Last week one of the biggest names in film passed away. His influence and presence was undeniable as his thumb directed millions to quality viewing. But he wasn't just the guy in the back of the theatre, he also wrote one of the greatest "what the?!" movies ever made. The man: Roger Ebert. The movie: Beyond the Valley of the Dolls.
Directed by world-renowned breast enthusiast/filmmaker Russ Meyer, Beyond the Valley of the Dolls is his biggest and most accessible hit. And while it would be easy to classify it as a cult classic, this movie with a $900,000 budget and X rating actually made millions in its 1970s theatrical release.
A sequel in name only to Valley of the Dolls, BVOD is the tale of a young female rock 'n' roll band that hits the big time and dives into all the Californian excess that brings, including cheesy dialogue, over-the-top situations, and more "what the?" moments than you can shake a cat at. All the while, the actors throw themselves with 110 per cent earnest at every line.
What genre is it? It's actually all of them, all at once, as you certainly get the feeling that Ebert and Meyer decided to just put everything they possibly could into this glorious satire opus. From show-business melodrama to sex-comedy-horror, it's got everything and then some.
I was also going to suggest that this is a movie best watched with a fun group and a couple of drinks, but then I realized that could be said for any film.
And yes, this is where Squamish's legendary Beyond the Valleycliffe of the Dolls mountain bike Search and Rescue fundraiser (this year's ride: Aug 24) got its name.
