The final film in Cinephile Paradiso’s Summer of Love series is Mark Robson’s film adaptation of camp-classic, Valley of the Dolls…

In New York City, bright but naive New Englander Anne Welles (Barbara Parkins) becomes a secretary at a theatrical law firm, where she falls in love with attorney Lyon Burke (Paul Burke). Anne befriends up-and-coming singer Neely O’Hara (Patty Duke), whose dynamic talent threatens aging star Helen Lawson (Joey Bishop) and beautiful but talentless actress Jennifer North (Sharon Tate). The women experience success and failure in love and work, leading to heartbreak, addiction and tragedy.Valley of the Dolls is a 60s time capsule – but yet its themes remain timeless. The film exposes the sexual hypocrisy and the exploitation of women in the entertainment industry. It’s no wonder that it still captivates audiences today as a pop culture phenomenon.