Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.5

Valley of the Dolls Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov September 19, 2016

Mark Robson's "Valley of the Dolls" (1967) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion. The supplemental features on the disc include an original trailers for the film; new featurettes with writer Amy Fine Collins; new video essay by critic Kim Morgan; archival interviews with cast and crew members; various promotional documentary films; and a lot more. The release also arrives with a 30-page illustrated booklet featuring critic Glenn Kenny's essay "This Merry-G-Round" and technical credits. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".

The new girl

For some years now the mainstream consensus has been that Mark Robson’s film Valley of the Dolls does not quite match the brilliance of the novel by Jacqueline Susann that inspired it. This is probably true, but if one takes the time to carefully research the major arguments against the film one will quickly discover that they tend to focus on its 'kitschy' appearance rather than on the specific social and cultural issues it highlights. It is strange, to say the least, because the film’s (and the novel’s) dissection of the show business world is actually pretty damn accurate.

The film follows closely three young and very beautiful women with big dreams who struggle in a world dominated by powerful men. Anne Welles (Barbara Parkins, Shout at the Devil) leaves her small New England home and arrives in New York City convinced that if she works hard eventually someone will recognize her potential and she will become a star. She quickly lands a job in a law firm and begins a relationship with the handsome booking agent Lyon Burke (Paul Burke, The Thomas Crown Affair), who seems like the type of guy a single girl would love to introduce to her parents. Soon after, however, Lyon decides to focus on his book and leaves the country, and Anne begins dating the wealthy fashion designer Kevin Gillmore (Charles Drake, The Glenn Miller Story). For a while Anne believes that she is on the right path to success, but after a series of disappointing experiences in the unforgiving world of show business she decides to pack up her bags and go back to New England.

Jennifer North (Sharon Tate, The Wrecking Crew) knows that she is at the right place and amongst the right people. But she also realizes that her one and only ‘special talent’ is her beautiful body. She marries the handsome club singer Tony Polar (Tony Scotti), but when he falls seriously ill and his doctor confirms that he will likely have to spend the rest of his life in a sanatorium she decides to make a bold career move -- she signs a contract with a sleazy producer and moves to France to shoot erotic art films. The money is good, but after a few big hits Jennifer decides that she has had enough of the ‘art’ and returns to America. Not too long after that, she discovers that her acting career is coming to an end because she is also seriously ill.

Neely O'Hara is the most successful of the three women -- at least initially. She is so talented that aging star Helen Lawson (Susan Hayward) sees her as a serious threat and makes sure that she is nowhere near her on Broadway. But the ambitious Neely meets different men who open the right doors for her and eventually climbs to the top. On the way up she also becomes addicted to pills, and as time goes by alienates even her biggest supporters. After that it is only a matter of the time before she collapses and the system spits her out.

There is a good portion of Valley of the Dolls that borrows some of the special ambience that is present in many of Douglas Sirk’s classic melodramas. Its characters are placed in this strikingly colorful, borderline idyllic reality in which it appears that people have figured out how to tolerate each other and are given a fair chance to live happy lives on their own terms.

As soon as the three girls begin pursuing their goals, however, the film very quickly veers off in a different direction and becomes uncharacteristically cynical. The system they wish to conquer is then promptly stripped of its protective cover and placed under the microscope so that one can clearly see all of its biases and flaws.

Whether one accepts the dirt that comes out as authentic will basically determine whether one sees the film as a minor masterpiece or a kitschy soap opera. The rampant sex, drug use, alcoholism, and the hypocrisy promoted by the Hollywood and Broadway elites are the key pieces of the narrative. What happens to each of the three girls is largely irrelevant, as they are essentially reduced to beautiful disposables with limited appeal.

Valley of the Dolls Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 2.40:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Mark Robson's Valley of the Dolls arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion.

The following text appears inside the booklet provided with this Blu-ray release:

"This new digital transfer was created in 2K resolution from a new 35mm interpositive made from the 35mm original camera negative at Illuminate at, Los Angeles. The original 3.0 surround soundtrack was remastered from the 35mm six-track magnetic print master that accompanied the 70mm release. Additional restoration was performed by the Criterion Collection using Pro Tools HF and iZotope RX."

