Perfect casting for Nathan Lane as Irving Mansfield and Bette Midler as Jackie Susann.
The problem with the film is the writing. It is quite choppy at best and it appears that parts of the story were absolutely rushed, as if they had to make a deadline.
Let's remember that VALLEY OF THE DOLLS bombed as a film in 1967 and I guess that this biography of Jackie Susann was destined to fail as well.
It just came too fast that Mansfield had the idea that Susann should start writing. That concept came from out of the blue. Make no mistake, VALLEY OF THE DOLLS was trashy in every sense of the word. Look at the scene they showed in the movie, when Susan Hayward gets her red wig pulled off by Nealy, played by Patty Duke. Remember how Judy Garland, who was supposed to play the part of Helen Lawson-Hayward's part, laughed when she saw this movie? Ditto goes for the film.
Despite the bad writing, Midler rises above it to show that Susann was quite a character in her own right. Loud, boisterous, vulgar with desire to reach the top, Midler etched an unforgettable character.
Did you notice how fast Mansfield wanted to ditch the marriage but is lured back quickly by Susann.
David Hyde Pierce was excellent as the publisher who came around eventually to Susann's feeling. Now, we needed some more feeling with the writing.
The problem with the film is the writing. It is quite choppy at best and it appears that parts of the story were absolutely rushed, as if they had to make a deadline.
Let's remember that VALLEY OF THE DOLLS bombed as a film in 1967 and I guess that this biography of Jackie Susann was destined to fail as well.
It just came too fast that Mansfield had the idea that Susann should start writing. That concept came from out of the blue. Make no mistake, VALLEY OF THE DOLLS was trashy in every sense of the word. Look at the scene they showed in the movie, when Susan Hayward gets her red wig pulled off by Nealy, played by Patty Duke. Remember how Judy Garland, who was supposed to play the part of Helen Lawson-Hayward's part, laughed when she saw this movie? Ditto goes for the film.
Despite the bad writing, Midler rises above it to show that Susann was quite a character in her own right. Loud, boisterous, vulgar with desire to reach the top, Midler etched an unforgettable character.
Did you notice how fast Mansfield wanted to ditch the marriage but is lured back quickly by Susann.
David Hyde Pierce was excellent as the publisher who came around eventually to Susann's feeling. Now, we needed some more feeling with the writing.