way, I've got a man waiting for me!"), Valley of the Dolls is the Mount Rushmore of backstage movie melodramas. --Jim Emerson ... Read more

Reviews (117)

"Outta My Way......... I've Got A Man Waiting For Me!".
The above review title is just one of the juicy, over the top lines piled on in this delicious treat which probably has one of the most campiest reputations of any movie from the glorious 1960's which was rich in such efforts. People just love to hate this trashy but highly enjoyable movie based on the best seller by Jacqueline Susann and I have to admit I love every tacky and wildly over the top moment myself. Never I believe has one film abounded with so many (possibly), unintentionally hysterical moments from Patty Duke's wild rehearsal number with a string necklace that seems to have a provocative mind of its own in showing off her... ummm, shall we say "chief assests", to Sharon Tate agreeing with her mother over the phone that "yes I know I have no talent and yes I am continuing with my breast exercises mother!", to Susan Hayward's ghastly "hit Broadway show", number complete with a ridiculous revolving mobile made up of plastic shapes that look like multi coloured body parts. The highlight of course of the entire film is the infamous wig pulling scene in the ladies room between long time rivals Patty Duke as the Judy Garland like Neely O'Hara and Susan Hayward playing Helen Lawson, a character based loosely on Broadway Diva Ethel Merman. For this scene alone "Valley of the Dolls", has earned a dubious immortalitybut which nevertheless makes this film essential viewing.

"Valley of the Dolls", of course chronicles the ups and mostly downs of three young career women who find life contains alot of ugliness beneath the glitter. The three women are the intelligent brunette Anne Welles (Barbara Parkins), who comes from her conservative New England town to create an exciting new life for herself in New York, an up and coming singer Neely O'Hara (Patty Duke), who has a brilliant talent but also a self destructive element in her character, and finally the beautiful leggy blonde Jennifer North (Sharon Tate), who has limited talent but stunning looks that open doors for her. Anne becomes involved with Lyon Burke (Paul Burke), at who's theatrical law firm she works, Neely gets discovered singing on a telethon and shoots to the height of stardom only to come crashing down with her misuse of pills or "Dolls", after which she also ruins Anne's chance at happiness by stealing Paul away from her. Meanwhile Jennifer sees her life cave in as her partner Tony (Tony Scotti), is struck down by a crippling disease and she is reduced to appearing in French porn movies to pay his bills only to discover then that she has breast cancer herself. While these women are experiencing the school of hard knocks one survivor goes on untouched by the human tragedy. Broadway Diva Helen Lawson (Susan Hayward), a tough and cold veteran of the theatrical world continues to pull all the strings when she gets Neely fired from her show when she sees her as a potential rival and after Neely's disgrace in Hollywood sees her fail a second time as a result of her pill abuse. Helen is a cold calculating woman, a "barracuda", as she lovingly describes herself, who istotally alone in the world and will do anything to hold on to her piece of turf which of course is her stardom on Broadway. The women all find their own ways to deal or not deal with their situations and we see Anne eventually return to the sane but predictable life she left in New England without Paul who she is not ready to marry, Jennifer commits suicide rather than face the terrors of breast cancer surgery, and Neely after completely ruining her chance at a comeback on Broadway finds herself alone, unwanted, and out of a job with only her "dolls", for company.

Certainly the original novel by Jacqueline Susann could never be called a literary classic, being exploitation fiction of the worst kind but the film has managed to take on a cult status uniquely its own over the years. It's shameless characters very clearly based on real personalities of the time like Judy Garland and Ethel Merman, it's terrible dialogue and hilarious situations that produce laughs even when it is meant to be serious have ensured that "Valley of the Dolls", is a camp classic of the first order. It's really hard to judge the performances in this piece considering the dialogue/situations the actresses had to work with . Patty Duke who probably earned the most flak from this production playing the drug soaked singing sensation clearly based on Judy Garland talked about this film in some length in her excellent autobiography "Call Me Anna", and still shudders when her involvement in this film is brought up. A wondefully talented actress, her scenery chewing here just defies belief but her over the top character gives this film alot of its bizzare appeal. Barbara Parkins truly is like a living mannequin in this film playing the "sensible", one of the three with her lacquered hair and flawless makeup and her scenes where she literally over night becomes the "Gillian Girl", are hilarious in their tackiness. The tragic Sharon Tate still most famous for her terrible murder certainly has a breathtaking beauty but she has very little character to work with and her scenes where she talks to her mother on the phone are (unintentionally I'm sure), amazingly hilarious for all the wrong reasons. Susan Hayward came into this unhappy production late into production after the original choice to play the bitchy Helen Lawson, Judy Garland was fired. I find I miss Hayward's campy character when she is not on screen and she has some of the most memorably awful scenes and dialogue in the film from gems like "Tell that son of a bitch to get off his butt and earn his oats" to "They drummed you right outta Hollwood and you come crawling back to Broadway, well Broadway doesn't go for booze or dope!".The atrocious musical number from her Broadway show is a camp highlight where a seemingly dazed Hayward sings a bizzare little ditty called "I Plant My Own Tree", to an unfathomly appreciative audience. On the plus side "Valley of the Dolls", is a lush, beautifully photographed production with the shots of a snow covered New England and the streets of New York a real highlight. Despite it's tacky nature you can see that Twentieth Century Fox went all out in this big screen adaptation of the best selling novel. And for those interested in celebrity spotting Jacqueline Susann who later disowned the film version of her book makes a small cameo appearance as a reporter in the scene where Jennifer North's body is wheeled out to the ambulance.

