Valley of the Dolls

it has some decent ideas about the destructive power of fame, but for the most part it is a dud. it really embodies the culture of the 60s and dives into its trashiest elements. it follows the story of 3 women, but only two of them have any substance at all. i don't know why the barbara parkins story was there, it didn't really have any payoff or purpose. sharon tate and her story are serviceable and fairly interesting, though the execution leaves some to be desired. patty duke gives a great performance and her story is really the meat of the film. it gets a little bit over the top at times,... read more

overlong and featuring a self-serious narrative, valley of the dolls can feel like something of a drag, but the rampant scenery chewing from each of the leads, the ridiculous melodrama, and the gorgeous look of the film make the film something of a smug guilty pleasure. i love the era, and the fashions. even the cinematography is often stunning. i also loved the shots of new york city in the 60's, which were fantastic. it gave the early acts of the movie a real sense of atmosphere and scale. nevertheless, i can't imagine anyone being genuinely in love with the movie itself. apart from it's... read more