* THIS POST IS INTENDED FOR MATURE AUDIENCES
June 17, 1970...
50 years ago this week...
50 years ago this week...
one of my favorite movies,
Beyond the Valley
of the Dolls,
opened in theaters across the U.S.
Released by 20th Century-Fox, directed by Russ Meyer, King of the Nudies,
with the screenplay co-written by Meyer and Chicago Sun-Times film critic
Roger Ebert, Beyond the Valley of the Dolls aka "BVD" was destined
to become a cult classic with millions of fans to this day.
Hello again, kiddo. I'm Shady Green,
The Dean of Keen, here to bring you
a special edition of my S-P-M-M
radio show simulcast on YouTube.
I invite you to hop inside my
Wayback Machine and return
with me now to the trippy
psychedelic scene that was
Hollywood in the late 1960s
as I salute BVD, its groovy
soundtrack songs, taglines
and hipster dialogue.
Here, for example, is the excited utterance made by lead character
Kelly MacNamara, played by English pinup model and actress
Dolly Read, soon to be wife of Dick Martin of TV's
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In.
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In.
KELLY MacNAMARA:
WHEN DOES ANY PARTY START?
WHEN YOU GET THERE!
With Kelly's words in mind, let's get this party stated. Come with
me now on this plastic fantastic journey to la-la land as it was
50 years ago... Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood.
Let's go-- Beyond the Valley of the Dolls!
Kelly MacNamara, Casey Anderson
(no relation to Dell Rat Tom) and "Pet" -
Petronella Danforth - are members of
Petronella Danforth - are members of
a rock band trio called The Kelly Affair.
The girls take a cross country road
trip to Cali in search of stardom.
trip to Cali in search of stardom.
The actresses who played The Kelly Affair
band rocked the look but lacked musical
talent. Lynn Carey and Barbara Robison
supplied the vocals for the band. Most
of the music on the soundtrack was
written by film score composer Stu
Phillips. You will need to turn up the
band rocked the look but lacked musical
talent. Lynn Carey and Barbara Robison
supplied the vocals for the band. Most
of the music on the soundtrack was
written by film score composer Stu
Phillips. You will need to turn up the
loudness on the first few songs. Watch
and listen as these good girls breaking
bad, The Kelly Affair, perform "Find It."
START PLAYING VIDEO
AT THE 10 SEC. MARK AND
TURN-UP THE LOUDNESS!
TURN-UP THE LOUDNESS!
"Find it" - The Kelly Affair
(Stu Phillips/Lynn Carey, from OST June 1970 film
Beyond The Valley Of The Dolls)
THE WORLD IS FULL OF THEM,
THE SUPER-OCTANE GIRLS
WHO ARE OLD AT TWENTY.
IF THEY GET TO BE TWENTY.
Young women (and men) are especially at risk if they fall under
the spell of Ronnie 'Z-man' Barzell, the hedonistic, egotistical
teenage record mogul, a character inspired by Phil Spector.
the spell of Ronnie 'Z-man' Barzell, the hedonistic, egotistical
teenage record mogul, a character inspired by Phil Spector.
LEAVE? NO! YOU HAVE NOT YET
GRACED OUR GATHERING WITH A SONG.
COME, MY DEAR. I MUST PRESENT YOU
TO THE FAITHFUL - NOW!
"Sweet Talkin' Candyman" - The Kelly Affair
(Stu Phillips feat. Lynn Carey & Barbara Robison,
from OST June 1970 film Beyond The Valley Of The Dolls)
Kelly Mac and her cohorts channel
The Mamas and the Papas on this
soundtrack song, a flower power
sunshine pop nugget entitled--
"Come With The Gentle People."
START PLAYING
VIDEO AT THE
ONE MIN. MARK!
VIDEO AT THE
ONE MIN. MARK!
