A welcome release for a pair of  trashy road to ruin movies, the two are really only linked by title, the first, Valley of the Dolls, being the mid 1960’s version of Jacqueline Susann’s blockbuster novel. Directed by Mark Robson it’s the story (told over some twenty years) of three young girls out to see their names in lights over Hollywood, starring the beautiful Barbara Parkins, Patty Duke and the tragic Sharon Tate (some two years before Charles Manson made her famous for all the wrong rerasons). A real product of the sixties and made when psychedelia was just rearing its head there was allegedly a lot of behind the scenes acrimony during the making of the movie, it’s a fun ride nonetheless.

Beyond the Valley of the Dolls is a different kettle of fish altogether and if you like big breasts (and let’s face who doesn’t) then this could just be the greatest film ever made. Directed by the soft porn king Russ Meyer and with a script by noted film critic Roger Ebert Beyond is choc full of kitsch and is very funny. The film pretty much follows the same path as the original but this time focusing on an all girl pop band full of playboy centrefolds (the cast includes Dolly Read and Cynthia Meyers), a sort of late 1960’s version of the Spice Girls if you like. At the time of its initial release Beyond was considered to be a very murky dip into uncharted waters by a major studio but can now be seen as a none too serious peice of fluff.... With Boobs!!!

Extras: None unfortunately.