Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- None
- campy
- soapy
- melodramatic
- cult movie night
- camp movie night
What critics said
Critics broadly regard the film as trashy, campy, soapy, and melodramatic, while acknowledging its enduring appeal as a kitsch classic.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The film combines extravagant performances, sensational reversals, and knowingly excessive show-business emotion.
Jennifer is reduced to a sex object, while Anne and Neely confront the professional and personal costs of fame.
Anne, Jennifer, and Neely pursue separate entertainment careers while sharing overlapping experiences of ambition and exploitation.
Broadway stages, Hollywood settings, costumes, and celebrity performances dominate the film’s visual identity.
Films like Valley of the Dolls, and why
All About Eve
melodramatic backstage rivalry, theatrical ambition, and women navigating exploitative entertainment industries
The Oscar
glamorous show-business melodrama, female ambition, and heightened Hollywood spectacle
The Lonely Lady
campy, soapy drama about fame, sexual commodification, and destructive celebrity culture
A Star Is Born
ensemble melodrama centered on aspiring performers, romantic entanglements, and the costs of stardom
Movie Details
- Director
- Mark Robson
- Release Date
- 1967-12-27
- Runtime
- 123 min
- Rating
- 6.0 / 10 (153)
Cast
- Barbara Parkins
- Patty Duke
- Sharon Tate
- Paul Burke
- Lee Grant
- Susan Hayward
- Martin Milner
- Charles Drake
- Alexander Davion
- Naomi Stevens
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, YouTube TV, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Valley of the Dolls about?
- Three ambitious women chase Broadway and Hollywood success while glamour, exploitation, romance, and addiction turn the entertainment dream into campy melodrama.
- What is Valley of the Dolls like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Valley of the Dolls as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Valley of the Dolls violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Valley of the Dolls.
- What did critics think of Valley of the Dolls?
- Critics broadly regard the film as trashy, campy, soapy, and melodramatic, while acknowledging its enduring appeal as a kitsch classic.
- Which films are like Valley of the Dolls?
- Films with a similar feel include All About Eve, The Oscar, The Lonely Lady, and A Star Is Born.
- How long is Valley of the Dolls?
- Valley of the Dolls runs 123 minutes.
- Where can I watch Valley of the Dolls?
- In United States, Valley of the Dolls streams on Amazon Prime Video, YouTube TV, Amazon Prime Video with Ads.
