From a 2016 interview:

"Susann hated the film adaptation starring Barbara Parkins, Sharon Tate, and Patty Duke. She called the movie “a piece of shit.”

https://www.flavorwire.com/587459/15-things-you-didnt-know-about-jacqueline-susanns-valley-of-the-dolls

Here is an interesting YT video of Judy Garland on the set of VOTD (plus other things):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecpPm084PZE

Here is an article about her involvement in the movie. She was originally hired to play Helen Lawson.

https://www.thejudyroom.com/filmography/valley-of-the-dolls/

@bratface said:

"Susann hated the film adaptation starring Barbara Parkins, Sharon Tate, and Patty Duke. She called the movie “a piece of shit.”

Well she certainly earned the trashing she got from Kirk & Spock in Star Trek IV.

Kirk: "You mean the profanity? That's simply the way they talk here. Nobody pays attention to you unless you swear every other word. You'll find it in all the literature of the period."

Spock: "For example?"

Kirk: "Oh, the collected works of Jacqueline Susann. The novels of Harold Robbins...."

Spock: "Ah, the Giants."

😂

Actually the biggest reason why I don’t want to read the book is that I’ve heard it’s trash. But the film is surprisingly elegant, jarringly offset by disturbing elements that leave things to the viewer’s imagination (such as Neely’s final scene).

@rooprect said:

@bratface said:

"Susann hated the film adaptation starring Barbara Parkins, Sharon Tate, and Patty Duke. She called the movie “a piece of shit.”

Well she certainly earned the trashing she got from Kirk & Spock in Star Trek IV.

Kirk: "You mean the profanity? That's simply the way they talk here. Nobody pays attention to you unless you swear every other word. You'll find it in all the literature of the period."

Spock: "For example?"

Kirk: "Oh, the collected works of Jacqueline Susann. The novels of Harold Robbins...."

Spock: "Ah, the Giants."

😂

Actually the biggest reason why I don’t want to read the book is that I’ve heard it’s trash. But the film is surprisingly elegant, jarringly offset by disturbing elements that leave things to the viewer’s imagination (such as Neely’s final scene).

Don't bother reading the book, it is very trashy (also, there are differences, especially the ending).

@bratface said:

Don't bother reading the book, it is very trashy (also, there are differences, especially the ending).

Yup I'll definitely pass on the book. I think the movie evolved into something much better. Sure it's over the top, but it has a unique style...like it can't decide if it wants to be a gritty drama, a musical, a Gone With the Wind epic, or a cheese fest.

Also like you pointed out above, there was a ton of real life drama behind the scenes, and I think that adds to the movie's appeal. It's sad about Judy Garland getting canned, but I'm glad they got a tougher actress to play the dragon lady Helen Lawson. According to this documentary (around the 12 min mark), Judy flipped out & locked herself in her dressing room until everyone left, just like Neely's character in the movie. She just couldn't handle it.

Backstory of Valley of the Dolls

@rooprect said:

@bratface said:

Don't bother reading the book, it is very trashy (also, there are differences, especially the ending).

Yup I'll definitely pass on the book. I think the movie evolved into something much better. Sure it's over the top, but it has a unique style...like it can't decide if it wants to be a gritty drama, a musical, a Gone With the Wind epic, or a cheese fest.

Also like you pointed out above, there was a ton of real life drama behind the scenes, and I think that adds to the movie's appeal. It's sad about Judy Garland getting canned, but I'm glad they got a tougher actress to play the dragon lady Helen Lawson. According to this documentary (around the 12 min mark), Judy flipped out & locked herself in her dressing room until everyone left, just like Neely's character in the movie. She just couldn't handle it.

Backstory of Valley of the Dolls

I read some of an interview with Patty Duke yesterday, where she said that TPTB kept Judy waiting for hours in her dressing before calling her for her scenes knowing full well she would be plastered by then.

@bratface said:

I read some of an interview with Patty Duke yesterday, where she said that TPTB kept Judy waiting for hours in her dressing before calling her for her scenes knowing full well she would be plastered by then.

You inspired me to take a deep dive. I watched the film again with the commentary track (Barbara Parkins "Anne" & gossip columnist Ted Casablanca). They both agreed that Judy got a raw deal. Barbara Parkins went as far as to say Judy's finished scenes were oscar-worthy. Judy's singing scene, she said, was amazing. Her replacement Susan Hayward had to be dubbed.

In the end, according to Barbara Parkins, Judy just couldn't handle the story being so close to her real life. The drinking is what did her in. So if that's true about them purposely getting her liquored up to fail, that's the lowest blow I've ever heard on a movie set.

@rooprect said:

@bratface said:

I read some of an interview with Patty Duke yesterday, where she said that TPTB kept Judy waiting for hours in her dressing before calling her for her scenes knowing full well she would be plastered by then.

You inspired me to take a deep dive. I watched the film again with the commentary track (Barbara Parkins "Anne" & gossip columnist Ted Casablanca). They both agreed that Judy got a raw deal. Barbara Parkins went as far as to say Judy's finished scenes were oscar-worthy. Judy's singing scene, she said, was amazing. Her replacement Susan Hayward had to be dubbed.

In the end, according to Barbara Parkins, Judy just couldn't handle the story being so close to her real life. The drinking is what did her in. So if that's true about them purposely getting her liquored up to fail, that's the lowest blow I've ever heard on a movie set.

Here are two links that include what Duke had said about the TPTB (director + others), in the one I read she had said that they kept her waiting from six thirty am to 4 pm before they called her to the set:

https://www.grunge.com/787877/what-happened-to-judy-garlands-role-in-valley-of-the-dolls/

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/judy-garland-valley-of-the-dolls_n_4445247