Harper Valley P.T.A. (1978) User Reviews

Wish people would pay attention

[Tarseven · 6/10 · 2 November 2005]

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.

A fun song makes for a pretty good comedy

[moonspinner55 · 6/10 · 13 October 2002]

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 ****

Not great, but I view it with affection

[mcornett · 7/10 · 14 June 2013]

Back during my youth in the 70s, the town I lived it was very conservative and tightly wound. Parents cringed at the thought of James Bond movies shown on TV, as the locals thought of them as hardcore porn. Strict standards were expected from everyone.

As teens, the local kids started to realize how overflowing with hypocrisy the town was, and when this movie came along, we rejoiced.

Stella Johnson is a freespirited widow in a conservative town who gets a nastygram from a disapproving PTA. Getting an earful from her friend who runs the local beauty parlor (they weren't called "salons" back then!), she confronts them at a meeting with their own failings (alcoholism, promiscuity, gambling, etc.), but after they don't back down, she engages in a series of pranks to expose and humiliate them. In the meantime she makes over her daughter, falls in love, runs for PTA president herself, and uncovers real corruption.

Yes, it's creaky material, done a jillion times before and probably done better. But Barbara Eden is an energetic and sympathetic heroine, and is believable as the dishy nonconformist mom. Nanette Fabray is also a hoot as her friend Alice. And a bunch of old pros do their best.

But we loved it in our town because so many of the younger set were disgusted with the self-righteousness and hypocrisy we saw in our teachers, in the town government, in the church leaders, and frequently in our own parents. We relished our daydreams of exposing their foibles and confronting them, but too often never did. (Unfortunately, the truly self-righteous view these as simple malice and never truly realize they brought it on themselves.) So even if this movie isn't all that, it appeals to the downtrodden teen who still lives in me and is still disgusted with the self-righteous, it's-OK-if-I-do-it establishment. And I STILL need to expose my sticky-fingered mother about her larcenous habits...

Featherweight fun

[budikavlan · 9 March 2002]

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.

Sexy, fun screwball comedy

[effjaysullivan · 7/10 · 2 November 2006]

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.

For TV viewers only!

[JohnHowardReid · 3/10 · 24 June 2016]

If ever a movie seemed destined for an almost immediate playoff on TV, this one is it. Not only is it directed TV style with lots of generous close-ups of the glamorous star, but the ugly support players are also cut into the action with monotonous regularity – and often at most inappropriate moments. The script is as dull as ditch-water. In fact, it's not until the movie has been running for at least 20 minutes that you realize that it's supposed to be a comedy! Each segment of the movie ends with a convenient freeze- frame to allow for the easy introduction of commercials. No doubt if you're the sort of viewer who cackles about drunks who see pink elephants, or are highly amused when a school teacher finds herself arbitrarily inserted into a sex education film, and really falls over laughing when society matrons discover that their hair is falling out, "Harper Valley PTA" is certainly a must-see. Barbara Eden's fans will enjoy the film too. But in my opinion, Miss Eden generates about as much excitement here as an Arctic seal in a snow- storm.

Send up of small town politics and social cliques with Barbara Eden

[Wuchakk · 6/10 · 22 November 2015]

Released in 1978, "Harper Valley PTA" stars Barbara Eden as a beautiful outcast in a small Ohio town of conservative hypocrites. She exposes their shameful secrets and, with the help of her pal (Nanette Fabray) and daughter (Susan Swift), pulls all sorts of humiliating pranks, not to mention runs for the position of PTA president. Ronny Cox plays her wannabe boyfriend while John Fiedler, Audrey Christie and numerous others are on hand as townspeople.

