Summer Under the Stars: Susan Hayward

Star of the Day: Susan Hayward

Valley of the Dolls (1967): "Film version of Jacqueline Susann's best-selling novel chronicling the rise and fall of three young women in show business."

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I love how this felt just like a trashy, page-turning novel you can't turn down. Imagine a double feature of The Best of Everything (1959) and Valley of the Dolls (1967)? 

Susan Hayward is, regrettably, only in this for the first little chunk of the movie and then again at the end. She plays an aging star who doesn't want to give up the limelight and she does it great. Transitioning from her brand of chewed up stardom (aging out of the studio system) to Patty Duke, Sharon Tate and Barbara Parkins all getting washed up due to the 'dolls' they're on is a delicious film indeed. I must own this one on DVD!

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Log line from IMDb