"Come With The Gentle People" - The Kelly Affair
(Stu Phillips feat. Lynn Carey & Barbara Robison,
(Stu Phillips feat. Lynn Carey & Barbara Robison,
from OST June 1970 film Beyond The Valley Of The Dolls)
THE CLOSER THEY GET TO THE TOP -
THE NEARER THEY GET TO THE BOTTOM!
"Look On Up At The Bottom" - The Carrie Nations
(Stu Phillips feat. Lynn Carey and Barbara Robison,
from OST June 1970 film Beyond The Valley Of The Dolls)
Upon watching the titillating trio perform at his party,
Z-man is smitten and makes a bold prediction.
"In The Long Run" - The Carrie Nations
(Lynn Carey, from OST June 1970 film
Beyond The Valley Of The Dolls
It's time for me to wrap up this special edition
of my show. I hope you enjoyed flashing back
50 years with me and sampling the songs from
one of my favorite movies... Russ Meyer's
Beyond the Valley of the Dolls.
of my show. I hope you enjoyed flashing back
50 years with me and sampling the songs from
one of my favorite movies... Russ Meyer's
Beyond the Valley of the Dolls.
To play us off, here's the Strawberry Alarm Clock (seen above), the band that
provided the entertainment at Z-man's party in Beyond the Valley of the Dolls.
CLICK TO START THE VIDEO NOW!
The Clock strikes with their chart-topping, mind bending, psychedelic hit
single "Incense And Peppermints." Stick around, coming up on the B side
of news its the premiere of Get Morganized with Robert W. Morgan, and
I'll be back soon to take you on another ride in my Wayback Machine.
Now this is Shady Green, The Dean of Keen, saying so long!
"Incense And Peppermints" - Strawberry Alarm Clock
(Oct./Nov. 1967, highest chart pos. #1 Hot 100 & Cash Box)
I confess, I don't think I've ever seen it. Ironic they would cast a lead with no musical talent. (As a guitarist, I can tell she's not really playing.)
ReplyDeleteThere were some mighty short skirts back then!
Hi, Alex!
DeleteThanks for coming over at the break of dawn to become the early bird for the 144th week in a row, good buddy! :)
It looks like Marcia McBroom (Petronella Danforth) had some experience playing drums, but the other two girls on guitars probably received a quick and dirty lesson on how to make their playing look as realistic as possible. I love it when newcomers are given lead roles. In this case it worked with two Playboy models, Dolly Read and Cynthia Myers, in the starring roles along with Marcia in her very first film appearance.
Yes, good buddy, the skirts were mini length in the late 60s, especially at the wild parties thrown by the Teen Tycoon of Rock - Ronnie Z-Man Barzell.
Thanks again for being here early, good buddy Alex, and thank you again for giving me the You Rock Award!
This was a blast, hilarious too. I like the way he kept looking at her, dreamy eyed, in the first clip. It's hard to believe I was actually alive then (though pre-pre-school). I don't think it mattered that she couldn't sing either. That woman would've still found it "disgusting."
ReplyDeleteThanks for your follow and very thoughtful comment Shady. I responded on my blog too. It's great to meet a fun, like minded, like hearted soul. You do, indeed, Rock!
Hi, Robyn!
DeleteWelcome back over, my fabulous new friend! I am wiping tears of joy from my eyes after reading your comment here and your reply to my comment at LBC. When at first you didn't respond to it, I worried that I had expressed too much and lost you as quickly as I found you. :) Isn't it funny how we feel the need to tiptoe around on eggshells hoping we don't offend people and lose friends and followers by revealing who we are and what we believe? It looks like you and Shady Del Knight are going to be solid friends. I am grateful!
I'm glad you enjoyed my 50th anniversary salute to the X-rated cult classic Beyond the Valley of the Dolls. I think the film should have been rated "RX" because it's a powerful prescription for adult fun and entertainment. :) In many ways it resembles the 21st century hit movie Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood.
