Dolls! Dolls! Dolls!

Dolls! Dolls! Dolls! chronicles the creation of Valley of the Dolls, from Jacqueline Susann's 1966 novel through the 1967 film adaptation. The book draws from studio records, personal archives, court documents, and interviews with cast, crew, and industry figures from the era. The narrative tracks Susann's journey from first-time novelist to bestselling author, followed by the novel's path to the screen at 20th Century Fox. The production details include the screenplay development process, casting challenges, and technical aspects of bringing this controversial story to life. Through extensive research and documentation, Rebello reconstructs the cultural impact of both the novel and film, including the media coverage, public reaction, and industry response. His account examines the behind-the-scenes dynamics between key figures like producer David Weisbart, director Mark Robson, and the ambitious young stars. The book serves as both a cultural history and an examination of how a provocative work of popular fiction transformed into a defining piece of 1960s cinema. The story reveals broader themes about Hollywood power structures, female representation in media, and the evolution of American entertainment.

Readers consistently mention how detailed and thorough the behind-the-scenes coverage is of Valley of the Dolls' production. Many note its depth of research and interviews. Readers appreciated: - Extensive cast interviews and production details - Coverage of casting decisions and conflicts - Details about Judy Garland's brief involvement - Documentation of on-set dynamics Common criticisms: - Writing style can be repetitive - Too much focus on minor production elements - Lack of analysis about the film's cultural impact - Some readers found the tone gossipy Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (153 ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (127 ratings) Several readers noted it reads "more like a lengthy magazine article than a book." One Amazon reviewer said "exhaustively researched but exhausting to read." Multiple Goodreads reviews praised the "wealth of first-hand accounts" while criticizing the "scattered organization."

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🎬 The film adaptation of "Valley of the Dolls" cost $4.7 million to produce in 1967 - a significant budget for its time - but went on to earn over $50 million worldwide. 📚 Author Jacqueline Susann personally hand-sold her novel to bookstores across America, helping "Valley of the Dolls" become the first novel to sell one million copies in hardcover. 🎭 Over 1,400 actresses auditioned for various roles in the film, with Sharon Tate ultimately landing her breakthrough role as Jennifer North. 🎨 Stephen Rebello, the book's author, is also known for writing "Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho," which was adapted into the 2012 film "Hitchcock" starring Anthony Hopkins. 💊 The "dolls" in the title refer to prescription pills (uppers and downers), reflecting the dark reality of substance abuse in Hollywood during the 1960s.