Backstory: "Valley Of The Dolls" Documentary Patty Duke, Sharon Tate, Judy Garland

The 2001 documentary "Backstory: Valley of The Dolls"
Documents the making of the film, based upon the novel by Jacqueline Susann, the firing of Judy Garland, and the on set turmoil between the cast.

[@alysiadavis7646]

I love the shade that Judy throws at that reporter, 'I found it troubling around newspaper people too'.

[@andreawagner7352]

Its amazing that Judy was only 44 :( She looks so worn out ....so sad

[@eBrigid]

I put this film on about once a week, to clean the house or pick up my mood, it along with Auntie Mame are two of my glorious technicolor favorites.

[@vistaestrada]

The clothes, the music, the cars, the wigs, the social upheaval. The 1960's are a time I wish I could go back to.

[@jasonmalloy1451]

RIP Sharon Tate..

[@pinkypavlova8608]

Patty Duke was such a GREAT actress. She was so modest to later say that "it.was bad acting on her part "

[@theoctobercountry]

It is good that Patty Duke, in her later years, was able to enjoy the campy fun of this film and was able to laugh about it all.

[@JohnnyGNV]

Interesting Documentary about Valley of the Dolls - I think it deserves the honor of being a 'Cult Classic' ~ people say Patty Duke was somehow miscast as Neely but I actually thought she was a good match for the role -

[@toddbonin6926]

I love the movie. I especially love Barbara Parkins’ performance. She’s gorgeous

[@HnHBlkM]

Re: Barbara Parkins: She looks great even now. Wow.

[@elainephilly]

It reminds me of my late, oldest brother. He loved it and knew every line! Patty and Sharon were so beautiful! May they all rest in peace. XX

[@mariemorgan7759]

I always wondered about the back story to Valley of the Dolls. I have a facination for the early 1960s!

[@t2stu]

I loved this both as a book and film. An occasional guilty pleasure of mine. Thank you Jacqueline Susan.

[@HBLADY]

I only ever saw Valley fo the Dolls on TV and heaven only knows what got cut out. My local library has the DVD and now it's time to find out what I missed!

[@frankieturner630]

I have this movie on DVD and I absolutely love it

[@KarenRiffe]

I love The Valley of The Dolls. It's a classic movie. I have it on my phone right now.

[@eduardoramirezjr4403]

I was a child when I saw this movie. I don’t know what possessed my parents to take me to the theater with them (though later they must have regretted their decision). I immediately fell in love with both Sharon Tate and Barbara Perkins, but was shocked by Patty Duke’s portrayal of Neely. It really scared the crap out of me. However, I did like her duet with Tony Scotti at the psychiatric hospital. It’s my favorite part of the whole movie and is pure camp.

[@Herman47]

*They could at least mention the Dionne Warwick hit song associated with the movie.*

[@jamestyler7697]

Patty Duke was so wonderfully self-deprecating and humble lol

[@almamattersr3735]

A fantastic gem! Cheers to you for uploading this for us!

[@lisalovelace6784]

I loved this movie, loved the theme song and Patty Duke was awesome!

[@peggyolson6511]

I love this film, and they didn't even mention one of the best things about it, the music. There were some really moving songs, like the theme song sung by Dionne Warwick, and the sad song Tony sings with Neelie when he is in the nursing home.

[@jamesjwalsh]

8:20 - Would never recognize Raquel Welch there. Looks amazing.

[@geenal360]

Joan would have been good and if Garland got her act together- it would have brought it up many notches.

[@reneebraxton1032]

My mom had the book. I read it in my teens. Fantastic!!!

[@vivianblack2951]

I liked seeing Richard Dreyfuss in a bit part. A very young RD.

[@haintedhouse2990]

speaking of Richard I liked the scene in Postcards From the Edge when he asked recovering addict Suzanne Vale (Meryl Streep) if she wanted to go see a movie with him and she said "sure, we can go see Valley of the Dolls"

[@MrTitan225]

Ms. Parkins was so classy.... she played her role so greatly.....

[@jefferythomas4872]

The ladies are all so heartbreakingly beautiful.

