Jacqueline Susann hated the film; after its November premiere aboard the passenger liner, "Princess Italia", she confronted the film's director, Mark Robson, and stated, "This picture is a piece of shit." In 2001, author Rae Lawrence published a continuation of "Valley of the Dolls", titled "Jacqueline Susann's Shadow of the Dolls" (Crown), which was reputedly based on notes left by Susann for an intended sequel. In its review, "Publishers Weekly" stated, "This tedious, tame sequel is aptly titled, as it languishes deep in the shadow of the original... Susann's original still packs a wallop; the sequel is a pulled punch." Susann's second
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