Russ Meyer's - Beyond the Valley of the Dolls

(aka ' Hollywood Vixens')

Directed by Russ Meyer
USA 1970

This film is a sequel in name only to Valley of the Dolls (1967). An all-girl rock band goes to Hollywood to make it big. There they find success, but luckily for us, they sink into a cesspool of decadence. This film has a sleeping woman performing on a gun which is in her mouth. It has women posing as men. It has lesbian sex scenes. It is also written by Roger Ebert, who had become friends with Russ Meyer after writing favorable reviews of several of his films.

****

Given that this film is directed by Russ Meyer, you should know more or less what to expect A sequel of sorts to Fox's surprising earlier hit, it follows much the same lines: Three busty pop singers looking for stardom come to Hollywood with a transsexual manager in tow. All the typical stereotypes are there and Meyer adds his usual flamboyant touches. Although he has been criticized for demeaning and exploiting women, there can be no doubt that it is the females that are in charge here with the male characters washed out and pathetic by comparison.

The script was written by one half of the most famous pair of film critics in America, Roger Ebert. This is perhaps akin to Barry Norman having penned the script to a Carry On film in his early career. Of course the script is more or less forgotten as Meyer assaults us with gaudy, rowdy visuals.

Excerpt by Neil Chue Hong review taken from EUFS Programme 1997-98 located HERE

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Theatrical Release: June 17th, 1970

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DVD Review: 20th Century Fox (2-disc) - Region 1 - NTSC

DVD Box Cover		CLICK to order from:
Distribution	20th Century Fox Home Video - Region 1 - NTSC
Runtime	1:48:56
Video	2.35:1 Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 7.81 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate:
Audio	English (Dolby Digital 2.0), English (Mono) , DUBs: French (Mono)
Subtitles	English, Spanish, French, None
Features	Release Information: Studio: 20th Century Fox Home Video Aspect Ratio: Original Aspect Ratio 2.35:1 Edition Details: • Commentary by screenwriter and film critic Roger Ebert • Commentary by cast members Dolly Read, Cynthia Myers, Harrison Page, John La Zar and Erica Gavin "• Above, Beneath and Beyond the Valley: The Making of a Musical-Horror-Sex-Comedy" documentary • "Look on up at the Bottom: The Music of Dolls" featurette • "The Best of Beyond" featurette • "Sex, Drugs, Music and Murder: Signs of the Times, Baby!" featurette • "Casey and Roxanne: The Love Scene" featurette • Actor screen tests • 6 photo galleries DVD Release Date: June 13th, 2006 Double Slim Light Blue Keep Case inside cardboard slipcase Chapters: 20

Comments:

I suppose I'll get heck for the screen captures with nudity but I think it is generally indicative of the film. It would have been harder to find 7 random captures that did NOT have nudity.

Exceptionally strong transfer from Fox on this cult classic from 1970. Detail is excellent, colors are fairly vivid, black levels and contrast are pristine. Audio is clear and the subtitles well appointed. There are two commentaries - one highly notable by Roger Ebert (the screenwriter) and a separate on by cast members. Ebert's is excellent giving all the desired details of production and his reverence for Meyer himself. I only listened to about 1/3 of the second commentary and it was a bit sporadic and less formal. Some people may find it quite direct but I'd be lying if I said it held my attention. More honesty - I did not wade through all these extensive extra features on disc 2. John La Zar talks about Meyer's style as a director and in Look On Up At The Bottom: The Music Of The Dolls, Roger Ebert talks further about production foibles and misrepresentations from the original ideal. All that I watched was quite well made - there appeared to be no filler here. The supplements are well thought out and contain extensive information on the film and especially Meyer. Fans will undoubtedly be quite sated.

The film experience, is akin to other Meyer films in which he compels you to be infected by his curious brand of visuals including gratuitous female beauty. It is not great cinema, nor even good, but I think it has its place for curious and nostalgic viewing. Certainly the DVD is absolute perfection and for the price - possibly the deal of the year - shame it wasn't for a better received film.

Gary W. Tooze

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