Based on Jeannie C. Riley's hit song, this is a fairly amusing light comedy satirizing the ethos of middle America. It didn't do so great at the box office, but it was a later hit on TV and led to a TV series. While the movie was rated PG it'd be considered PG-13 today and almost R-rated in light of a totally buff John Fiedler scene (from behind) and a sex education sequence. Although these scenes surprised me (because I thought it was a PG movie) they're no big deal in the context of shenanigans of the movie. Speaking of the shenanigans, some of them are pretty outrageous, like the elephant sequence and the hay/manure scene. The latter could've easily ended on a fatal note, but the comedic air keeps the tone light. Barbara was 46 during filming and never looked better. I laughed more than I expected to, but not enough to give it a higher rating. In any case, the movie's worth seeing just to enjoy going back to 1977 Ohio. It's like a time capsule.

The original version runs 102 minutes and was shot in Lebanon, Ohio, and nearby areas.

GRADE: C+ or B- (5.5/10 Stars)

Tolerable fluff with no surprises

[highwaytourist · 4/10 · 16 August 2010]

As everyone knows, this movie was inspired by the hit country single "Harper Valley PTA" by Jeannie Riley, with a strong message about not throwing stones in glass houses and practicing what you preach. Like the song's lyrics, it's about a young, beautiful widow and mother (Barbara Eden) whose flashy dress and outgoing personality causes rumors to spread about her alleged promiscuousness, motivated in part from jealousy over her beauty and vivaciousness. In fact, as with the song, the people who are passing judgment on her are guilty of far worse things than she is. Inspired might not be the right word, as this comedy is ordinary and mildly funny at best. It plays very much like a 1970's television show of the week, but was actually a theatrical release. No one will be surprised at anything that happens. Aside from being so formula, the film was outdated. The claims against her still had some stigma in American small towns in 1968, when this song struck a cord, but by 1978, few people Americans shocked by such things anymore, not even in small towns. Looking great for her age (44 at the time), Barbara Eden is charming and likable as always, and the supporting cast is OK in their stock character roles, giving us a harmless and painless way to pass the time. This is recommended for people who really like the song and have low expectations.

Sock it to 'em!

[Jerry-9 · 10/10 · 12 March 1999]

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.

Barbara Eden Against Some Harper Valley Hypocrits

[Uriah43 · 4/10 · 23 September 2017]

This film essentially begins with a young junior high school girl named "Dee Johnson" (Susan Swift) coming home and handing her mother "Stella Johnson" (Barbara Eden) a letter from the P.T.A. questioning her moral ability to raise her child. Needless to say this causes Stella to become extremely angry and as a result she quickly proceeds to the next meeting and gives them all a piece of her mind. Unfortunately, unlike the title song by Jeannie C. Riley, the matter doesn't end there as the next day she finds her front yard toilet papered and a rock with a nasty message attached thrown through her kitchen window. So in order to resolve the problem once and for all she decides to even the score by preying on each of their weaknesses. Now rather than reveal any more I will just say that the best thing about this film was the presence of Barbara Eden who looked as attractive as ever. On the flip side, however, for a movie that was billed as a comedy the humor wasn't very sharp and the made-for-television format lessened the drama to a certain extent as well. That being said, while this isn't a bad movie by any means, other than the aforementioned Barbara Eden there really wasn't anything special about it and for that reason I have rated it accordingly. Slightly below average.

Barbara Eden Was Excellent

[garyldibert · 10/10 · 21 April 2007]

TITLE: HARPER VALLEY PTA was release in theaters on January 1 1978 and the time on this movie was 93 minutes. Harper Valley PTA is a 1978 comedy movie starring Barbara Eden, Ronn Cox, and Nanette Fabray. . The country music song written by Tom T. Hall of the same title inspired the movie. In 1981, it was adapted into a television series, with Barbara Eden reprising her role. Also starring in this motion picture was Ronny Cox and Nanette Fabray

SUMMARY: The day my momma socked it to the Harper Valley PTA. The smash hit song was considered scandalous and the movie is a terrific satire with a fun-loving comedy style. It's all about that fateful day when my momma socked it to the Harper Valley PTA. Poor Stella Johnson, she and her 13 year old daughter Dee seem to have been overlooked by the Harper Valley welcome wagon. Perhaps it's because Harper Valley wives have suddenly noticed that their husbands leave work the same time voluptuous Stella a widow, goes for her daily jog. These same matrons have decided that Stella should go back where she came from, and threaten to expel her daughter from school because of Stella's nonconformist ways. However, they have another thing coming, because angry Stella and her friend Alice have received a masterful plan for revenge. What ensues is a hysterical scenario of Harper Valley Housekeeping-with Stella wielding the broom-as every PTA. Member gets his just desserts. A delicious comedy confection for the whole family!

