In Russ Meyer's BEYOND THE VALLEY OF THE DOLLS, all-girl rock band the Kelly Affair moves to Los Angeles in pursuit of fame and fortune. Upon meeting wealthy rock scenester Ronnie "Z-Man" Barzell (John Lazar) at one of his lavish parties, they believe they've met the man who can bring them fame. Changing their name to the Carrie Nations, they navigate their way through a maze of sexual misadventures, drugs, and brushes with some very unpleasant characters only to find that fame comes at a price. Livening up the considerably frantic proceedings are Meyer starlets Edy Williams and Erica Gavin (VIXEN), as well as an appearance by the Strawberry Alarm Clock.
Finally invited to work within a major studio (20th Century Fox) following the enormous success of 1968's VIXEN, Meyer, along with screenwriter Roger Ebert, created the ultimate sex, drugs, and rock & roll film of the psychedelic era. An altogether odd mixture of comedy, drama, and left-field shocks punctuated with memorably wacky lines, BEYOND THE VALLEY OF THE DOLLS lets Meyer's reliably decadent formula mingle agreeably with the psychedelia of the time.
BEYOND THE VALLEY OF THE DOLLS is a riotous camp tale about three buxom young women, all aspiring pop singers, who move to Hollywood with hopes of making it big.
BEYOND THE VALLEY OF THE DOLLS was scripted by film critic Roger Ebert.
Meyer and Ebert were hired by Fox to do an actual sequel to THE VALLEY OF THE DOLLS, but were forced to ad a disclaimer, making it clear that the finished film had no connection to Jacqueline Susann's book, after Susann saw the finished product.
Z-Man's (John Lazar) exclamation "This is my happening...and it freaks me out!" is borrowed verbatim in AUSTIN POWERS: INTERNATIONAL MAN OF MYSTERY.
Another memorable Z-Man phrase "You will drink the black sperm of my vengeance!" is later quoted again in Meyer's BENEATH THE VALLEY OF THE ULTRAVIXENS.
Meyer regular Haji makes a cameo appearance in the film.
The film was rated X upon its original release, but was reclassified as NC-17 when it finally appeared on video in the 1990s.
Excerpt: "Come on over to my pad! I've got a wading pool full of mayonnaise!"--Porn star Ashley St. Ives (Edy Williams) to dance partner
"This is my happening...and it freaks me out!"--Z-Man (John Lazar) at his big party
"They thrive on the humidity...and they never let me forget that all Los Angeles is a jungle."--Z-Man explaining the ferns in his mansion
"You're a groovy boy! I'd like to strap you on sometime!"--Ashley to Harris (David Gurian) at Z-Man's party
"You will drink the black sperm of my vengeance!"- Z-Man to Lance (Michael Blodgett) after Lance spurns his advances
DVD Features:
2-Disc Set
Special Edition
Full Frame - 1.33
Widescreen - 1.85
Audio:
(unspecified) - English
Disc 1: BEYOND THE VALLEY OF THE DOLLS - Feature Presentation
Additional Release Material:
Audio Commentary:
1. Roger Ebert - Screenwriter
2. Cast
Disc 2: BEYOND THE VALLEY OF THE DOLLS - Supplemental Material
Additional Release Material:
Documentary: "Sex, Drugs, Music & Murder - Signs of the Time, Baby"
Bonus Footage: Event Footage
Behind the Scenes: Screen Tests (5)
Featurette:
1. "Above, Beneath and Beyond the Valley"
2. "Look on Up at the Bottom"
3. "The Best of Beyond: Psychedelic Scrapbook"
Trailers:
1. Theatrical Trailers (3)
2. Teaser Trailer
3. Archival Promotional piece
Music Performer(s)
Strawberry Alarm Clock: Rock band
Review 1:
3 stars out of 5 -- "[I]t foretells the last days of hippy naivety..."
Source: Total Film
p.121 05/01/2007
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