Chaz at the Fox anniversary BVD screening
As part of the 75th anniversary celebration of 20th Century-Fox, the studio's 1970 film "Beyond the Valley of the Dolls" was screened by the American Cinematheque at the Egyptian Theater in Hollywood on Sept 1, 2010. There was a reunion of cast members, including Dolly Read (Kelly MacNamara), John Lazar (Z-Man Barzell) and Harrison Page (Emerson Thorne). It followed a screening of the studio's "Valley of the Dolls."
Chaz, who was in LA to catch the charter fight to Telluride, represented me at the great event, and read a statement from me. After the screening, she sent me this e-mail. She mentions Nancy De Los Santos, now a LA film producer ("The Bronze Screen"), who began as an intern at PBS on "Sneak Previews" and later became the much-loved producer of "Siskel and Ebert" at Tribune Broadcasting.¶
Dear Roger:
I hope I represented you well at the event tonight, and I am so glad I was there for you. Also glad that Nancy de Los Santos was there to ask a question about you from the audience.
First of all, I arrived at 8 pm, which is when they told me to arrive, but the first movie, "Valley of the Dolls" was just starting. I actually had fun watching it. I can see why gay guys love that movie. And I thought BVD was campy! I wonder if Jacqueline Susann wrote Valley as a tongue in cheek. It is absolutely hilarious to watch, and makes a great companion to BVD. Watching it tonight it occurred to me how bold you and Russ were to make a parody send-up of the studio's own movie! That was unheard of back then. I can see why Fox didn't know what to do with you. :)
Before the movie I met John Lazar and some of the publicists. Edy was not here, but Harrison and Dolly were. The MC of the night was a drag queen who said that BVD was a better movie than Valley.
After Valley, they brought the stars of BVD up for a Q&A. During the Q&A questions were asked (mainly, did any of them fuck Russ; what stories happened behind the scenes and so forth.) Dolly said Russ was a rough taskmaster on the set, but nice to her off the set, and no, she never slept with him. Lazar and Harrison joked that they slept with Russ, then Harrison said Russ had everyone sleeping in a tent so they did literally sleep together but nothing happened. Lazar opened up with the line: "This is my happening and it freaks me out!" He then said his kids saw it in "Austin Powers" but didn't know where it originated from.
I was taken aback because I always think of it as your line. It illustrated to me very strongly for the first time how everything is associated with the actors, no matter how creative the screenwriter is. I have always felt the writers were given short shrift, but tonight it was personal. Fortunately when a writer is as famous as you are you can equalize that a bit. (But do try to talk about the screenwriters a bit more in your reviews, especially when they have written masterpieces.) Anyway, Nancy finally asked whether you were on the set and were there any stories about you. They all said you were quiet on the set and mainly stayed behind the camera with Russ, but that you were there every single day. The audience expressed surprise that you were there every day, but then that was that, and it was back to the actors.
So I didn't know what to expect when they called me up there. But the drag queen gave me a nice big introduction as having a message from you, and the audience gave you a big ovation. I started by saying you wanted to be there but your new cookbook was just published. Then I said how much you love that movie and how proud you are of it. I said that Richard Corliss of Time magazine called it one of the best movies of its decade. I also said it has been called one of the best movies of the century. Then I read your statement. Your statement, as you probably have guessed, was a homerun.
Cheers
Chaz¶
My statement. which Chaz read:
Beyond the Valley of the Dolls has survived the test of the years, and is one of the most frequently-revived films of its time. It was one of a kind. My congratulations to Dolly, Harrison, and John. I do not believe in dreams, but Russ appeared in one of mine last night and dictated this message:
Quote, "I was deeply offended when Fox ignored BVD in its 50th anniversary book. It's about time those bastards acknowledged that we made a great fucking movie."
¶
Nancy De Los Santos e-mailed me with further details:
Hi Rog,
Sorry... No fotos... Only a transcript of my question:
Me: The great film critic, Roger Ebert, was co-writer on this film. Do any of you have any memories of him on the set?
Actor 1: Oh, yes. Roger was there every day.
Actor 2: I remember him always being behind the camera, right next to Russ.
Actor 1. He was a very quiet fellow.
6'2" Female Impersonator Host: Did he fuck anyone?
¶
From my DVD commentary track:
A BVD Photo Album
Russ Meyer and Edy Williams ("the last of the contract starlets"), soon after they met and Russ signed her for the film.
The Carrie Nations: Cynthia Myers, Marcia McBroom, Dolly Read
Cynthia Myers, Dolly Read and Erica ("Vixen") Gavin
Angel Ray, Henry Rowland and Russ Meyer. Rowland played Martin Bormann in several RM films.
John Lazar as Ronnie (Z-Man) Barzell: "This is my happening, and it freaks me out!"
Russ and Hugh Hefner with Playboy Playmates Cynthia Myers and Dolly Read. Russ shot half of the first dozen Playmates.
Russ and Edy on their wedding day at the Bel Air Hotel. I introduced them at the studio commissary.
Russ with Kitten Natividad, his longtime partner.
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Neat-o man, really neat-o!
