Beyond the Valley of the Dolls [Criterion Collection]

Roundly panned upon its first release, Russ Meyer's X-rated Beyond the Valley of the Dolls has gained a huge cult following over the years for its unique mix of pop music, high camp, and exploitation. Dolly Read, Cynthia Myers and Marcia McBroom comprise a rock group called the Carrie Nations, who'll do anything to hit it big in show business. Their "anything goes" attitudes towards pot, group sex and lesbianism lead to several sticky plot complications, culminating in a murder spree (in one shot, a man is decapitated as the 20th Century-Fox fanfare is heard on the soundtrack). Bearing absolutely no relation to the Jacqueline Susann novel/film Valley of the Dolls, Beyond the Valley of the Dolls was coscripted by film critic Roger Ebert.