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Jism Jim experiences BEYOND THE VALLEY OF THE DOLLS
Hey folks, Harry here and ya know... If you haven't seen BEYOND THE VALLEY OF THE DOLLS... well.. You just haven't quite lived yet. There is something transcendent about the film that just... Well it just creates a feeling of temporary insanity where you may and might do anything that your brain ordinarily tells you is wrong. The music is fantastic. The writing is literally unlike anything you have ever heard or seen. And I mean that in a very very complimentary manner. It is also the reason why Roger Ebert is super cool. I mean. He wrote this movie. Worked with Russ Meyer. And that is just too cool. When I did Siskel and Ebert I had Rog, sign my pressbook for the film... But when I did Minneapolis... a very cool fan (who's email address I have lost!) gave me a VALLEY OF THE DOLLS/BEYOND THE VALLEY OF THE DOLLS one-sheet that just rocked. But man... I would love to be in L.A. for this Russ Meyer fest. Too cool.
I went to the screening of Russ Meyer's "Beyond
the Valley of the Dolls" at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood. They've
had a Russ Meyer fest there going on for a few days and it lasts until
next weekend. Guess who attended the screening and stayed for Q&A
later on…the man himself. RUSS MEYER ! Not to mention Edy Williams,
John "Z-man" Lazar, Haji and Kitten Natividad. That is not a misprint
Harry. It was a religious experience for me and I haven't come down
from the high yet. Before the picture started, the theater was playing
the audio track from Beneath The Valley of the UltraVixens. The
audience - nothing but Meyer fans who slobber over "Dolls" in
particular. Everyone laughing their asses off at the best parts, "This
is my happening and it freaks me out, man!" and "you will drink the
black sperm of my vengeance !". I wish they would have cleaned up the
print though, several places in it had green scratches and some shots
needed to have the color matched or enhanced. The whole thing was
surreal. Especially at the end when I met Russ.
They started the Q&A
at the end of the film, Russ said a few things regarding the freedom
Fox gave him in making the film and , Edy babbled for a few minutes too
long, John Lazar answered some questions. He talked about how he was
blacklisted from the industry for being in the movie. He said casting
agents would tell him it was a mistake to do the film and that they
were surprised that he wasn't anything like the Z-man character. He
would reply, "Of course I'm not like that guy, I'm a fuckin' actor. If
I was like that guy, I'd be in fuckin' San Quentin !". He seemed a
little bitter at how life turned out for him but still believes in the
film's integrity.
They said we had to clear out because they were
letting another audience in to see a screening of "Lorna" & "Cherry,
Harry & Raquel". At that point I immediately walked to the front and
stood next to Russ and waited for him & John Lazar to finish their
conversation, so I could get an autograph.
After Lazar left, he turned
to me and resumed his conversation (now to the general public, I
guess). He mentioned a few things like he wanted to direct a film on
Hemingway and that he would be Hemingway and he would shoot at a
whorehouse he likes to frequent. I think he was joking, but I was in
mild shock that he was even talking to me.
I don't think he's senile or
anything, but I worry the old gent may be slowly fading. I asked him if
his films were going to be on DVD anytime soon. He said he prefers to
wait a while on things like that. I wanted to say, "Russ, please, you
won't be around for many more years. Can we record the director
commentary now?". Instead, I asked him to sign my photo of him and
co-writer Roger Ebert (which I had purchased only minutes before the
screening).
Russ said Ebert made all kinds of wonderful contributions
to the film and he enjoyed working with him (he also said Ebert's wife
was the primary reason they didn't work on any projects after Beneath
the Valley of the UltraVixens. Apparently she doesn't care for Russ's
brand of cinema, but she has no problem with Russ personally).
Talk to ya later,
Jism Jim
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There are 2 Gods. Harry and Roger. We can hold hope that one day they will rule a totalitarian empire.
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I have to say Roger Ebert is a great example of someone who truly loves every aspect of movies; the watching, the filming, the writing, the festivals, etc. Just like Harry takes a lot from people who think he's too soft on movies, Ebert gets flak from people for being a hard-ass. (Wouldn't surprise me in the least that these are the exact same people.) And like Harry, Ebert is not perfect, he's like a one of the Greek Gods who were more human in their flaws than the humans in the myths, nor do I always agree with what he says. But man...would I love to have a serious debate on why. My dream is to someday meet Ebert and exchange notes during a critics screening.
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YOU will love Cherry HILL HIGH! LOOK FOR IT! IT IS A GEM!!!! ALSO RECOMMENDED ARE:
THE LONELY LADY w/ PIA
AUDITIONS (1978 campy soft-core flick)
LOVE CRIMES w/ Sean Young
TERMINAL ISLAND
MOMMIE DEAREST "the champ of camp!"
these are just to name some but by all means seek out "CHERRY HILL HIGH" and you shall rewarded, it's the kind of flick you want to spring on your friends at your next movie/wine/pot party!
BEYOND THE VALLEY RULES!!!!!! THEY SHould really make BEYOND THE VALLEY 2000 and cast these hip young Hollywood Whores, whoops I meant actors in it, it would be so fun!!! BRING CAMP BACK!!! WE NEED ANOTHER SHOWGIRLS!!! -
That's one thing these would-be critics haven't written: A SCREENPLAY. Roger Ebert has and it's friggin cool!
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Faster Pussycat is the best of bad. The thing that made Meyer's chick so awsome was they had REAL Hooters!!!! That made them special cause they were home grown, not store bought. He had to find'em. I sure wish Dallas had more events like this.
Long Live Russ Meyer! -
I was at the same screening, and Mike Meyers was there as well, and I saw him (or rather heard him) laugh the loudest toward the end when Kelly makes Harris walk across the river in crutches. Meyers was the nicest guy, too. Also Erica Gavin was there, and she was really cool. She said she rarely does these things, but she wanted to show some respect for Russ Meyer. By the way, Edy Williams refused to sign an autograph for me unless I paid her 10 bucks. What a bitch.
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There's nothing like a Russ Meyer flick and Beyond the Valley of the Dolls is no exception. Those freaking hot mamas!!! Those freaking way out lines!!! Thatfreaking acidddddddddddd technicolor-rama!!!!!!!!!!! See it, I can't explain it, SEE IT!!!
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I attended a previous screening of BVD at the 'theque this past summer during the "mods and rockers" festival, and got autographs from Russ, John, and Edy (she didn't charge me, but she was kinda short with me). Russ spoke of his proposed "Normandy whorehouse" project that Roger would write, as well as a remake of "Faster Pussycat" Of course, we sadly know none of these projects will ever happen. I later met Cynthia Myers at a Playboy reunion show, and she was a total sweetheart. She did charge for an autograph, but she also spoke to me for almost an hour, so I didn't mind.
Now just recently I attended for the FASTER PUSSYCAT show, and got to meet all four actresses from the movie, and they all look great still, especially Lori Williams, who to my surprise, is not related in any way to Edy Williams. I will be returning this week for the rarely revived THE SEVEN MINUTES.
Re: Ebert's wife. Harry, has he had more than one? I know he married that black TV reporter about seven years ago, but I thought that was his first marriage. Did you ever talk to him about Meyer and this supposed first wife?
If indeed Roger has any script notes for the "Normandy whorehouse" script, maybe this should be that WWII movie that Quentin Tarantino has long desired to make. You must admit, it certainly wouldn't be a rehash of SAVING THE THIN RED RYAN.
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