Yessum, I gather that you are considerably younger than old Shady, but it's nice to know you remember this movie. I was age 20 at the time of its release. I remember taking Mrs. Shady #1 to see it at the drive-in. Over the years I have seen it many more times. I agree that the smug woman who turned thumbs down on The Kelly Affair had her mind made up in advance. There's a lot of that going around. :)
It is great fun, and a great relief, to meet someone like you, Robyn. "Takes one to know one" and you rock, too!
Thank you again for coming over first thing on day one to join the fun. Take care of yourself out there in Cali. I invite you to take a peek at my Father's Day post this Sunday. Hope to see you then, dear Robyn! :)
I'm afraid I've never seen anything "Valley of the Dolls", but I've always been a fan of that Strawberry Alarm Clock song!
ReplyDeleteHi, Kelly!
DeleteQuestion: Were you the inspiration behind The Kelly Affair girl band? :)
If you haven't seen the 1967 movie Valley of the Dolls starring Barbara Parkins, Patty Duke, Sharon Tate and Susan Hayward, and based on Jacqueline Susann's novel of the same name, I highly recommend it. However it is disturbing to see Sharon Tate in the film knowing that she would be murdered my the Manson family two years later. I also recommend the movie featured here - BVD - which is not a sequel but does share similarities to Valley of the Dolls. It was cool to see The Strawberry Alarm Clock playing at Z-man's party in the movie. "Incense And Peppermints" was such a smash hit for the band that it's a shame they couldn't fully capitalize on its success.
Thanks again for coming by, dear friend Kelly!
Ha! I don't think I've ever been the inspiration for any kind of band. I will keep the movie in mind.....
Delete:) BVD is basically a put-on, a parody, a dark comedy not to be taken seriously. The characters are caricatures and the dialogue unlike that of any other film I've seen. Z-man, the gay record mogul who hosts wild
Deleteparties for the beautiful people, speaks in Shakespearean prose throughout the film. John LaZar, who fleshed out the Ronnie Barzell character so nicely, was at the time a veteran of many Shakespearean stage productions. Five years after BVD, John appeared in another Russ Meyer movie - Supervixens, in a bit part, playing a guy who is bitten on the leg by a rattlesnake by the side of a rural road.
Thanks for returning to chat, dear friend Kelly. I trust you escaped the wrath of the tropical storm that recently made landfall. Have a great week!
Just wind and lots of rain, which might seem surprising as far inland as I live..... but nothing serious. Hoping you have an uneventful hurricane season this year, Shady!!
DeleteThank you, dear friend! I'm happy to know that you and Pat were spared the brunt. In 2004 and 2005 hurricanes plowed through Central Florida and caused widespread damage. Trees came down on our roof both years. We have been lucky ever since. Your positive thoughts are greatly appreciated, Kelly!
DeleteI remember The Valley of the Dolls but I never went “Beyond”. The music wasn’t bad, as you showed us here, but the movie, well, I don’t think it was Academy Award material.
ReplyDeleteHi, Arleen!
DeleteThanks for coming over, dear friend! I'm happy to know you remember the hit 1967 movie Valley of the Dolls. Remember the scene in which Patty Duke rips the wig off Susan Hayward's head and tosses it into the toilet? :) Beyond the Valley of the Dolls is sexy, intense and filled with quirky characters and clever, hip dialogue. Robert Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gives it an enthusiastic thumbs-up. :)
My favorite songs performed by The Kelly Affair aka The Carrie Nations are "Gentle People," "Look On Up At The Bottom" and (my fave of all) "In The Long Run." It's a great song!
Thank you again for dropping in, dear friend Arleen. Please take good care of yourself and enjoy the rest of your week!
I remember reading "Valley of the Dolls" as a teen. It was one of the first "adult content" type. I was just thinking the other day that I'd like to see the movie because I don't remember very much about it, other than the stars. I never saw "Beyond" and it looks pretty hokey. Funny watching the faces on the guys as she is singing. Have a wonderful rest of your week my friend!
ReplyDeleteJanet’s Smiles
Hi, Janet!
DeleteI'm delighted to see you, dear friend! Thanks for coming over on the exact date marking the 50th anniversary of the release of Beyond the Valley of the Dolls aka BVD.
