Beyond the Valley of the Dolls (1970)

To me, this movie is perfection.

Such a frustrating disappointment

Instant Favorite.

Excellent but underrated film

This film is very notable in that it was written in part by Roger Ebert. Yes, THAT Roger Ebert. It should be noted that this film was something he worked on rather early in his career and I think looking back, he doesn't think too highly of it. It does make me wish Ebert had worked on more movies himself, because it would simply be great to watch a movie made by the most famous movie critic. Anyway, this movie itself is just okay. I admit that the plot just seems to wander around for awhile.There's lots of seemingly random scenes of people dancing and singing. This movie is still very '70s and it's starting to make me realize cult films become reflective of the times. There are even some interesting points raised about sexuality. I do kind of find myself rooting for the characters. It's just that it's too wacky to follow that well and not good enough to recommend, but Ebert tried. Now let's see a movie Leonard Maltin worked on! **1/2

I must admit, I've never really been a Russ Meyer fan. I've never been able to sit through his films. This excellent film is an exception, a one off. I've watched it a few times. One lovely asset is of course, Edy Williams, only she's not the only ho groovy chick in it. The way out psychedelic music, is another thing, I liked. This film was made at the start of the seventies, the year I was born, but found it's way to video 1990, via a brief run at the cinema once before. The movie really shows what the entertainment scene was, struggling actors, sleazy, mocking producers, who like to manipulate young philies, gays, and drag queens who may'be take their King Arthur roles, a little seriously, resulting a graphic beheading. Too, it shows you what the drug scene was like. Essentially the story follows a promising band, and dig the name, who roam town to town, ending up in the city of angels, only to receive, an all too painful lesson, on what it takes, if you really wanna make it. Their manager, a Greg Brady lookalike kind of guy, is in love with the lead hottie, Kelly, where soon a jealous and agonizing streak sets in him, where the easily led, Kelly, who buys this whole scene of B.S. begins an affair with a stud, wannabe actor/model, where this has disastrous results. Kelly tracks down her long lost Sister, where she finds out she's inherited a nice little nest egg, where this greedy producer, Porter, is trying to get his hands on it. This movie never bores. And it's written by American favorite, movie critic, Roger Ebert, of all people. He's created formulated a great movie, somewhat a treasure, with rich characters, and in my opinion, a very of matter fact account of Hollywood, this time. It's really good insight if you look, closer. He for one should know. It's inspirational, in a more discreet kind of way, where the footnote, at the end about about each character, serves the movie well. Almost two thumbs up, Roger. The very familiar, opening music score/anthem with the opening credits strolling up the screen, heralds it campy, insightful brilliance.

This is not a sequel and there has never been anything like it. It is a shame that Russ Meyer didn't make more films like this at 20th Century Fox. All of his films has a professional look to them but Beyond looks polished and perfect. Russ Meyer called this film one of his, "most important." As far as editing and cinematography, the film is beautiful. Roger Ebert's script is funny and the tone is curious at times. I am a firm believer that Russ Meyer's films were funnier and more unique before Roger Ebert's influence of self parody. With that said, I still think Beyond is one of his best films and is the one he is most known for. The tone of the film totally changes by the end and plays out almost like a serious horror film. I think it is amusing that Roger Ebert and RM changed the ending after the murder of Sharon Tate by the Mason family. John Waters (who pays many homages to RM) changed the ending to his film Multiple Maniacs 1970 based on the Manson murders as well. Great minds think alike I guess... The film has so many endings that it is hard to remember how many exactly. One of them has a narrator reciting a moral road map for the audience. Hilarious. Especially the part about Susan Lake, "Perhaps TOO pure." And how even, "excessive goodness," in itself can be a bad thing. Russ Meyer only made one more film at 20th, The Seven Minutes, a film I like but most people, even the director, dismiss. After seeing the end of 'Dolls' and the bathtub scene in 'Supervixens,' I really wish RM would have made an entry into the horror genre. His violence and gore is always so extreme. This is a great introduction to RM's style. Better with multiple viewings. Erica Gavin is in the film without her weird Vixen eyebrows. I wish she was in the film more but her scenes with Cynthia Myers are some of the most memorable.

The genius of this 1970 Classic must, and should be, revisited for the ratings it didn't get but absolutely deserves. It must be made available on DVD and Blu-Ray to complete every library of Survival Film Classics.With a $900,000 budget it grossed ten X's as much at a citical convergence in American history: Vietnam raged into Cambodia, Nixon compounded the lies and corruption of our govt (now a political art-form), the Drug Generation was in full bloom, and freedom was dominated by any and all...but not individuals. This film showed us otherwise.