BEYOND THE VALLEY OF THE DOLLS--What Mike Royko had to say.
"Why did you write such a dirty,violent movie?" I finally asked(Roger Ebert).
"It was written as a parody of dirty,violent movies." he said.
"Did the producer and director know that?"
Although I am not a movie critic, I think I have figured out what went wrong, how such a talented writer and so decent a young man could be involved in that dog.
Ebert's problem is he is not a dirty old man. If a dirty movie is going to be any good, it needs to be written by a dirty old man. You wouldn't let an ROTC student write a war movie, or a Republican write a book about Chicago politics.
July 10,1970 column collected in: Mike Royko, "Like I Was Saying."(1984)
I have to say I agree with Chaz's comment about giving screenwriters more credit in your reviews. As someone who has a passion for writing, I always admire the way screenwriters craft such beautiful prose and feel they should be recognized more. Although I suspect part of the reason you discuss little of them in your reviews is because you are a writer yourself.
P.S. loved the quote.
Congratulations! It's nice to see some due recognition given to BVD by 20th Century Fox (in addition to the, admittedly, quite nice DVD edition). Certainly, it's one of my favorite movies of all time---unique beyond measure. I first watched it as a college student, with a roomful of people---everybody loved it instantly. We watched it again. And again. Quoted the dialogue throughout the next weeks, months and years. It's remained a firm favorite, and a source of joy to which I return often. Thank you for a screenplay of dizzying brilliance. And thanks to Russ Meyer, for his brio. Cheers!
Salvador Dali, as quoted by Penn Jillette, said something along the lines of "in life, so much that is possible doesn't actually happen." Same thing goes for the movies. One of the reasons BVD endures as a classic is so much that is possible actually DOES happen in the movie...a few impossible things, too.
I understand Chaz' feelings about Lazar claiming that line as his, rather than giving credit where it's due. But don't you take some pride in knowing that the line, and the role, has become so iconic that the actor claims it as his? As a playwright, I find it deeply rewarding when the characters and actors merge so that they feel the lines are truly coming from their mouths, not my pen. Besides, who at this point doesn't know that you're the scriptwriter of BVD?
To paraphrase you: BVD makes my heart glad.
Ebert: It was John's line in a very real sense. And to give him credit, he delivered it well and did an unforgettable job in a difficult role. How do you play a transsexual when even the director and writer didn't know he was one until his crucial revelation scene?
I enjoyed this. I haven't seen this and will definitely get my hands on a copy. Love camp and had no idea you wrote it! :)
Great memories of a truly unique American classic. 30 viewings of BVD have not been enough for me.
The film still plays FAST, propelled head-first by an early section that telegraphs the mood of the era in quick bursts. The entire "going-to-California" sequence (with its bizarro poetry and machine gun jump-cutting) not only efficiently transfers the action to L.A., but also gives the screenwriter an opportunity to slice and dice the Big Orange with some scathing social commentary, rendered through almost-nutsy dialogue that approximates rap.
My favorite scene in the film is at the first of Z-Man's parties. This entire montage is just plain thrilling in its way, what with the Strawberry Alarm Clock wailing away and everyone in high groove mode. I believe Roger has written that neither he nor Meyers had actually attended such a party, so this was their estimation of such a get-together. Perhaps that's why the scene is so seductive--because it's an Ebertian (sp?) fantasy take on a Hollywood Hills party of the late 60s/early 70s "scene." If you were ever a groover of the day who wanted to "find the action" (or someone obsessed with that era after the fact), this scene kind of represents the perfect California party. This was the let-it-all-hang-out shindig that "Playboy After Dark" could only hint at on television. (Watching "PAD" now you're struck by how tame it all is--the synthetic party they were simulating.)
The first time I showed BVD to my nephew, 18 years my junior, he just sat there stunned after that initial party scene. He said, "I know I just saw something. I'm just not sure what it was."
I remember when it first played. We were living in Fayetteville, NC ("FayetteNam") and the film was shown constantly at area drive-ins, often on a double bill with "Valley of the Dolls."
Scene-for-scene, I find it the most watchable of Meyer's movies--more interesting throughout than even "Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!" Hell, just reading about it here makes me want to see it again. Sounds like I've selected BVD as my Friday night late show...yet again.
Impressed by the positive ratings at both IMDb and Rotten T. Haven't seen the movie in decades. Never sober. Must revisit the Valley Beyond.
Read where Michael Blodgett's jail house flogging in his next picture ranks 67th on the list published in the book, "Lash! The Hundred Greatest Whipping Scenes in the Movie History." Otherwise his career, after the brilliant portrayal of Lance Rocke, seemed to founder.
Hear young Pam Grier had a small part. Her first. Did you two get to hang out any?
I was there that night and it was Unbelievable!! What a treat. Thanks Roger, Russ, cast and crew for an unbelievable movie experience! Sorry you weren't there Roger-Chaz's comments were very interesting. Wish Edie was there too.
Sincerely,
Harrison Held(:
PS: Happy Birthday Dolly-if you see this. We met at the Actors and Others for Animals event last year.