Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.0

Beyond the Valley of the Dolls Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov February 26, 2016

Russ Meyer's "Beyond the Valley of the Dolls" (1970) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of British distributors Arrow Video. The supplemental features on the disc include original promotional materials; audio commentary with cast and crew members; audio commentary with critic Roger Ebert; various featurettes with clips from archival interviews; and more. The release also arrives with a 42-page illustrated booklet featuring new writings on the film and technical credits. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-B "locked".

Ladies and gentlemen, The Carrie Nations singing, for the first time, 'Find, It.'

If there is one thing that can be said about Russ Meyer’s Beyond the Valley of the Dolls that after all these years still holds true it is that it remains an incredibly polarizing film. Today its critics are probably a smaller group than its admirers, but their passion to dismiss it as pure trash has not weakened. This is hardly surprising. When these types of films emerge and then hordes of critics and knowledgeable fans clash and fire flares at each other, their valid points tend to get lost in the smoke because the debate quickly becomes personal. (Anyone assuming that times have changed should take a look at the various reviews Gaspar Noe’s Irreversible and more recently Lars von Trier’s Antichrist have generated since their premieres and the type of extreme reactions they have inspired even from industry professionals).

Now that Beyond the Valley of the Dolls has received yet another home video release and an entirely new generation of viewers are likely to discover it, it is a good idea to mention a few of these points. They are not meant to question its reputation -- the good or the bad -- but hopefully they will move expectations closer to the middle. When viewed from there, it is a lot easier to understand where the film succeeds and where it fails.

The first thing that should be made clear is that Beyond the Valley of the Dolls is very much a product of its time and that its goal is very similar to that of Robert Altman’s Nashville. Indeed, these films are a lot more interested in the reality in which their characters exist rather than the series of events that they are a part of. They do tell unique stories, but they are not stories that were meant to make them attractive.

In Beyond the Valley of the Dolls, however, a very large part of the reality is manufactured. The LA scenery is authentic, but the atmosphere and especially the various attitudes and behaviors on display are artificial. This is arguably the film’s biggest weakness. The people that exist in this reality are essentially transformed into kinky puppets whose one and only function is to target and humiliate each other. They are rock musicians, businessmen, actors and athletes, but they are all created equal.

Since none of the relationships between these puppets matter much, the film basically collapses under its own weight. It is true that for a while the chaos and kitsch are quite entertaining, but then Meyer runs out of tricks. After that it does not matter much what the actors say or do in front of the camera as it is essentially more of the same -- the eyes know it and the mind no longer cares.

Ultimately, the film divides people for similar reasons. The people that defend it do it because they like the fact that it delivers excess in huge doses. This is good enough for them. They embrace its manufactured reality and reject the conventional logic that questions its existence. The people that dismiss the film do it because they can’t rationalize the excess. They want a structure and a message that justifies its presence and since the film does not have them they can’t warm up to it.

The great film critic Roger Ebert wrote the script. The film earned an X rating, but anyone expecting hardcore sex or similar extra sleazy footage will be hugely disappointed.

Beyond the Valley of the Dolls Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 2.37:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Russ Meyer's Beyond the Valley of the Dolls arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Arrow Video.

Well-lit close-ups typically look quite good. During the wider panoramic shots fluidity is also good, though there are a few segments with small density fluctuations. The indoor footage looks pleasing, but shadow definition should be better. There are no traces of recent problematic degraining corrections. There are no traces of compromising sharpening adjustments either. Colors are stable, never appearing artificially boosted, but saturation should be better. Even when there is plenty of light the reds, blues, yellows and browns appear a tad too subdued, not as vibrant and lush as they should to be. Overall image stability is excellent. Finally, there are no large cuts, debris, damage marks, or stains to report in our review. (Note: This is a Region-B "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-B or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

Beyond the Valley of the Dolls Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English LPCM 1.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature. When turned on, they appear inside the image frame.

The lossless track is very good. The music is well balanced and separation never suffers. Even during the mass scenes the various sounds and noises never become muddled. The dialog is always stable and easy to follow. There are no pops, cracks, or distortions, but if the audio is fully remastered the high-frequencies will be even better balanced.

Beyond the Valley of the Dolls Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Blu-ray

• Introduction by John LaZar - this archival introduction by John LaZar (Z-Man) was recorded in 2006 when Twentieth Century Fox released Beyond the Valley of the Dolls on DVD as part of its Cinema Classics Collection. In English, not subtitled. (2 min).