A camp favourite not to be taken seriously at all is how to best describe "Valley of the Dolls". It's pulp magazine level of storytelling ruins any chance of this story being a serious examination of the plight of young working women however as over the top entertainment this is first class and always gets people talking and laughing about the sheer awfulness of much of it. People are even known as having "Valley of the Dolls", parties with the guests dressed as the characters with the movie playing in the background so I guess it has earned it's questionable place in the entertainment history. Sit back and enjoy the darker side of the glitzy glamour life in 1960's Broadway and Hollywood in the notorious film version of Jacqueline Susann's "Valley of the Dolls", soon.

"You gimme back my hair, you little b*tch!"
This entire movie could make up an arm's-length list of unforgettable quotes. I am almost embarrassed to admit I know 75% of the dialogue by heart! I first saw this film on the late show back in 1981 with my Mom and immediately became obsessed with it. The next day I grabbed the paperback from my parents' bookcase and read it cover to cover. I still prefer the movie. I had no idea back then it would become such a cult classic as the years went on. I thought it was my own private guilty pleasure! Why on earth hasn't the studio released this on DVD? It was bad enough it took them until 1993 to get it out on VHS. Do they not realize there's a GOLD MINE here? The video has grossed some thirty million bucks in sales and rentals in its 12 years on the market. Fans are clamoring for a deluxe DVD release, which should include multiple commentaries from Barbara Parkins, Patty Duke and others, and of course, that prized lost footage featuring Judy Garland as Helen Lawson. Judy's legions of fans will willingly snap this up for a glimpse of what would have been her final film role, guaranteeing bigger sales than the video for sure! 20th Century Fox...are you LISTENING?? I can only hope that when the DVD release arrives that the person in charge of the audio corrects the sound on all the musical numbers. I have an old tape of this recorded off a local channel and the orchestra sounds fantastic during the musical sequences, although the print is faded and scratchy. On the VHS version, the vocals have been brought so forward the music is barely audible, which is a shame because you can't fully appreciate the musical numbers based on the VHS tape.

The 60's were NOT a groovy decade for young vulnerable women
Based on the same book by Jackie Susann, this film is an 'inside' look at the obstacles young women face in order to make it to the top. The obviously 60's music, hairstyles/clothing are of secondary importance to the general ambience and message of this work.

Since I am part of the generation who was raised on Dallas and then 90210, the film itself is not very shocking with regards to content. We now know that lots of young women across the country (ab)use prescription drugs and have a laundry list of other problems to deal with on a semi-regular basis. Even if we are not doing these things, we know plenty of other young women (including our own friends) are.

Yet, I am obligated to remember that this film (like the book) was made in a time when the American people were very good at playing naive. We assumed that rich people/aspiring starlets had no problems---or if they did, we should not hear about it. This lulled most people (except those experiencing harships of course) into a false sense of complacency. We confused the lack of public acknowllegement with a lack of public problems.

Even if Susann had only meant to generate money with the book and then this film, it critiqued power structures in a way which the radicals of her day (and mine) cannot accomplish with their own more blatant theoretical works. Beneath the camp in Susann's work is a serious discussion of all the things which young women have to go through in order to attempt making it to the top reaches of our supposedly egalitarian society.

Campy Fun!!!
I love this movie.Patty Duke is great as the spoiled primadonna, and gives a petulantly wonderful performance.What a BRAT!!!Everything else is just perfect about this schlockfest.Highly recommended for a campy good time.

Woefully Miscast
Except for the lovely Sharon Tate, who fit the WRITTEN character of the book to a 'T,' the lead actors cast were inappropriate for their characters. For example, it was always stressed in the book that Anne was a cool blond with icy blue eyes: Barbara Parkins was a dark brunette with brown eyes. I love Paul Burke (12 O'Clock High, Daddy'S Gone A-Hunting), but he was not Lyon Burke. Patty Duke was so-so as far as a choice, certainly better than Parkins (Peyton Place, Captains & The Kings). However, as a slice of 60's cinematic Americana, the film is pretty standard and ok. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

I was cheated
This is a poor quality transfer for both picture and sound and I am not sure they had the rights to the whole thing because they took out the theme song and replaced it with some really bad instrumental piece...the episodes are obscure...I live in France and wanted to get in touch with my youth and expose my daughter to the real American culture...may I did...these people screwed everything up for a buck...2 episodes per disc...make you want to feel like you are getting value for money but 45 miutes per DVD is a joke...

Avoid is my recommendation

Hillbillies Great -- Lousy DVD
The Beverly Hillbillies are wonderful, but this DVD stinks. First, the episodes do not include the classic Hillbillies theme song -- the producers hve substituted some other song and this borders on blasphemy. In addition, the transfer to DVD is awful! The picture and sound quality are the worst I've seen on any DVD. I have read that DVDs from Madacy Entertainment are bad, now I believe it. Still, for the hard core Beverly Hillbillies fan like myself, these black and white episodes from the second and third seasons of the show are a must. Were it not for the poor quality of the DVD, I would rate it 5 stars. ... Read more