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Dolls: red or black; capsules or tablets; washed down with vodka or swallowed straight
That is how the back cover introduces a novel infamous for its frank portrayal of Hollywood. It is one of many modern classics that was considered “controversial”. I was told to write a short introductory paragraph discussing how violence in literature is used to derive a deeper meaning in English recently. She told us to use a “classic” and when I used The Valley of the Dolls she informed me that it was too “informal” a work for our purposes and one the qualifiers she used was that it was “controversial”.
I informed her that Of Mice and Men, Huckleberry Finn, Catcher in the Rye, Ulysses, and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest were some of the books I could think of off the top of my head that were “controversial” when they were released. And, that wasn't the point of literature to be thought provoking and inspire other artists. Jacqueline Susanne broke writing barriers and inspired a litany of other writers, most notably Jackie Collins.
That is how the back cover introduces a novel infamous for its frank portrayal of Hollywood. It is one of many modern classics that was considered “controversial”. I was told to write a short introductory paragraph discussing how violence in literature is used to derive a deeper meaning in English recently. She told us to use a “classic” and when I used The Valley of the Dolls she informed me that it was too “informal” a work for our purposes and one the qualifiers she used was that it was “controversial”.
I informed her that Of Mice and Men, Huckleberry Finn, Catcher in the Rye, Ulysses, and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest were some of the books I could think of off the top of my head that were “controversial” when they were released. And, that wasn't the point of literature to be thought provoking and inspire other artists. Jacqueline Susanne broke writing barriers and inspired a litany of other writers, most notably Jackie Collins.
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And, it was not my fault that my teacher had lived through a time period where Monopoly wasn't a regular past time. She discounted Valley of the Dolls for being sensational without reading it, because it is one of the most emotionally wrenching novel I've read in my life. Not appreciating its effect on American culture is the same as discounting Marilyn Monroe. It's absurd.
Relegating it to a cult classic would be overlooking it's literary merits, but an acceptable conclusion especially if we take the movie into consideration. I know why I like it, because it's so bad.
Relegating it to a cult classic would be overlooking it's literary merits, but an acceptable conclusion especially if we take the movie into consideration. I know why I like it, because it's so bad.
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Patty Duke, Barbara Parkins, and Sharon Tate (More famous for her death in Manson Murders then her acting) took lead point as the movies three protagonists. The movie does a poor job at following the plot of the book, which by the time it was released was Gone with the Wind fabulous. Everyone in America had read the book. An attempt at a “happy ending” negated the entire point of the book and was far more tragic then how the book actually ended.
It's worthy of seeing once, but its so much more fun to see the parody “Beyond the Valley of the Dolls” that was originally intended to be a sequel but instead turned into a parody of the original movie. I laugh, I cry, it moves me. This movie does not follow the story of Jennifer, Anne, and Neely, but instead the story of Kelly, Casey, and Pet who have their own rock band. There are no words to truly describe this movie. Film critic Roger Ebert wrote the screenplay, and he put all of his wit and energy into it. It's vibrant with a colorful, if not very tasteful plot line. Mind, you it is rated NC-17, but you have to remember that this was 1970. Honestly, the reason it was rated that is because there's a lesbian sex scene, a very fake lesbian sex scene. Anything gay was not kosher then, and since the rating system is supposed to represent the morals of the population as a whole, I understand the rating if I think its harsh for the actual content.
It's worthy of seeing once, but its so much more fun to see the parody “Beyond the Valley of the Dolls” that was originally intended to be a sequel but instead turned into a parody of the original movie. I laugh, I cry, it moves me. This movie does not follow the story of Jennifer, Anne, and Neely, but instead the story of Kelly, Casey, and Pet who have their own rock band. There are no words to truly describe this movie. Film critic Roger Ebert wrote the screenplay, and he put all of his wit and energy into it. It's vibrant with a colorful, if not very tasteful plot line. Mind, you it is rated NC-17, but you have to remember that this was 1970. Honestly, the reason it was rated that is because there's a lesbian sex scene, a very fake lesbian sex scene. Anything gay was not kosher then, and since the rating system is supposed to represent the morals of the population as a whole, I understand the rating if I think its harsh for the actual content.
As you can tell. It's a very classy movie
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There is always the fabulousness of the author herself Miss Jacqueline Suzanne. She was just a glamorous woman who was the epitome of style and sophistication. I put her and Jackie Kennedy on the same pedestal. Along with Audrey Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor, she was a style icon. And despite what Truman Capote said she did not look like a “truck driver in drag.”
I don't know who your judging sir, you high pitched albino dwarf.
I don't know who your judging sir, you high pitched albino dwarf.
Jacqueline Susanne Jackie Kennedy Lana Del Rey
It would take a whole album to capture the true glamorous emptiness of Valley of the Dolls. Marina, however gives a good go at trying to fit it into one song.
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Am I the only one who thinks Jacqueline, Lana, and Jackie look freakishly alike?