[@lblack1961]

Okay, now I need to watch "Valley of the Dolls" again...for the umpteenth time... :-D

[@jenniferj5551]

Poor Sharon Tate 😪

[@freespiritxoxo7343]

5:56 Judy Garland and her amazing sassy on the spot comebacks 🙌💃🙏 RIP Queen ❤

[@glorialamorgia2219]

I always liked Paul Burke from when he was on naked city. Its sad he never became a big movie star.

[@HectorTorres115]

Incredible memories! I was about ten years old and I always remember it and the theme song recorded by Dionne Warwick. #SoNostalgic

[@natashasemrau3670]

This movie was so exciting durning that era, and now. I still watch it when it's on, trashy and all. Also the sequel was rather good too.💊💊💊💊💊💊💊💊💊💊💊💊💊💊💊💊💊💊💊💊💊💊💊💊💊💊💊💊💊

[@HnHBlkM]

I don't think Raquel Welch would have made a believable Jennifer; the character was suppose to be a sympathetic one and I don't see Raquel in that way.

[@ItWILLbeWONDERFUL_THERE]

Whoever the mother of Sharon Tate's character is, she was VILE. "Yes, mother, I know I have no talents!" Hold on! In *I'll cry Tomorrow"* and *"Smash Up"* Susan sang.

[@brianmallen8887]

I read the book. I didn't want to, but something told me it was the ultimate female perspective on things, especially in show biz. So after reading it I had this fear and respect for Jaquiline Susan. She marketed her own book. She had moxie and 100% self-made identity. Any guy could fear her based on her judgement. Trashy? B.S. Before "Harry Potter" it was the third most successful novel in history. Why? It's truth cuts you to the core. The drugs usage is not gratuitous. The theme of the book is what women will do to stay young looking. Sounds frivolous? It's not..One woman, pursued by the rich guy who states "you're the only woman who loves me for me and not my money." She: " That's because I don't love you. " Damn! The middle-aged Broadway actress has the hots for a guy her age, and he likes her, just not sexually. He's got a 23 year old girlfriend. He's like "cmon, get real." Trashy, glamour, glitzy ? Nah, reality....100% R.I.P. Jacqueline Susan, you chain smoking dervish, from a guy way across the divide. For what it's worth you got my respect.

[@edreid7872]

I've only seen heavily edited versions on television... I gotta see it in all its glory...

[@binklebabe4725]

Great actresses spewing some horrible lines. It works for me! 😂😂😂 Barbara has such a beautiful speaking voice.

[@jhhone]

I love this post! Hayward was great but Judy would have been EPIC! No mention of Miss Crawford who also could have played Helen Lawson!

[@hansmiller664]

The Film is a mark in 60's Hollywood history. If some critics call it camp, who cares? I and MILLIONS of people LOVE it! PERIOD.

[@JohnSegerclucka]

The #1 grossing movie in 1967

[@user-wb7ru9wp7o]

The book, by Jacqueline Suzanne , was so good!!! I read it while I was in the army in Frankfurt W. Germany getting ready to get out of the army headed back to Ft Dix. The song brings back bittersweet memories because I was having a very good time with all my German buddies. This song is so sad and so sweet at the same time. 1968.

[@johnpinegar8027]

Loved the book and the movie. Both classics.

[@angelabluebird609]

Michael Musto should know better and should have spoken accurately, if he was going to speak: Jennifer NORTH, not Jennifer Welles (Anne Welles was played by Barbara Parkins) did the, "art films," to pay for her terminally ill husband's care in the sanitarium, not to pay for abortions and drugs. She had AN abortion due to her husband's illness being genetic.

[@user-sv1td1nc8i]

I didn’t care for Michael Musto’s comments about VOD being camp. It was a melodrama with some very intense dramatic scenes.

[@johnsax1445]

I LOVE this Movie, the apex of 1967 glamour with all its over-the-top excess. And looking at Jacqueline Susann, I cant get Truman Capotes appraisal of her to Johnny Carson out of my head-“like a truck driver in Drag” 😄

[@oldjack-mi8gk]

Duke and Tate were better in their screen tests than what Robson extracted from them for the movie.