In terms of density and depth the Blu-ray release is vastly superior to the old R1 DVD release from Twentieth Century Fox. Not only the outdoor panoramic shots, but also the indoor footage looks dramatically stronger. During close-ups it also becomes painfully obvious that there are various nuances that are quite simply lost on the DVD release. Contrast and brightness levels are balanced well. The color scheme favors a slightly colder but in my opinion more accurate primaries. However, as it was the case with the presentation of Beyond the Valley of the Dolls, my feeling is that saturation should be much better. (Beyond the Valley of the Dolls should have a much better pronounced lush and vibrant primaries). Grain is nicely exposed and resolved. There are no traces of problematic sharpening corrections. Image stability is excellent. Lastly, there are no distracting damage marks, debris, cuts, stains, warps, or torn frames to report).

Valley of the Dolls Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 3.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature. When turned on, they appear inside the image frame.

The quality of the lossless track is outstanding. The music sounds wonderfully rounded and rich, never creating any anomalies in terms of dynamic progression/balance. The dialog is always stable, clean, crisp, and very easy to follow. There are no signs of age-related anomalies either.

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

• Trailers and TV Spots - a collection of original trailers and TV spots. In English, not subtitled. (5 min, 1080i).

• Hollywood Backstories: Valley of the Dolls - this archival featurette takes a closer look at Jacqueline Susann's controversial best-selling novel and the film it inspired. Included in it are clips from archival interviews with Michael Musto (columnist, The Village Voice), Jacqueline Susann, actors Michele Lee, Parry Duke, Judy Garland, and others, as well as archival screens tests, clips and stills, etc. In English, not subtitled. (26 min, 1080i).

• Radio Spots - presented here are three original spots featuring interviews with Patty Duke, Barbara Perkins, Martin Milner, Paul Burke, Susan Hayward, composer Andre Previn, and producer David Weisbart. In English, not subtitled. (20 min, 1080p).

• Interviews -
  
  1. Once Was Never Enough - in this brand new featurette, writer Amy Fine Collins discusses Jacqueline Susann's unprecedented professional success and personal life as well as her best-selling novel and some of the main differences between the novel and the film. The featurette was produced exclusively for Criterion in 2016. In English, not subtitled. (22 min, 1080p).
  
  2. Travilla: Perfectly Poised - in this new video piece Amy Fine Collins discusses the various gowns and dresses costume designer Travilla created for Valley of the Dolls. In English, not subtitled. (8 min, 1080p).

• Archival Programs -
  
  1. A World Premiere Voyage - this promotional film, hosted by Bill Burrid and Army Archerd, was completed in 1967 and features archival interviews with members of the Valley of the Dolls cats in which they discuss their contribution to the film. The bulk of the footage was shot during the maiden voyage of the SS Princes Italia as it traveled from Venice, Italy to California. In English, not subtitled. (49 min, 1080i).
  
  2. Jacqueline Susann and Valley of the Dolls - this archival documentary, produced by Alan Foshko, was completed in 1967 and takes a closer look at Jacqueline Susann's career, the success of her best-selling novel, and the film it inspired. Included in it are various clips from archival interviews with Jacqueline Susann, Judy Garland, director Mark Robson, and writer Rona Jaffe, amongst others. In English, not subtitled. (51 min, 1080i).
  
  3. Sparkle Patty Sparkle! - presented here is footage from a 2009 gala screening of Valley of the Dolls presented by Marc Huestis at the Castro Theatre in San Francisco, as well as footage from a Q&A session with actor Patty Duke and writer Bruce Vilanch which was held after the screening. In English, not subtitled. (17 min, 1080i).

• Screen Tests - presented here are archival screen tests that feature readings by actors Patty Duke, Tony Scotti, Sharon Tate, and Barbara Perkins. In English, not subtitled. (29 min, 1080i).

• Doll Parts - presented here is a brand new visual essay by film critic Kim Morgan. The essay was created exclusively for Criterion in 2016. In English, not subtitled. (18 min, 1080p).

• Commentary - this audio commentary featuring actors Barbara Parkins and journalist Ted Casablanca was recorded for Twentieth Century Fox in 2006. It was included on the DVD release of the film.

• Booklet - 30-page illustrated booklet featuring Glenn Kenny's essay "This Merry-G-Round" and technical credits.

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

Mark Robson's film Valley of the Dolls and the novel by Jacqueline Susann that inspired it have been incredibly polarizing during the years. It seems like people either passionately hated or loved them, and for a number of different reasons. I think that the more time passes by, the clearer it becomes that the film's dissection of the show business world was actually remarkably accurate. Today the cynicism on display in it almost certainly won't bother viewers, but that's because social media has basically made them immune to the type of hypocrisy that is responsible for it. Criterion's technical presentation of the film is very good, so definitely consider adding the Blu-ray to your collection. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.