BEYOND THE VALLEY OF THE DOLLS Criterion Blu-ray Review

8

Film Pulse Score

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Release Date: September 27, 2016
Director: Russ Meyer
MPAA Rating: NC-17
Runtime: 109 Minutes
Purchase: Amazon

This product was provided for free for the purpose of this review.

Back in 2014 I wrote about the Russ Meyer-directed, Roger Ebert-written film Beyond The Valley of the Dolls for our Grindhouse Weekly feature. Now, the Criterion Collection has released a new, high-definition edition of the film on Blu-ray and packed it with features that together create the ultimate version of this bizarre musical/comedy/horror/sex romp.

Back in the late ’60s, the major studios were looking to regain their footing with younger audiences who were flocking to drive-ins and midnight screenings in droves to see cheap horror and sex movies, which were surging thanks in no small part to filmmakers like Roger Corman and Russ Meyer.

In an attempt to carve out its own piece of this market, 20th Century Fox approached Meyer with the proposition of making a sequel to 1967’s hit Valley of The Dolls. Meyer teamed up with Roger Ebert, who had been working as a critic for only two years at that point, to create Beyond The Valley of The Dolls, which they decided would not be a sequel, but rather their own twisted interpretation of the original…something of a parody version.

Though the film was a critical disaster, it did make money at the box office and over the years  was re-evaluated, eventually achieving cult-classic status. It’s currently sitting with a 70 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, and after seeing it several times, I would theorize this is the type of movie that was a bit too ahead of its time.

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It borrows the broader themes from the original, in that the film revolves around three young women trying to make it in show business but eventually get caught up in the darker side of Hollywood. Beyond however wears its campiness on its sleeve, joyously throwing curveballs at viewers left and right. It moves at a non-stop, breakneck pace complemented by Meyer’s ridiculous editing technique so you never really know how you’re supposed to feel about what’s transpiring on the screen. It’s over the top and ridiculous, and I never have a bad time watching Beyond The Valley of The Dolls.

With that being said, I’m excited that the film finally got the Criterion treatment, with a Blu-ray edition that’s loaded with bonus content. The first commentary track used is from the 2003 edition with Roger Ebert, a must-listen even for those like myself who aren’t really into commentary tracks. The second is from 2006 and features much of the cast, including Dolly Read, Cynthia Myers, Harrison Page, John LaZar, and Erica Gavin. There are also five documentaries included about the film, screen tests, trailers and full-color booklet featuring an essay by critic Glenn Kenny. This is a jampacked release.

At this point I know I sound like a broke record when it comes to recommending these Criterion Blu-rays, but picking this one up is a no-brainer. The great cover art and the bountiful amount of supplements make this one piece of cinematic schlock you can proudly display in your collection.

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