[@finallythere100]

How feminine and "well spoken" Sharon Tate sounds while speaking to her mother on the phone. People.sound so coarse today,. in comparison.

[@violet807]

I LOVED the movie and the book!!! I learned so much about life from the book!

[@lucyterrier7905]

Judy Garland looked 30 years older than she really was! She looked awful.

[@charliechilders6630]

Ray bolger, the scarecrow in The wizard of Oz was a lifelong friend of Judy Garland. He said Judy Garland didn't die, she just plum wore out! 😳😥

[@ebriggs3498]

She died 2 years later. She was an alcoholic.

[@IanThaddiam]

That's crazy. I went on a KZbin expedition last night looking for this and here, today, you upload it. That's weird. I assume, of course, you did it just for me, so... :-)

[@2legit64]

I loved Neely. That character made this film watchable. The scene with Neely flushing Helen's wig down the toilet is my favorite. I always got the feeling that Susan Hayward was portraying herself which made the scene even sweeter.

[@susanazinger2525]

I named my beautiful black and gold torti cat after Neely ...I bet I've watched the movie 50 times - I never get tired of it . And I still have my copy of the book that I bought waaay back in the day . My mom named me Susan after Susan Hayward ( mom's favorite actress for all her life ) ... I loved Neely, too . .She was my favorite in the movie . ✌️

[@lt7378]

I don’t think it was so bad at all. Surprised at the criticism. What does hollywood critics know about what’s good though? They praise stuff I think is pure trash. Perhaps they hate it because it hits too close to home. The message of this movie is to get out of Hollywood before it destroys you, and hollywood types don’t appreciate this truth because they like their decadent lifestyles .

[@Nightbrrd]

One of my beloved movies ♥ Such a good one

[@coastliner5848]

Watched the movie last night - it was great!

[@Honeymoon1988]

I love this movie, I too struggled with pills and alcohol, heartbreaks and drama while at the same time being so glamorous. Classic movie 💎💎💎

[@lone6523]

That “smoked since I was 12” voice is sadly disgusting.

[@HnHBlkM]

Separate note: I've always thought that if they were to make a biopic about Helen Gurley Braun's life, Susan Lucci would be the perfect actress for the role.

[@Wyrd__cat]

RIP Sharon Tate. A wonderful soul taken far too soon 💔

[@leonorfelix9617]

This movie was or is still one of my favorites I was born 1959 and the first time I saw this movie I was in my twenty's fell in love with Judy Garland in the movies patty dukes and her movie Hellen omg loved it and then came sharen Tate the most beautiful woman I've seen at my age and then came the tragic of her death I felt so sorry for her and I still here about it and tear up Barbra parkins was one beautiful actress also those woman where the best times of my twenty years of watching movies Valley of the dolls I will never forget it its one of the best movies I've have ever seen in my younger years ❤️

[@dancingkay2604]

Hollywood chopped it down, because it was close to truth....would Hollywood ever make a similar movie with an honest real theme...never.

[@HnHBlkM]

Susan Heyward looked like Ethel Merman. It seemed like can't miss casting.

[@mordecaiesther3591]

Nothing has changed in Hollywood except for social media has put it on steroids .

[@marijadokoza8314]

Best film...Sharon Tate....Golden globe nomination👌😘💕❤❤💕

[@samuelglass6805]

I love this movie, LOVE. It needs a home in my "Guilty TREASURES" library, along with the unofficial Russ Meyer sequel, SEXTETTE, LIPSTICK, XANADU, SGT. PEPPER'S LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND, and THE LONELY LADY!

[@Rose-qd2bl]

Poor Judy. She looked 30 years older. The studios fed her drugs.

[@88lakeshore]

i really liked this movie, i didnt think it was bad

[@pinkypavlova8608]

Betty white at 99 looks younger than Judy Garland was at 40.

[@pinkydogbear]

I thought Patty did an excellent job!

[@joankersting2358]

Everybody loves applause, how badly you want it can cause serious problems.

[@patrickfallon6192]

Thanks for recommending the Judy coffee table book it came😊yesterday and I set aside a comfortable spot to read its huge thanks again 😀😀

[@mrangel8009]

I have always loved this movie

[@pattiharvey1787]

Only watched the movie because Sharon Tate was in it. RIP.

