Summary
- Roger Ebert, from Urbana, Illinois, started his decorated career in film criticism with early works at The Daily Illini.
- Ebert diversified as a screenwriter, collaborating with Russ Meyer on the cult classic
Beyond the Valley of the Dolls
. - Despite the film’s controversy, Ebert maintained its artistic merit and legacy while balancing his role as a respected critic.
As a film enthusiast and critic with over four decades of experience under my belt, I must say that Roger Ebert’s foray into screenwriting was nothing short of intriguing. The man who once penned poignant reviews on films like Pulp Fiction, had an unexpected stint in the world of B-movies and skin flicks, with Beyond the Valley of the Dolls taking center stage.
Roger Ebert, born two hours south of Chicago in Urbana, Illinois, began his college education early and stood out at Urbana High due to his work on the school newspaper. He continued his journalistic pursuits at the University of Illinois, writing film reviews and eventually editing the college newspaper as a senior. A review he wrote for The Daily Illini in 1961 about Federico Fellini’s La Dolce Vita hinted at the extraordinary career in film criticism that lay ahead. However, before reaching such acclaimed heights, Ebert experienced some trials and tribulations, particularly during his stint as a screenwriter.
Initially, Ebert aspired for a doctorate but needed to earn a living first. He eventually landed a job at The Chicago Sun-Times in 1967 as a reporter and feature writer. Climbing the ranks swiftly, he championed groundbreaking New Hollywood films such as Arthur Penn’s “Bonnie and Clyde” and Martin Scorsese’s “Who’s That Knocking at My Door.” In essence, Ebert was increasingly associated with this revolutionary period in filmmaking. Unsurprisingly, he harbored ambitions to be a screenwriter as well. His first script to be produced was “Beyond the Valley of the Dolls” in 1970, a project spearheaded by Russ Meyer, a master of sexploitation films.
Russ Meyer Took a Chance on Ebert, an Unlikely Admirer
In simpler terms, Russ Meyer was a more risqué counterpart to Roger Corman, excelling in various roles on set while making budget-friendly adult-themed films. Following his service as an Army cameraman during World War II, capturing newsreels, Meyer utilized his cinematic skills as a glamour photographer post-war, working with some of the early photographers for Playboy Magazine. It was clear to Meyer that sex had a strong appeal, which led him to produce films like The Immoral Mr. Teas (1959) and later Faster Pussycat! Kill! Kill!, earning him the title of the ‘King of the Nudies.’ Essentially, he recognized the power of eroticism in filmmaking early on.
Roger Ebert, who previously supported Meyers in the Sun-Times, later collaborated with him on the story for the movie Up! and eventually penned the screenplay for Beyond the Valley of the Dolls. This partnership between Meyer and Ebert might seem like a form of payment for favor (payola) considering that Meyers, who was often criticized by film critics, ended up employing one to write his films. However, Ebert’s 1975 Pulitzer Prize likely dispelled any suspicions about conflict of interest. Nevertheless, it is clear that Ebert aspired for more than just being a critic and seized the opportunity offered by Meyer towards the end of 1969.
Beyond the Valley of the Dolls, Indeed
Initially, Meyer was tasked by 20th Century Fox to create a follow-up to the movie “The Valley of the Dolls“, which featured actresses like Patty Duke and Sharon Tate (the person portrayed by Margot Robbie in “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” who tragically fell victim to the Manson Family). The term “dolls” in the title is slang for barbiturate pills, powerful drugs that gained almost mythical status in Hollywood due to their connection to the deaths of famous figures such as Marilyn Monroe, Jimi Hendrix, and Judy Garland. Despite its massive box office success, the movie was met with harsh criticism, possibly sparking Meyer’s desire to collaborate with Ebert for his indirect sequel.
In a departure from plans for a sequel by Duke and Tate, the film “Beyond the Valley of the Dolls” moved even further, as Roger Ebert amplified its gritty, drug-fueled, rock-oriented, and violent elements – all while adding a tongue-in-cheek disclaimer to distinguish it from its precursor. The story primarily revolves around a female rock band, fronted by Kelly MacNamara (portrayed by Dolly Read), who embark on a journey to Los Angeles in pursuit of success and wealth. This narrative aligns with typical early ’70s themes, but Ebert’s audacious scenes feature graphic depictions of beheadings, shattered relationships due to unexpected pregnancies, and explorations of same-sex love affairs that challenged societal norms for the era.
A Derided Sex Romp Becomes an Exploitation Cult Classic
One intriguing aspect of “Beyond” wasn’t merely its unusual content, but also the unique blend of a conventional storyline with the outrageous elements reminiscent of ’70s adult films. The director, Russ Meyer, was brought on board due to the success of his X-rated film “Vixen!“, and he didn’t shy away from incorporating these unconventional elements into “Beyond “, which deviated significantly from its predecessor in terms of class. Unlike the young stars of the original, the majority of actors in this film were relatively unknown.
In just three weeks, Ebert penned the script, expressing that while it lampooned the original, Beyond retained a certain artistic value. Later, Ebert labeled his script as a “comical critique of Hollywood norms, storylines, dialogues, characters, and success recipes, with an extra layer of unexpectedly violent scenes that left some critics questioning whether the film itself was aware of its comedic nature.”
It was quite ironic that Ebert, known for his critical stance against excessive violence in films, employed graphic violence in his own movie production. Later in his career as a critic, he would soften praise for influential films like “Pulp Fiction,” expressing concerns about the impact of violence on filmmaking. The violent content in “Beyond” may have been influenced by Meyer, and it was met with indifference from major critics at the time, including Gene Siskel, who gave Ebert’s script a zero out of four stars.
The Film’s (and Ebert’s) Legacy
After the release of “Beyond”, my screenwriting journey didn’t immediately gain momentum. I wrote the sequel to “Beyond” titled “Beyond the Valley of the Ultra-Vixens” nearly a decade later, and also drafted another script centered around the iconic British punk rock band, The Sex Pistols. In collaboration with Malcolm McLaren, the notorious manager of The Sex Pistols, I worked on a film project called “Who Killed Bambi?” The intention was to create a shocking movie to introduce McLaren’s punk rock band to the world. Russ Meyer entrusted me with this task, though unfortunately, the film never reached the screens. As a passionate movie lover, it was an exciting journey to be part of these unique projects.
In 1975, Roger Ebert boosted his reputation by featuring on the TV show “Sneak Previews” alongside Gene Siskel, a long-time collaborator of his. This Chicago public television program gained more recognition, transitioning to PBS and later Disney (under different titles), as Siskel and Ebert became America’s most well-known film critics. It stands to reason that Ebert’s sustained success and prominence in film criticism might have discouraged him from pursuing additional screenwriting endeavors. After all, such activities could potentially draw the ire of other filmmakers he had critiqued.
Roger Ebert, throughout his life, maintained a close friendship with filmmaker Russ Meyer, who largely stepped away from creating his provocative films in the 80s but occasionally appeared in adult films due to his notorious reputation within the industry. Although Ebert may not have made substantial screenwriting contributions, his work still earned him a niche status, making his critic opinions even more trustworthy. Why not check out “Beyond the Valley of the Dolls” on AppleTV+?
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2024-08-11 23:31