Yessum, I have seen both films. Over the years both have stood up well to repeat views. If you want to get the two Dolls movies brilliantly remastered and together in the same set, you can purchase the 2016 Criterion Collection edition. Yessum, BVD is described as a satirical musical melodrama. It doesn't take itself seriously as does Valley of the Dolls. I love the quirky characters, flashy costumes and the glib, sometimes outrageous dialogue. The two male leading characters are both smitten by Kelly MacNamara played by glamour model Dolly Read who later married Dick Martin, co-host of Laugh-In. In the clips of the girl band performing you often see, superimposed on opposite sides of the screen, the faces of her two admirers. The end of the film is actually quite touching and sentimental, the most serious part of the entire movie.
Thanks again for taking a peek at the post, dear friend Janet. Please say hello to my buddy Benny for me and enjoy your walks with him!
I really need to see this schlocky film which sounds like a hoot. I had no idea it was co-written by Roger Ebert...glad he stuck to being a film critic. Love the songs which are so much better than most of the crappola on today. The one song with Peppermint guys in the background...Did the girl in the curvaceous catsuit really do the singing? I really like her voice. I enjoyed listebing to all of them and I had to laugh because in the one scene where the gals are singing "look up at the bottom. The gal in the head scarf? My mom had that same scarf!
ReplyDelete"Two thumbs up!" - Siskel & Ebert
DeleteHi, Birgit!
Thanks for coming over, dear friend! I'm glad to have you here to experience my special tribute to Beyond the Valley of the Dolls - 50 years to the day after its release. Thanks to Roger Ebert's clever writing on the screenplay, the movie is indeed a hoot and you should see it. The character inspired by Phil Spector, Ronnie Z-man Barzell, utters Shakespearean prose throughout. His scenes with "Jungle Lad" are must see. Yessum, the story line revolves around a girl band, three trendy looking (head scarves and all) hippie girls, who drive across the USA in their Partridge Family van and wind up being corrupted by the wealthy party crowd in LA., and especially by Z-man. Dolly Read, who posed nekked in Playboy and later became Mrs. Dick Martin (Rowan & Martin's Laugh-in) plays the band's lead zinger Kelly MacNamara. However Dolly did none of the actual singing on the soundtrack. The vocals you hear and like were all dubbed by session singers Lynn Carey and Barbara Robison.
Thank you again for joining the fun, dear friend BB. Stay safe and healthy and I'll see you tamale at BB's Creations!
Tom,
ReplyDeleteI have not seen the movie but there are a whole lot of beautiful babes in the film. Mewsically speaking these gals better not quite their day jobs. I'm sure they are better actresses than singers. :) This was a fun post as usual and I thank you for the education. My sister was born 8 days before this film premiered and joins the 50s Club. Have a groovy evening, my friend!
Hi, Cathy!
DeleteI'm excited to see you, dear friend! Thank you very much for dropping by on the exact day millions of fans are salivating the 50th anniversary of one of our favorite movies, Beyond the Valley of the Dolls.
Yessum, like Hugh Hefner, director Russ Meyer was always surrounded by beautiful women, and he loaded his movies with babes. In 1970, the same year BVD was released, Russ married one of the stars of the flick Edy Williams who played vixen Ashley St. Ives. Edy will be age 78 three weeks from now - YIKES! No, dear friend. None of the actresses in the film did their own singing. The vocals were dubbed in by female session singers. Personally I like the songs in the movie.
Happy 50th birthday to your sister, born only a week before this iconic 1970 cult film hit theaters!
Thanks again for your visit and comment, dear friend Cathy!
I know Ebert wrote the screenplay for this, but didn't he write the screenplay for another Russ Meyer classic?
ReplyDeleteHi, John!
DeleteIt's great to see you again, good buddy!
