If DC Had Directed Valley of the Dolls (was "Joan Crawford as...")

[Mysterious Benefactor]

I guess we now have definitive documentation that the MB does NOT like camp

Umm - I don't know if I'd say I don't like camp - but honestly I can't think of one supposedly campy film that I do like.  :-   Maybe I just need to think harder. 

As for Myra Breckenridge, I loved the book - but the film is most definitely not the book. It's not even a pale reflection of what the book was. And it's no wonder Gore Vidal denounced the film and continues to denounce it to this day.

And as for BTVOTD, the best thing about that film is the music and Strawberry Alarm Clock in particular. But, whoa, the other aspects!    And as a fan of Siskel and Ebert and later Ebert and Roper, I've always gotten the impression that Ebert is proud that he wrote the script. He seemed to act proud whenever the subject of the film came up. But, of course, it's possible to have a good script that gets turned into a less than successfully realized movie. For example, we need look no farther than hoDS. And while not as disappointed as Gore with the MyraB film, just look at what Sam Hall has said about how hoDS turned out...

But anyway, this topic has gone off in directions way OT from the premise markyboo first set up, so perhaps it's time to get back on track. 

[MagnusTrask]

I'm going to hazard a guess that the topic has no further juice left in it, so I'll throw in this:  interesting thing about Strawberry Alarm Clock.   I believe "Incense and Peppermints" was literally recorded in a garage, with some guy they knew as vocalist, then once they hit it big they lost track of the guy who sang on it.    I don't think anybody remembers his name.   Great record.

[Charles_Ellis]

If Russ Meyer made HODS, Marie Wallace would've been cast as Maggie, and Nancy Barrett would still be Carolyn, as both women were, in Meyer's logic, "voluptuous", and like Howard Hughes, he never met a bosom he didn't like.  Of course, Joan Bennett would be replaced by Jane Russell!

As to "VD",  Grayson would steal the show as Helen Lawson, especially in the powder-room scene!  I'd prefer Jerry Lacy as Tony Polar with Marie Wallace as Miriam, Thayer David as Henry Bellamy, Clarice Blackburn as Miss Steinberg, and Louis Edmonds as Ted Casablanca!

BTW, there are already two DS actors in the actual 1967 film:  Robert Viharo, who played the handsome theatrical director in the rehersal hall scenes at the start of the film and reappears as Helen's escort at the party just before the 'powder room' sequence, appeared in DS' second episode.  He was the young man (along with Alan Feinstein) who danced with Carolyn at The Blue Whale.  Also, Judith Lowry who played Anne's Aunt Amy  was on DS as a hand double for the aged Cassandra after Sam's painting aged her to 200 years!

[Gothick]

Charles, this is such a bizarre coincidence; I was just about to post a new "Episode 2" thread inquiring about the identity of the two actors who dance with Carolyn in that iconic scene in the second episode of the series.

I think Robert Viharo is the fellow on the right of the snapshot in today's episode montage.  I guess Mr. Feinstein must be the other one.  Or do I have it topsy-turvy?

G.

[Mysterious Benefactor]

You've identified them correctly, Gothick.    And here's the capture in question so people will know what's being talked about:

[Gothick]

Thanks so much MB ... for everything!

Nancy was really off the hook in that scene!

G.