MovieChat Forums > Valley of the Dolls (1967) Discussion > Jaquiline Susann would roll over in her ...

Jaquiline Susann would roll over in her grave....

posted 9 years ago by mojo2004
9 replies | jump to latest

if she saw the made-for-tv version of her book! This film made in 1967 is Oscar worthy compared to that. I just saw a clip on youtube. Every role is miscast and the changes are terrible. Ann is blonde and a lawyer. Jennifer looks 40 going on 45. Lyon is a director and Jennifer , not Neely,is the threat Helen wants fired from a film not a show. Bert Convy, known for being a game show panelist & host, plays Tony?! Huh? The clothes look so dated it's sad. Like they came from a thrift store!

Valley of the Dolls (1981)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmPyMYAx1Q4

MOJO2004

[–] Harold_Robbins 9 years ago

Jacqueline Susann would roll over in her grave....if she knew that her name is practically meaningless in pop-culture now.

In my case, self-absorption is completely justified.

[–] moosefeathers 9 years ago

Bette Midler and Michele Lee both played her in separate movies. not so bad for being obscure.

Swing away, Merrill....Merrill, swing away...

[–] cookiela2001 9 years ago

"Jacqueline Susann would roll over in her grave if she saw the made-for-tv version of her book!...Ann is blonde ..."

Anne Welles is blonde in the book, as well.

[–] TheGuyWithTheFeet 9 years ago

Well that ruins it right there. OMG, I can't believe they'd change such a pivotal plot point.

Come on, Susann probably didn't give 2 shts about hair color. She probably laughed all the way to the bank with her royalty checks and the dumptruck of cash she made selling the movie rights.

[–] Harold_Robbins 9 years ago

Susann loathed the movie - I believe she called it "A piece of sh*t" or something to that effect, before walking out of the premiere showing on a cruise ship.

In my case, self-absorption is completely justified.

[–] TheGuyWithTheFeet 9 years ago

Very observant, wasn't she?

She still got her money out of it.

[–] DivingIntheBlue 8 years ago

In Bert Convey's defense, he was a singer and actor before becoming a game show host. He was terribly miscast though. Tony was suppose to be sex on legs. That's just not Bert Convey.

I bought Valley of the Dolls '81 (love that they added the '81 for no reason) after seeing it online from a seller on sell.com. I think I've watched it a handful of times because it's so.....odd. Even the wig snatching scene was terrible because Neely (Lisa Hartman) is wearing what looks like a red squirrel pelt on her head.

From what I understand, VOD was adapted into a nighttime soap in the 90s starring Sally Kirkland. It was supposedly pretty horrid and aired in few markets. Susann would have likely hated that too.

[–] dalbrech 8 years ago

Irony is that Jacqueline Suzanne is remembered as a very successful writer of very trashy novels, but the novels themselves are seldom read.

I'll Teach You To Laugh At Something's That's Funny
Homer Simpson

[–] phillindholm 8 years ago

Yes, she hated the movie, but she was philosophical about it. As she put it ''If you take the money, don't cry in your beer''. She was right.