Yes, you are correct, sir. Let me paste the Wiki paragraph for the benefit of other readers:
"Ebert co-wrote the screenplay for the Russ Meyer film Beyond the Valley of the Dolls (1970) and sometimes joked about being responsible for the film, which was poorly received on its release yet has become a cult film. Ebert and Meyer also made Up! (1976), Beneath the Valley of the Ultra-Vixens (1979), and other films, and were involved in the ill-fated Sex Pistols movie Who Killed Bambi? (In April 2010, Ebert posted his screenplay of Who Killed Bambi?, aka Anarchy in the UK, on his blog."
Beginning with The Immoral Mr. Teas (1959) I have seen nearly every Russ Meyer movie at least once, some of them a dozen times, and at one time I had most of his titles on VHS tape. I love Russ Meyer's 1960s output but I am not as fond of his 70s work. That includes his collaborations with Ebert on Up! and Beneath the Valley of the Ultra-Vixens.
Thanks again for being here for this special 50th anniversary salute to BVD, good buddy John!
Hi Shady!
ReplyDeleteMy favourite movie! I can't believe it's 50 years old today. Ah, I remember watching this movie with Nan a few times over the summer. Those were the days.
I like to listen to the songs while I work, so first thing tomorrow, I will pop over and give these gems a listen.
Thank you for posting my favourite movie. :)
Hi, Jessica Marie!
DeleteThanks for coming over on the 50th anniversary of this major event in movie making history, dear friend!
WOW, I am pleasantly surprised that BVD is your favorite film and that you watched it with your Nan. I can't help wondering what she thought of all the racy and violent content. My favorite scene is the drug party at Z-man's castle and his interactions with "Jungle Lad" played by Michael Blodgett. Blodgett was married four times and has three daughters. Sadly he had a heart attack and died young in the 2000s at age 68. John LaZar, who played Z-man, just turned 74.
I hope you will return and listen to these musical gems from the BVD soundtrack. Thanks again for coming, dear friend JM!
Hi Shady,
DeleteNan and I loved both Valley of the Dolls and BVD! The racy and violent content didn't bother her that much, she only cared about if it was a good movie with a good story line. She thought both of the movies had magnificent story lines. One thing I loved about Nan. She didn't clutch her pearls over content, but was more concerned about the story, plot, and acting. I guess that's where I got it from! :)
That is my favourite scene too! I think I'm going to have to rent this movie this weekend and watch it again. It's been a while and I would love to refresh my memory.
You had me rockin' this morning Shady! The Carrie Nations had to be my favourites, I loved their sound. :) Happy Thankful Thursday!
Hi, Jessica Marie!
DeleteThanks for coming over bright and early for another visit, dear friend!
It's no wonder Nan was so dear to you and why you miss her so much. She sounds like a cool lady, one who wasn't easily shaken or offended and didn't automatically dismiss films with adult themes and content. I'm glad the two of you watched and enjoyed both of those movies. Although director Russ Meyer insisted that BVD was not a sequel to Valley of the Dolls, the two flicks are coupled on recently released DVD and Blu-ray collections, so you can treat yourself to a double feature - a double dose of Dolls - in one sitting. Many a girl dreams of achieving fame and fortune as a member of a female rock band. The Kelly Affair/Carrie Nations allow you to experience the vicarious thrill of being discovered in Tinseltown. If you listen to their songs "Gentle People" and "In The Long Run" you might wind up getting all verklempt like I do.
Happy TT to you, dear friend JM!
Hi Shady,
DeleteI'll also admit this: I watched very adult things when I was a child too. Of course, Nan explained things to me and told me that movies aren't real life, although they could be based on real life. I remember being aware of a lot of things as a child because no one really hid things from me, they just explained it. My parents did too, to a certain extent. It was easier when I became a teen. Nan and I had movie sessions and TV binge watching every day over the summer. Ah, yeah, I'm feeling verklempt now.
Makes sense, they are very different. Whenever I see Sharon Tate, I always feel sad thinking about what the Manson cult did to her and the four others. :( Anyway, I'll have to check that out because I want to feel that vicarious thrill of being in a rock band. After this week, it's much needed,
Happy Thankful Thursday, dear friend.