[@stephallan2543]

I recall watching this Amazing Realistic Movie when I was about 10 yrs. old...then I read the book! Wow 😲 it was like getting kicked in the 💗🙏🏽🤔🔥💎👩🏻‍💻!

[@e.m.tanner179]

My favorite movie of all time.... "camp" or otherwise. You can find a little piece of dialogue from this movie that will fit just about any situation in life. The entire cast is marvelous. This was Susan Hayward's last picture, and the final line she has is: "What the hell happened?". How great is that?!!! I think I must have watched this classic at least a dozen times over the years, and I never get tired of seeing it.

[@michelebintliff3582]

Love this movie.

[@etorres385]

Love this classic movie

[@utube-r9q]

It’s one of my favourites movies 😊 Thank you for sharing 😊

[@en6278]

"and failed actress" They keep shading Jacqueline with this. I think writing one of the biggest books ever tops being some successful actress. Of which there are thousands. Theres only one Valley of the dolls & its sales are up on the all time list.

[@letty4558]

This is fascinating.

[@paulmicheldenverco1]

An alcoholic would never pour out her own booz unless she was quitt!ng.

[@peanuttube605]

I loved that book.

[@nomopms1]

It was trashy, silly, and over-the-top drama-rama, but it's entertaining.

[@breakingbadheisenberg9703]

No shame ! In comparison to what’s being released today..........This film is a masterpiece! ................Saw this when I was just a child I recall my mom telling me Sharon Tate was butchered 😓 , RIP Mom .....And RIP Sharon & Baby Richard.

[@carlascrivens1855]

Great movie, I've always loved it

[@gregman1715]

LOVE love this movie

[@PeaceDragon9]

The book and movie are both classics.

[@a.banks.7682]

I just found a copy of the book in a trash bin. I will have to read...

[@thefollowing8127]

My mother had the book and I read it . But years before when Peyton Place was the scandel my sister had a copy and my mother went nuts when she found it. Funny how things change. I still love the movie,the clothes and the music. The theme song still is haunting and was a big hit. It was so true about Hollywood it hit home. The author died of cancer a few years later but was a great guest on talk shows. It was better than Peyton Place on the big screen but it was able to be more tawdry because times and censoring changed. Oh and the reason Sharon Tate in the movie had to do skin flicks was 1 to support her over bearing greedy mother and 2 to pay for her husband in the movie to be in the best mental hospital when he was losing his memory . She didnt have to pay for booze and drugs like this jerk said. Making porno in Europe paid good. Her charecter was very loyal.

[@RealiTeaV]

I love this movie

[@melissadawson4668]

Anyone know why there are "X's" through some of the Judy Garland photos?

[@albertmorris6162]

Helen Lawson also had shades of Debbie Reynolds, who trashed her good friend, Carlton Carpenter, and quite vicious.

[@olivia6063]

I would love to see this movie.

[@cherylsmith7282]

Love Susan Hayward.

[@Sharon-fw9qw]

Have you seen "I Want to Live!". Awesome

[@davidpotter-1969]

He wants to make pictures, I'm gonna heat up the lasagna. 😂😂😂

[@notbornyesterday2767]

Sharon Tate's character was based on 1940s actress, Carole Landis, who committed suicide in Brentwood, CA, in 1949, age 29 or 30. Also, Jackie Susann and Carole had been lovers for a few years. Carole committed suicide during a disappointing affair with actor, Rex Harrison, but the reason for her suicide could have been also because she had had a chronic health problem, Malaria. Anyway, Valley of the Dolls, both movie and book, are just fine. Interesting that the #MeToo movement hadn't formed immediately after the movie and book!

[@lenaaustin6692]

I actually really liked the movie.

[@aaronrowles6596]

Thank you ❤

[@Sharon-fw9qw]

Poor Judy Garland. I guess youve heard how she was treated during childhood. Very sad.

[@markwilliamson2738]

Love Love Love

[@anaseymour4556]

While watching this I thought patty duke's character had something to do with Judy.. glad to see I wasn't wrong