Harper Valley P.T.A.

And it becomes a cracking film that makes one feel that life mIght be worth living!I was especially glad that she got a man who seemed good enough for her. Did Bobby Taylor really think that a fun loving beauty Might be interested. In HIM?

The movie is based on a popular country music song. Watch "Harper Valley PTA" with that in mind and you'll be pleasantly surprised by the cast of reliable old pros of light comedy lampooning the mores of middle America. But there are a few bonuses to this unpretentious film, starting with the vivacious and lovely Barbara Eden and ending with a truckload full of Seattle Slew's less-savory contributions. Also, look for the great Louis Nye (playing a lecherous Realtor) to get his comeuppance in a way to delight foot, leg and Asian-woman fetishists everywhere. Like the much more contemporary Michael J. Fox star vehicle "The Secret of My Success," "Harper Valley" offers a pleasing mix of comedy, sexy situations and root-for-the-little-guy moments that make the film enjoyable from beginning to end. Solid comic acting all around. It's no "The Man Who Came to Dinner," but "Harper Valley" contains enough real laughs to make it worth 90 minutes of your time.

I thought this was an excellent statement that exemplified the saying that "those who live in glass houses should not throw stones." A great movie that made one feel that maybe, just perhaps, we can all come out on top sometimes with our dignity intact.

I don't really like to respond to specific reviews, but there's just no other way to rebut. Harper Valley PTA was not a made-for-TV movie, it had a theatrical showing, albeit not a particularly successful one. It also was very true to the events as portrayed in the song. The first 20 minutes of the movie, in fact, recreate the lyrics almost exactly, at times verbatim. The episodes of revenge and counter-revenge which follow are a logical progression from that story. I don't think Harper Valley PTA will ever be considered even a good film, much less a great one. It is fun to watch, though, especially during the middle section. I've never seen a movie that starred Barbara Eden that wasn't at least watchable. Her screen persona is so natural and likable that it doesn't really matter what vehicle she's in.

The Harper Valley P.T.A. learned a very good lesson in ethics. Teaches you to call someone something when you are not so clean yourself. Barbara couldn't have played the part better.

Good sitcom-ish movie that makes for a pleasant few hours entertainment. A cast of old-style character actor pros make the rather silly plot worth watching. The revenge set-pieces are the highlights, but the action ending doesn't ruin the fun. Any movie that focuses on good guys squelching the snobs is worth getting, and Barbara Eden is always watchable.

Someone had the right idea of visualizing Jeannie C. Riley's fantastic country-western song "Harper Valley P.T.A." with a low-budget and a low brow. A big glossy look and lots of celebrities in the cast would've sapped the raucous spirit of this piece. As party-girl Mrs. Johnson, Barbara Eden is perfectly cast, as are Susan Swift as her somewhat embarrassed daughter and Nanette Fabray as her gal-pal. The picture moves along swimmingly until a chase-climax pops the balloon (it's too routine and badly extended). Still, the details here are just right and the writing is pretty solid--and creating a screenplay from one song can't be easy. **1/2 from ****