Hi, Jessica Marie!
DeleteIt was the same with me, dear friend. When I was young I was never satisfied watching kiddie shows and especially most cartoon shows. Bugs Bunny, The Flintstones and a couple other cartoon series offered more sophisticated adult humor than did cartoons intended solely for children, and therefore I watched and enjoyed them. However I strongly preferred scripted live action series to animation and enjoyed comedies, dramas and mysteries intended for older children and adults. Like you I didn't appreciate it when things were hid from me. I didn't like the fibs parents tell to keep their children content or to protect them. I wanted to know. I wanted the truth. I wanted it straight. Maybe that's why my first job was as a news reporter.
If you watch the song performances in this post you will see an awful lot going on within the frame. The editing in Russ Meyer films boggles the mind. He puts you into sensory overload and it's a rush.
Happy TT to you, dear friend JM!
I agree, Shady. I loved Mr. Rogers, but I think it's because he didn't hide anything and told it as it was, even in a sensitive way. I'm looking at reporter jobs. Hopefully I can pivot to a career.
DeleteI noticed that! Russ Meyers is a genius and I thought the sensory overload was just me. I'm glad it wasn't!
Happy Friday, dear friend!
I have studied Russ Meyer's movie making techniques for the last 50 years. He was an innovator. His quick cut editing style was adopted in the 80s by directors of classic MTV music videos. Russ's opening titles sequences are unique. They get your blood pumping and you get psyched for what is to come. Russ doesn't pull any punches. He delivers the goods. I owned just about all of his films on VHS. Most or all were released on DVD. Some are available to rent on Amazon Prime. The DVD's are expensive to purchase. One that I just looked up on Amazon is listed at $45. A box set of 4 Russ Meyer movies is priced at $60.
DeleteHappy Friday, dear friend JM!
Sorry I'm so late, but I didn't want to rush through this.
ReplyDeleteI saw this movie sometimes in the mid-1980s. By then, Roger Ebert was a very well-known person, and seeing his name in the credits told me this was probably not going to be an ordinary sexploitation movie. But even if his name hadn't been attached, I think it would have taken me all of ten minutes to realize the whole thing was meant to be tongue-in-check. I still laugh out loud at the gun fella-Oh, wait, I was supposed to wait for the 10 sec mark, wasn't I? OK, just forget I said anything. Also, the rhyming-LA pro-and-con dialogue with the quick-paced editing remains witty. Actually, it brings to mind the song "America" from West Side Story, albeit with added glimpses of nu--Oops, I was supposed to wait for the one-minute mark, wasn't I? Speaking of editing, Shady, you're really going to have to edit out this stuff you don't want us to see because, I'm sorry, but I'm really too lazy to count down the seconds myself.
It shouldn't be that much of a surprise that Roger Ebert wrote the screenplay. On his show with Gene Siskel, he occasionally gave thumbs ups to grindhouse fare if he thought there was some hidden satirical intent behind it. And, tongue-in-cheek or not, Russ Meyer certainly looks the part of a skin flick director, doesn't he? Standing right by his side, Ebert comes off like the nerdy intellectual who's sold his soul to the polyester devil.
I can't say much about the acting. It's that rote memorization common in low-budget pictures (despite this one being made by a major Hollywood studio, 20th Century Fox) But then I guess it adds to the overall parody. Beyond is certainly better than the original Valley of the Dolls. Instead of suing (as she did) Jaqueline Susann should have sent Mayer and Ebert thank-you notes.
Hi, Kirk!
DeleteThanks a lot for being here to help me salivate 50 years of BVD, good buddy! I'm happy to know you are familiar with Meyer & Ebert's Beyond the Valley of the Dolls, having seen it in the mid 80s. Shirley by then the satirical flick had attained the status of a cult classic.
