Valley of the Dolls the Mount Everest of her dreams, only to find herself back in the valley of the dolls. Susann had apparently been thinking about the novel for some time. Some years earlier, she had begun "Underneath the Pancake", a show business novel, with her actress friend Beatrice Cole (c. 1910–1999). Later, she considered writing a novel about drug usage in show business to be called "The Pink Dolls". "Valley of the Dolls" is considered to be a "roman à clef", with its characters based on famous figures such as Judy Garland, Carole Landis, Dean Martin, and Ethel Merman. In 1973, after
Valley of the Dolls (film) novel's author, Jacqueline Susann). Anne abandons drugs (By throwing them across the room) and her unfaithful lover and takes a train returning to New England, where her aunt Amy (Judith Lowry in an uncredited role) lives, and she finds she is truly happier. She moves back in with her aunt and with the money she accrued over the years, helps her with the house and finances. Lyon ends his affair with Neely (when he quits as her manager) and travels to New England to ask Anne to marry him. She decides to move on with her life (remaining in New