What was valley of the dolls about

Roger Ebert was the film critic of the Chicago Sun-Times from until his death in In , he won the Pulitzer Prize for distinguished criticism. Paul Burke as Lyon Burke. Barbara Parkins as Anne Welles. Susan Hayward as Helen Lawson. Sharon Tate as Jennifer North. Tony Scotti as Tony Polar. Martin Milner as Mel Anderson.

Patty Duke as Neely O'Hara. Reviews Valley of the Dolls. Roger Ebert December 27, Now streaming on:. Powered by JustWatch. Now playing. All is Forgiven Sheila O'Malley. Neely leaves her husband for her costume designer. Jennifer, bored in California while her husband advances his career, starts to take drugs to pass the time and help her sleep. She learns that her husband is retarded from a condition he will pass on to any children, and aborts the child she is carrying.

Anne inherits her mother's house and Lyon wants to move there to write, but Anne hates Lawrenceville so much that she will not consider it. He goes to England to write a book about the war. Anne leaves her job at Bellamy and Bellows to be the exclusive representative of Gillian Cosmetics. She is the "Gillian Girl", and the position makes her rich. She ends up in a passionless affair with the much older Kevin Gillmore, the owner of Gillian Cosmetics.

Jennifer takes up with a French director and goes to Europe to act in adult-themed movies that show her nude. Still unable to act but fluent in French, she becomes famous for her beautiful body. Pressured by the demands of fame, Neely turns to drugs and alcohol to help her stay thin, sleep, and cope with stress. She sleeps through her twin sons' first birthday party and ruins her second marriage, too. She is dropped by her studio because she delays production so much that her films are not profitable even though they are popular.

She attempts suicide as a way to manipulate the studio into keeping her at star status, but finishes her contract without making any more movies.

Jennifer falls in love with a senator and looks forward to starting a family. A gynecological checkup reveals that she has breast cancer; she is advised to have a mastectomy and a hysterectomy. He tells her that he considers her breasts his babies. She commits suicide rather than be disfigured. Neely comes for the funeral and stays with Anne. She loses the ability to sing for psychological reasons. In a moment of self-pity she attempts suicide again. This time, Anne has her committed to a psychiatric institution, where Neely will stay for several years.

They decide to spend as much time together as possible, despite the fact that Anne is engaged to Kevin. Anne makes no attempt to hide her renewed interest in Lyon. Kevin finally breaks it off with her. With her friend Henry Bellamy's help and without Lyon's knowledge , Anne manages to secure some longer-term writing projects for Lyon that keep him in New York City. Anne secretly gives Henry enough money for him to loan to Lyon under the pretense that it is his money so Lyon can afford to buy Henry's share in the business.

Lyon gives up writing to resume his position at the renamed Bellamy, Bellows, and Burke, assuming that Henry is helping him so the firm will not be bought by a rival.

Anne and Lyon marry and have a baby girl. She demands more and more of Lyon's time, so Anne and the baby spend much of their time alone. A newspaper item alerts Anne that Lyon and Neely are having an affair. Email Address. Real Quick. We want to hear what you have to say but need to verify your email. Please click the link below to receive your verification email. Cancel Resend Email. You might also like. Rate And Review Submit review Want to see. Super Reviewer. Rate this movie Oof, that was Rotten.

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How did you buy your ticket? View All Photos Movie Info. The women experience success and failure in love and work, leading to heartbreak, addiction and tragedy. Mark Robson. David Weisbart. Helen Deutsch , Jacqueline Susann. Jun 13, Barbara Parkins Anne Welles. Patty Duke Neely O'Hara. Sharon Tate Jennifer North. Paul Burke Lyon Burke. Tony Scotti Tony Polar. Martin Milner Mel Anderson. Charles Drake Kevin Gillmore.

Alexander Davion Ted Casablanca. Lee Grant Miriam Polar. Naomi Stevens Miss Steinberg. Robert H. Harris Henry Bellamy. Jacqueline Susann First Reporter at Jennifer's suicide.

Robert Viharo Film director. Susan Hayward Helen Lawson. Mikel Angel Man in hotel room uncredited. Barry Cahill Man in bar uncredited. Richard Angarola Claude Chardot uncredited.