Yessir, to get past the censors, I felt the need to give instructions to wait until the --- mark to start watching some of the clips. BVD does indeed boast inspired editing and (pre) MTV style fast-cut montage. In that gun scene you mentioned that unfolds during the opening titles, I love the abrupt edit at the point where Roxanne (Erica Gavin) awakes and starts to scream. The scene immediately jumps to a screaming Kelly Mac in mid song on stage with with her band The Kelly Affair. Erica Gavin was dynamite in the title role in Russ Meyer's Vixen which I have seen at least a half dozen times. That film is a social commentary on racism in America. In the years before I was a blogger, I was moderator of an online BVD discussion group/message board. Around twenty years ago I had the pleasure of corresponding with actress/model Cynthia Myers who played rock chic Casey Anderson, the Kelly Affair/Carrie Nations band member who became the object of lesbian Roxanne's affection in BVD. As you might know, Cynthia was from Toledo, Ohio. She was the December 1968 Playboy Playmate of the Month, and earned the distinction of being the first Playboy Playmate born in the 1950s. Cynthia's stunning "Wholly Toledo!" centerfold was pinned to just about every guy's dorm room wall when I was at Penn State. (I only read Playboy for the articles.) Cynthia was a regular on Hugh Hefner's Playboy After Dark TV program and appeared in another of my favorite movies They Shoot Horses, Don't They?. Sadly Cynthia was only age 61 when she died of lung cancer in 2011. She was a very nice person.
I watched Siskel & Ebert for years. Just when I thought I understood Roger's taste in films and his rating philosophy, he would confuse and confound me with one of his reviews. I agree that BVD is better than Valley of the Dolls, the most important factor for me being that it is a tongue-in-cheek put-on. It doesn't take itself seriously as does Valley. BVD is chock full of quirky characters, with Porter Hall being a fan favorite. Then there was ravishing Phyllis Elizabeth Davis as Aunt Susan (Susan Lake). For years Phyllis was seen in bumper segments of the TV series Love, American Style. She later joined the cast of Vega$. I just saw Charles Napier the other night when Mrs. Shady and I watched The Silence of the Lambs for the dozenth time. Napier (Baxter Wolfe in BVD) was in three other Russ Meyer films - Cherry, Harry & Raquel!, The Seven Minutes and Supervixens. Princess Livingston, one of the party goers at Z-man's mansion, was sensational in Russ Meyer's Mudhoney, a movie I highly recommend.
Thanks again for weighing in on Beyond the Valley of the Dolls, good buddy Kirk. Enjoy the rest of your week!
Hi Shady. Guess I got the dates mixed up...I thought you were posting today, oops! Well, I do get busy!
ReplyDeleteYou know, I did not see "Beyond the Valley of the Dolls", and I believe you spoke of it some years ago as being a fav of yours. I remember seeing previews (now called trailers), and I just wasn't interested in seeing the movie. I guess sometimes we expect stories to pick up where they left off with the same actors, and I know that would have been impossible. It looks like the actors did alright in this one, although I don't recognize any of them.
I think the Carrie Nations were pretty good-I liked "Come With The Gentle People" and "Look On up At The Bottom". The video with "Sweet Talkin Candyman" had some pretty strange looking characters in it.
It's hard to believe that this was 50 years ago, only 3 years behind "Valley of the Dolls" original.
On the upside, Kudos to "Strawberry Alarm Clock"! I loved seeing this one with their #1 hit. "Incense and Pepermints" is a great song with all good musical qualities, instrumental and vocals. Thank you for the fun 'take me back'.
Even though I may not be interested in watching "Beyond", I enjoyed this post, full of great visuals and videos! I have to say "Come With the Gentle People" is my favorite. I like the movie poster, and the black and white photos of the group. Fantastic job, Shady!
Take care and have a great weekend, Shady! ♫
Hi, Suzanne!
