Based on Jacqueline Susann’s scandalous best-selling novel, Valley of the Dolls (1967) is a quintessential cult classic that explores the glittering, high-pressure world of show business and the steep price of fame.
The Plot
The film follows the interconnected lives of three young women as they attempt to make their marks in New York City and Hollywood:
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Anne Welles: A refined New Englander who lands a job at a high-profile theatrical law firm.
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Neely O’Hara: A talented vaudeville performer whose meteoric rise to stardom leads to a demanding ego and a volatile personal life.
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Jennifer North: A stunning starlet who finds herself pigeonholed by her beauty and struggles to be taken seriously as an actress.
As they navigate the treacherous waters of Broadway and the silver screen, the trio becomes increasingly reliant on “dolls”—the slang term for the prescription barbiturates they use to cope with anxiety, heartbreak, and insomnia. The film serves as a cautionary tale of how the “top of the mountain” can often be a very lonely, and chemically-dependent, place.
Cast & Crew
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Director: Mark Robson
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Lead Actors:
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Barbara Parkins as Anne Welles
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Patty Duke as Neely O’Hara
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Sharon Tate as Jennifer North
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Supporting Cast:
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Susan Hayward as Helen Lawson
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Paul Burke as Lyon Burke
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Tony Scotti as Tony Polar
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A Pop Culture Phenomenon
While critics initially panned the film upon its release, it became a massive box-office success. Today, it is celebrated for its camp aesthetic, 1960s fashion, and its dramatic (if exaggerated) look at the dark side of the entertainment industry. It remains a definitive time capsule of mid-century melodrama.
“The only way to fly is with the dolls.”
Are you more interested in the “camp” legacy of the film, or are you looking for other 1960s dramas that deal with the dark side of Hollywood?
