Why was Barbara Parkins given top billing? - Valley of the Dolls (1967) Discussion

[–] reeda 9 years ago

Patty Duke is the most memorable, however, Anne was the lead character. The story revolves around her. At the time, Barbara Parkins was a big television star.

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[–] jgrv-1 9 years ago

I understand that it was essentially Anne's story, but that doesn't necessarily mean that she is the lead character.

It seems to me that Patty had almost twice the screen time as Barbara.

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[–] sonomagirl2120 9 years ago

I found Anne's story much more intriguing in the book. She had quite the complicated love life in the book but the movie turned her into a goody two shoes that went back to her simple roots in the end. In the book, the character of Anne Wells HATED her New England life and did not go back after settling her mother's estate. Even the love of Lyon could not tempt her back to Lawrenceville, MA.

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[–] mojo2004 9 years ago

They also changed why Jennifer killed herself in the book. She had found comfort & happiness with an older man who was or had been a politician. He loved her breasts and admired them so much when she was told she'd need a mastectomy she took the pills. He called them "my babies".

MOJO2004

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[–] mojo2004 9 years ago

Patty Duke was the lead in this film.

At the time the film was made I think Barbara Parkins was the up & coming bigger name because of her role on the hit primetime soap 'Peyton Place'. Also as someone said the book was mainly Ann's story. I don't think its writer ,Jacquiline Susann, thought they would alter the book as much as they did which took a lot of the spotlight from Ann. Patty Duke's career had peaked with her own tv show named after her. Her film career didn't blow up after winning an Oscar as a child. The film didn't do anything for Barbara or Patty's career in films either. Patty eventually became well known as the go to actress for many made-for-tv film dramas. As well as the mother of Sean Astin.

MOJO2004

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[–] TheGuyWithTheFeet 9 years ago

And for a long time detested VOD. She's come to appreciate it. I saw a showing of it and she gave a talk afterward. She was good-natured about it. But she said that at the time, she was expecting an Oscar nomination.

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[–] InherentlyYours 9 years ago

Patty Duke was still better known than Barbra Parkins. Duke even got the role of Neely, which Parkins wanted. I think the time of each performance would be neck and neck. I've a feeling, there have been other scenes cut to add more of Duke, seeing as how sensationalistic the role was becoming

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[–] reeda 9 years ago

Anne is the central character. The story revolves around her. Plus, Parkins was under contract to 20th Century Fox. In 1967, Duke's series was over and her follow up movie, Billie, failed to find an audience. Parkins was the star of a hit television series and had just been Emmy nominated.

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[–] InherentlyYours 9 years ago

Billie came out 65', 1 yr before her series ended; it was still high in the ratings and axed because the producers declined to film it in color

The film credits are made before final cuts, which is what I meant before about not knowing which actress actually had more screen time, and the "lead" seeming lopsided in the final result. For example, odd how Lee Grant is billed below the actor who played Anne's boss.

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[–] dalbrech 8 years ago

Parkins was considered to be The Next Big Thing and was considered more of a draw then Duke was in 1967. And, of course, Anne is the main character.
Yeah, Duke is much better remembered for one of the most over the top,campy,scenary chewing performances in film history, but it is a case of a supporting player stealing the movie from the lead.
I'll Teach You To Laugh At Something's That's Funny
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[–] Harold_Robbins 9 years ago

Perhaps Parkins had the more aggressive agent.

"Forget it, Jake. It's the internet."

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[–] brefane 9 years ago

The film is told through her point of view; it begins with her arrival in New York and ends with her return to New England. Anne is the central character in the book as well though that may not explain why Parkins received top billing. Marlon Brando received top billing in The Godfather but has a relatively small amount of screen time compared to Pacino and Keaton. Sarah Miles played Ryan's Daughter but her billing follows Mitchum, Jones, Howard and Mills. Trevor Howard and John Mills were nominated for Best Supporting Actor while Miles was nominated for Best Actress. Parkins' salary was 25K while Duke received 75K and Tate 30K!
Go figure!