DeleteThanks for joining the party, dear friend! I'm happy to see you this week as I mark the 50th anniversary of BVD - the movie, not the boxer shorts. :)
As I told Kirk above, I've been "all in" on Beyond the Valley ever since I took my girlfriend, soon to become Mrs. Shady #1, to see it upon its release in the summer of 1970. Over the decades my interest in the cult classic never diminished, and I wound up as moderator of an online forum that focused on BVD and also allowed discussions of other Russ Meyer films. The group was filled with enthusiastic fans of Meyer, his films and BVD in particular. The movie is a put-on, and therefore the acting is not supposed to be "good." In other words, to measure BVD by the standards applied to ordinary films doesn't work because it is in a class of its own. It is filled with quirky characters like the corrupt, lecherous Porter Hall who is drawn to Kelly and has an intimate encounter with her. Z-man steals the show and the last few minutes of the movie are otherworldly.
As I told Kirk, it was a huge thrill 20 or so years ago when I got to know one of the lead actresses, Cynthia Myers, through email exchanges that lasted about a year. She told me a lot about the making of the movie. She was sweet and humble, always playing down her acting ability and her importance to the movie and telling me how insecure she was on the set, etc. She was very appreciative of her fans and generous in making time to chat with them and sign autographs. I took it hard when Cynthia died young at the age of 61.
Yessum, "Gentle People" is the kind of song The Mamas & The Papas, The Partridge Family or The Cowsills might have sung, especially while riding in their hippie minivan. I'm glad you enjoyed hearing the big hit by The Strawberry Alarm Clock. The band was never able to repeat their success. Their follow-up single, "Tomorrow," made the top 15 on Cash Box but fell short of the top 20 on Billboard. Their next release, "Sit With The Guru," missed the top 50 as did "Barefoot In Baltimore." However "Baltimore" was a hit in my neck of the woods because of our proximity to that city 50 miles to our south.
I'm glad you enjoyed the post even though the specific elements are not your thing. Thank you again for dropping in and enjoy the rest of your week, dear friend Suzanne!
Much loved this post, friend Shady … am surprised how much I remember … smiles … Love, cat.
ReplyDeleteHi, cat!
DeleteThanks for coming down from Alberta, dear friend! I'm very happy to see you!
I'm delighted that you loved this 50th anniversary salute to Russ Meyer's cult classic BVD. I'm glad it brought back memories. Did you notice the people packed onto the dance floor at Z-man's were not wearing COVID masks? Those were the days, my friend!
Thanks again for joining the party, dear friend cat, and please give TT some catnip for me. Have a safe and happy weekend!
smiles and purrs. c.
Delete:) :) :)
DeleteLUBBINS, cat!
I think I get the "I'm really late to the party" award! I never saw this movie or it's prequel. The music isn't my fav but I liked the outfits! I'm not sure why I didn't see this movie since I worked at a movie theater when I was a teen. Back then it would matter how it was rated. Midnight Cowboy was X-rated believe it or not! So I hope all's well with you and your family and I'm sorry I'm checking in so late! It's been a bit hectic here and lots of decisions to be made in the coming weeks concerning my work life. News later I guess! Have a good weekend!
ReplyDeleteHi, YaYa!
DeleteI'm delighted to see you, dear friend! Thank you very much for being here for this special anniversary post as we turn back the clock 50 years and experience "Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood" - Beyond the Valley of the Dolls.
On the movie's poster and at the end of the trailer to which I linked below, the tagline states "This is not a sequel." That being the case, the film adaptation of Jacqueline Susann's Valley of the Dolls should not be considered a prequel, although the two films have been released together on DVD sets in recent years. Here's the trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ma0Kadi5RvU
Yessum, if you watch this movie you will see the colorful, sometimes outrageous clothing styles of the late 60s. You will also get a dose of sex, drugs and rock & roll as you follow the soap opera dramas that play out in the lives of shallow, hedonistic, sinning Hollywood swingers.
Realizing how hectic and upsetting your life is at the moment, I am all the more grateful that you made time for a visit. Thank you very much for your comment, YaYa. I hope you find something to smile about this weekend, dear friend.