Beyond the Valley of the Dolls Review- By Michael Carlisle

 Title: Beyond the Valley of the Dolls
Year: 1970
Director: Russ Meyer
Country: US
Language: English

Roger Ebert (June 18, 1942- April 4, 2013) was a renowned film critic for the Chicago Sun Times from 1967 until his death at the age of 70. He was the first film critic to win the Pulitzer prize, and with the help of Gene Siskel launched a television program called At The Movies in which he popularized his trademark phrase "Two Thumbs Up". These would not be the only accomplishments in his career, in 1970 Ebert would write the screenplay for the now cult classic sexploitation film Beyond the Valley of the Dolls.

In this Russ Meyer/Roger Ebert collaboration three beautiful girls come to Hollywood to make it big, but find only sex, drugs and sleaze.

If you are a man you may find this film arousing, if you are a woman you may find this inspiring, if you are a devout Christian then you will find it appalling. Beyond the Valley of the Dolls has been labelled by some critics as "tasteless shock" and others as "self conscious camp", it certainly is a polarizing picture that puts people on edge and gives them a lot to talk about. It is a film of its time; made during the New American Wave, when pictures were a lot more loose, it is also a product of the psychedelic hippie movement that spread across America during the late 60's and early 70's.

Though the picture may be seen as an excess of misogyny and male fantasy, the women are quite powerful and not to be trifled with. Men do not use them, they use the men. It's also a satire of the "free love" swinging sixties while also a big middle finger to those who opposed raunchy sex comedies. When Roger Ebert wrote this, he must have put all his ID into the screenplay, as it is insanity and primal instinct at its finest.

In conclusion, Beyond the Valley of the Dolls is everything a campy cult classic should be and more. It is hilarious, entertaining and certainly thought provoking. Its quick editing, outrageous set designs, shameless nudity, party scenes and memorable characters are more than enough to make you want to see the film again and again. Praise it! 5/5