Beyond the Valley of the Dolls (1970) 2 x DVD9 and Blu-Ray Criterion Collection, download for free

Oct12

Beyond the Valley of the Dolls (1970) 2 x DVD9 and Blu-Ray Criterion Collection

by movieworld on October 12th, 2016 at 15:07

Posted In: .Other movies, Comedy, Drama, Musical

The film revolves around three pretty young girls named Kelly McNamara (Playboy Playmate Dolly Read), Casey Anderson (Playboy Playmate Cynthia Myers) and Petronella Danforth (Marcia McBroom who would later show up in a few blaxploition movies including The Legend Of Nigger Charlie and Willie Dynamite) who make up a three piece rock band called The Carrie Nations. These girls think they've got what it takes to make it in the music industry and so off they go to Hollywood where they hope to get lucky and fine fame and fortune.

Kelly's got an inheritance to claim while they're out in L.A., and once that's taken care of they soon meet up with a compelling recording industry mogul named Ronnie 'Z-Man' Barzell (John La Zar who Meyer would use again in Supervixens). Once they hook up with him, things start to change and fast. The world of sex, drugs and perversion is laid at their feet and when they slowly but surely begin to partake of this forbidden fruit, tragedy soon follows. Through Z-Man they make acquaintances with an adult film starlet named Ashley St. Ives (Edy Williams), a lesbian predator named Roxanne (Erica Gavin of Meyer's earlier Vixen), and a crooked lawyer named Porter Hall (Duncan McLeod of Meyer's 1968 Finders Keepers, Lovers Weepers), all three of whom will have an impact on the lives of our three young musicians, but not necessarily in the way that everyone thinks...

Director: Russ Meyer
Cast: Dolly Read, Cynthia Myers, Marcia McBroom
Country: USA
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Music

Extras:

• Audio Commentary One - in this archival audio commentary, the late critic Roger Ebert discusses in great detail his collaboration with Russ Meyer on Beyond the Valley of the Dolls, the director's career and legacy, the X rating of the film and its reception, the unfinished Sex Pistols project Who Killed Bambi?, the casting process, etc.

• Audio Commentary Two - in this archival audio commentary, cast members Dolly Read, Cynthia Myers, Harrison Page, John LaZar, and Erica Gavin discuss their contribution to Beyond the Valley of the Dolls.

• Teaser - original teaser for Beyond the Valley of the Dolls.

• Trailer - original theatrical trailer for Beyond the Valley of the Dolls

• Behind the Scenes - short promo piece with raw footage from the shooting of the film. In English, not subtitled. (2 min).

• Additional Trailers -
1. Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!.
2. Vixen.

• Above, Beneath and Beyond the Valley - the archival featurette, examines the vision and cinematic style of director Russ Meyer, as well as the controversial qualities of Beyond the Valley of the Dolls that made the film a cult classic. Included in it are clips from interviews with critic Roger Ebert, Stan Berkowitz (Russ Meyer production assistant), Manny Diez (assistant to Russ Meyer), Jimmy McDonough (Russ Meyer biographer), editor Dann Cahn, John LaZar, David Ansen (critic, Newsweek), and writer Nathan Rabin, amongst others. In English, not subtitled. (30 min).

• Archival Programs -

-- 1. The Incredibly Strange Film Show - presented here is an archival episode of Jonathan Ross' The Incredibly Strange Film Show which first aired in September 1988 on Channel 4 in the United Kingdom. The bulk of the material examines the work and rather controversial image of Russ Meyer. Included in it are clips from archival interviews with the director, critic Roger Ebert, actress Tura Satana, and Malcolm McLaren (ex-manager, Sex Pistols), amongst others, as well as plenty of clips from various films. In English, not subtitled. (39 min).

-- 2. Cast and Crew Q&A - this archival Q&A session features dierctor Russ Meyer, screenwriter Roger Ebert, actors John LaZar, David Gurian, Dolly Read, Charles Napier, Michael Blodgett, and Edy Williams, and host Michael Dare. The guests answer a wide variety of questions about the film's production history, reception, and some of the lasting appeal. The program was produced by the Los Angeles Film Critics Association in conjunction with Robert Rosen at the UCLA Film & Television Archive in Los Angeles in 1990. In English, not subtitled. (50 min).

• Interviews -

-- 1. Beyond the Beyond - in this brand new interview, filmmaker John Waters (Pink Flamingos, Multiple Maniacs) discusses the visual characteristics that made Russ Meyer's films so unique, their acceptance by the major studios and public, the director's relationship with Roger Ebert, Beyond the Valley of the Dolls and its quite colorful script (with some specific and very interesting comments about the 'coded' exchanges), etc. The interview was conducted exclusively for Criterion in 2016. In English, not subtitled. (30 min).

-- 2. Look on Up at the Bottom - this archival featurette takes a closer look at the music of Beyond the Valley of the Dolls. Included in it at clips from interviews with critic Roger Ebert, composer Stu Phillips, Marcia McBroom, Cynthia Myers, and Jeff McDonald (vocals/guitar, Redd Kross), amongst others. In English, not subtitled. (11 min).

-- 3. Sex, Drugs, Music & Murder - this featurette takes a closer look at the socio-cultural environment at the time when Beyond the Valley of the Dolls was made. Included in it are clips from archival video interviews with Paul Marshall (guitar/vocals, The Strawberry Alarm Clock), Lynn Carey (singer and voice of The Carrie Nations), Harrison Page (Emerson Thorne), Erica Gavin (Roxanne), and Dolly Read Martin (Kelly McNamara), amongst others. In English, not subtitled. (8 min).

-- 4. The Best of Beyond - this archival featurette focuses on the cult status of Beyond the Valley of the Dolls (with many great observations about the classic lines heard throughout the film, the best breasts, the best kiss, etc.). Included in it are clips from interviews with Chuck Kelly (music consultant, Pulp Fiction), Harrison Page, Cynthia Myers, John LaZar, Michael Musto (critic, The Village Voice), Dolly Reed Martin, and Erica Gavin, amongst others. In English, not subtitled. (13 min).

-- 5. Casey & Roxanne: The Love Scene - in this short video piece, Cynthia Myers (Casey) and Erica Gavin (Roxanne) recall the shooting of their notorious lovemaking scene. Both actresses describe the scene as a "special moment" that surprised even director Russ Meyer. In English, not subtitled. (5 min).

-- 6. Memories of Russ - presented here is a collection of clips from archival interviews with actors Charles Napier, Harrison Page, Erica Gavin, and Haji, and Russ Meyer's longtime friend and collaborator/production consultant Jim Ryan. The interviews were conducted in 2005 for Severin Films. The interviewees recall their interactions with Russ Meyer and involvement with Beyond the Valley of the Dolls. In English, not subtitled. (9 min).

• Screen Tests - presented here are two screen tests performed by two different couples. In English, not subtitled. (8 min).
-- 1. Michael Blodgett and Cynthia Myers
-- 2. Harrison Page and Marcia McBroom

2 x DVD9 | NTSC 16:9 | 01:49:14 | 7.27 Gb + 7.17 Gb + 3% rec
Language: English
Subtitles: English