• Trailers - original trailers for Beyond the Valley of the Dolls. In English, not subtitled. (5 min).

• Stills Galleries -
  
  1. Behind the Scenes
  2. Cast Portraits
  3. Film Stills
  4. Marketing Materials

• Screen Tests - presented here are two screen tests performed by two different couples. In English, not subtitled. (8 min).
  
  1. Michael Blodgett and Cynthia Myers
  2. Harrison Page and Marcia McBroom

• Casey & Roxanne: The Love Scene - in this short video piece, Cynthia Myers (Casey) and Erica Gavin (Roxanne) recall the shooting of their notorious lovemaking scene. Both actresses describe the scene as a "special moment" that surprised even director Russ Meyer. In English, not subtitled. (5 min).

• Sex, Drugs, Music & Murder - this featurette takes a closer look at the socio-cultural environment at the time when Beyond the Valley of the Dolls was made. Included in it are clips from archival video interviews with Paul Marshall (guitar/vocals, The Strawberry Alarm Clock), Lynn Carey (singer and voice of The Carrie Nations), Harrison Page (Emerson Thorne), Erica Gavin (Roxanne), and Dolly Read Martin (Kelly McNamara), amongst others. In English, not subtitled. (8 min).

• The Best of Beyond - this archival featurette focuses on the cult status of Beyond the Valley of the Dolls (with many great observations about the classic lines heard throughout the film, the best breasts, the best kiss, etc.). Included in it are clips from interviews with Chuck Kelly (music consultant, Pulp Fiction), Harrison Page, Cynthia Myers, John LaZar, Michael Musto (critic, The Village Voice), Dolly Reed Martin, and Erica Gavin, amongst others. In English, not subtitled. (13 min).

• Look On Up at the Bottom - this archival featurette takes a closer look at the music of Beyond the Valley of the Dolls. Included in it at clips from interviews with critic Roger Ebert, composer Stu Phillips, Marcia McBroom, Cynthia Myers, and Jeff McDonald (vocals/guitar, Redd Kross), amongst others. In English, not subtitled. (11 min).

• Above, Beneath and Beyond the Valley - the archival featurette, examines the vision and cinematic style of director Russ Meyer, as well as the controversial qualities of Beyond the Valley of the Dolls that made the film a cult classic. Included in it are clips from interviews with critic Roger Ebert, Stan Berkowitz (Russ Meyer production assistant), Manny Diez (assistant to Russ Meyer), Jimmy McDonough (Russ Meyer biographer), editor Dann Cahn, John LaZar, David Ansen (critic, Newsweek), and writer Nathan Rabin, amongst others. In English, not subtitled. (31 min).

• Audio Commentary One - in this archival audio commentary, the late critic Roger Ebert discusses in great detail his collaboration with Russ Meyer on Beyond the Valley of the Dolls, the director's career and legacy, the X rating of the film and its reception, the unfinished Sex Pistols project Who Killed Bambi?, the casting process, etc.

• Audio Commentary Two - in this archival audio commentary, cast members Dolly Read, Cynthia Myers, Harrison Page, John LaZar, and Erica Gavin discuss their contribution to Beyond the Valley of the Dolls.

• Booklet - 42-page illustrated booklet featuring writings on the film and technical credits.

• Sleeve - reversible sleeve with original artwork.

DVD

• The Seven Minutes (1971) - presented here is Russ Meyer's film The Seven Minutes, starring Wayne Maunder, Marianne McAndrew, Philip Carey, Jay C. Flippen, Edy Williams, Lyle Bettger, John Carradine, Tom Selleck, and John Sarno. In English, with optional English subtitles. (116 min).

• Trailer - original trailer for The Seven Minutes. In English, not subtitled. (3 min).

• The Sinister Image - presented here is an archival interview with director Russ Meyer and actress Yvette Vickers (Attack of the 50 Ft. Woman, I, Mobster). The interview was conducted by David Del Valle in 1987. In English, not subtitled. (29 min).

Beyond the Valley of the Dolls Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Russ Meyer's Beyond the Valley of the Dolls is quite possibly the ultimate bad film. However, it is also one of the most fascinating time capsules to emerge from the American film industry. It is true that it is not an easy film to tolerate as the chaos and kitsch on display in it can be quite overwhelming, but its sheer energy and desire to scandalize are impossible not to admire. The film looks quite good in high-definition and the Blu-ray release contains the many excellent supplemental features which Twentieth Century Fox produced for the DVD release of the film in the United States. Also included on a separate DVD is Russ Meyer's film The Seven Minutes. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.