MY THOUGHTS: I like this movie because of the comedy and the acting of Barbara Eden. It was nice to see her in another role other than Jeanine. I give this movie 10 weasel stars.

Revenge can be fun...if you don't get caught!

[mark.waltz · 5/10 · 10 May 2017]

What really could have been a classic farce of well deserved justice turns out to be formulatic and sitcom like. There are plenty of great ideas all around, but the problem is that this becomes like a bucket list where the same goal keeps being met over and over and over. Made during a period of some classic Mel Brooks, Woody Allen, Blake Edwards and Neil Simon classics, this has easily been forgotten, and only being familiar with the short lived TV sitcom version, I can certainly see why.

Receiving a judgemental letter threatening to expel her daughter because of judgments against her, Barbara Eden takes it upon herself to get even, and boy, does this snooty group deserve all they get. Eden shows up at a meeting and exposes all of their secrets, all with the purpose of proving what hypocrites they are and how judgment of others is wrong, especially when they are all drunks, sex maniacs and crooks. One by one, they each get their comeuppance, but that doesn't stop leader Audrey Christie from vowing to stop her, even after she's gone through a hair falling experience of her own.

Often hysterical, and filled with some meaning behind the vengeance, this fails to come fully together thanks to its weakening structure and repetitiveness. Eden is fantastic, with a Bohemian like Nanette Fabray magnificent as her partner in crime. Christie is playing a modern version of her "Unsinkable Molly Brown" character of Mrs. McGraw, while John Fiedler gets a great baring moment with nothing but a fire hose on. This suffers from seeming instantly dated in a very 70's mode, and that makes it a time capsule, not a representation of what was funny in the late 1970's.

excellent portrayal of housewife justice

[Neph-2 · 20 August 1999]

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.

Another good lightweight comedy.

[gwcohn-2 · 8/10 · 6 November 2009]

Again this was one of those movies I added to my Netflix queue just to see if it was as good as I remembered. It was well worth watching again.

It's another small town movie, actually filmed in Lebanon Ohio according to the end credits.

A great send up of small town politics and social cliques that try to be something more than they really are. Yes, It's based on the song and one of the few C&W hits I will listen to.

I noticed in the movie that Barbara Eden appeared to have aged and did some research. She was 44 when the movie came out. Too bad all 44 year old women don't hold up that well. I found myself wondering more than once how she got in those tight pants though. :-) The movie appeals to the lecher in every man because of her looks but in reality she was just trying to be a good single mother and had the right to enjoy herself as well. The innocent romantic scenes with Will will please most women.

The high school scenes were realistic and as I remembered them from my high school years. Typical stuff, popular athlete won't hardly speak to anyone except the cheerleader type.

I like older movies like this because they were funny and didn't rely on a lot of vulgar language and car crashes to grab your attention. Just good wholesome humor with enough adult themes to keep you from being bored.

The hay truck dumping barn waste in the board members car and the credit of "Manure supplied by Seattle Slew" were about as adult as it got. That and the ubiquitous high school sex education film clips. (Did everybody have to sit through those in high school?) Probably not a movie you should let your five year old watch and most teenagers would think it was lame.

Well worth another look just to see how Hollywood has forgotten how to make a lightweight comedy.

hypocrisy won't stand

[lee_eisenberg · 9/10 · 14 September 2012]

In a role not too far removed from a certain voluptuous bottled spirit, Barbara Eden plays a widow whose attire and attitude don't please the authority figures in her conservative small town. The local PTA threatens to expel her daughter from school, so the mom calls each of the members on their hypocrisy. After they get nasty, she engages in some cool revenge, including what has to be THE best sex ed movie EVER.

It was only through "Harper Valley P.T.A." that I learned that there's a song by the same name (sung, appropriately, by a woman named Jeannie). Whatever the case, it's just a funny movie. The first 15 or 16 minutes are based on the song's lyrics, and then begin the REAL pranks, culminating in a run for PTA president. The whole thing is a real pleasure.

Also starring Ronny Cox (Drew in "Deliverance"), Nanette Fabray, Susan Swift (the daughter in "Audrey Rose"), Louis Nye, John Fiedler (the voice of Piglet in the Winnie-the-Pooh productions), Pat Paulsen, Clint Howard, and a young Woody Harrelson.

great feel-good fun

[thomandybish · 31 July 2001]

Why don't they make 'em like this any more? HARPER VALLEY P.T.A is one of a handful of flicks from the late 70s and early 80s that mixed social satire with hilarity(9 TO 5 and HOW TO BEAT THE HIGH COST OF LIVING were two others). Barbara Edan is Stella Johnson, a hard-working single mother who attracts the ire of the self-righteous town Parent-Teacher Association. As those of you who remember how the country song this film was based on goes, Stella gets a not-too-tolerant letter cataloging her many indiscretions(which are merely rumors)and responds by giving the members what-for at a public meeting. When this results in public rejection(not to mention rocks through the Johnson house windows)Stella takes action, setting in motion a series of elaborate revenges against the P.T.A members that not only even the score but show up each person's hypocrisies. It's great to see beautiful Barbara Eden fight the stuck-up blue-bloods, pompous elected officials, and self-righteous educators who make up the P.T.A., because everyone can see a little of their own communities in Harper Valley.

one of my favourite songs

[marktayloruk · 9/10 · 28 August 2018]

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?

Theoretically funny

[Blueghost · 15 August 2005]

Midwest suburban Americana is forever captured on in a supposed send up inspired by a country song that made the charts.

I remember the build up and hype generated on both radio and TV for this purported knee-slapper of a movie, and when I saw it with the family we couldn't wait to turn the channel. It had a kind of wanton charm to it, but fell far short of a full blown send up of the emerging cultured country folk.

One of the things one should remember about making a movie inspired by a song is to know what the song is about before committing words to paper. The song itself tells of a woman with so-called loose or progressive morals bringing up her daughter in a provincial, but not entirely rural, portion of America. The kind of people who, though surrounded by the trappings of suburban life, are just too caught up in the petty inbred politics to fully appreciate what life has to offer. But the plot contrived by the screenwriters is hackneyed at best. It was not developed to its full potential, and the quality of cinematics shows in this made for TV movie which, if memory serves, saw theatrical release.

The plot jumps from one episode to the next without any real impetus on the part of the characters, and the results of the scenarios are as faked and contrived as the plot itself. Combine this with the usual canned music from the network "orcehstra" and you got yourself one hell of a bomb waiting to be dropped.

Myself, the lovely Barbara Eden was right for the role (being a very competent actress), but the situations in which her character was placed, and the direction she was given in terms of scene setup was several cards shy of a full deck. The acting in the film, for what it is, is actually okay. No Oscars will be won here, but I believed the actors were the characters they were portraying. There was nothing wrong there. It's just the material they were given to work with was very lackluster.

The actors playing the youths/kids were probably the one exception to the previous paragraph. Casting a male in his early to mid twenties to play a teenage love interest for a 13 year old girl, to me, seems ham fisted at best. I never bought into it, and found said male to be lacking in the emoting department.

There was real potential here to create something great, but the film, being a made for TV movie, falls a little flat here and there, and really never rises above the level of mediocrity. It has its positives, primarily the premise of both movie and song upon which it was placed, but, like I said earlier, really doesn't go the distance.

In short the film was just another mercenary effort to capitalize a trendy popular song and ethos of mid 70s Midwest. If you've never seen it, then it's worth a single viewing just to say you watched it, otherwise I'd avoid this thing.