Harper Valley P.T.A. (1978)

45% of users liked it
(414 ratings)

This low-budget expansion of the popular Tom T. Hall/Jeannie C. Riley song "Harper Valley PTA" is surprisingly good, boasting lively performances by star Barbara Eden and everybody else in the cast. Eden plays Stella Johnson, a widowed single mom whose gaudy makeup, miniskirts and tight jeans are a… More This low-budget expansion of the popular Tom T. Hall/Jeannie C. Riley song "Harper Valley PTA" is surprisingly good, boasting lively performances by star Barbara Eden and everybody else in the cast. Eden plays Stella Johnson, a widowed single mom whose gaudy makeup, miniskirts and tight jeans are a source of scandal for the smug, self-righteous members of the local PTA. Forced to leave town with her teenaged daughter Dee (Susan Swift), Stella gets revenge with photographic evidence revealing the sexual peccadilloes and drunken misbehavior of the oh-so-righteous PTA members. The supporting cast includes such seasoned comic pros as Nanette Fabray, Louis Nye, Pat Paulsen and Audrey Christie, all performing above and beyond the call of duty. A weekly-TV version of Harper Valley PTA, also starring Barbara Eden, soon followed. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 33 min.
Directed By: Richard C. Bennett
Genres: Comedy

In Theaters: Aug 2, 1978 Wide
On DVD: May 31, 2005

Critic Reviews

Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com
Worthwhile in an archival sort of way, in that it's fascinating to see what passed for comedy in the horrifically tacky era of the late 1970's.

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Featured Audience Ratings

jay n

Silly, harmless fluff plays like a TV movie with a slightly bigger budget than usual especially with Barbara Eden in the lead.

Cast

            Barbara Eden as Stella Johnson

            Ronny Cox as Willis Newton

            Nanette Fabray as Alice Finely

            Susan Swift as Dee Johnson

            Louis Nye as Kirby Baker

            John Fiedler as Bobby Taylor

            Audrey Christie as Flora Simpson Reilly

            DeVera Marcus as Holly Taylor

            Irene Yah Ling Sun as Myrna Wong

            Louise Foley as Mavis Schroeder

            Clint Howard as Corley

            Jan Marie Teige as Reilly Twin

            Laura Teige as Reilly Twin

            Fay DeWitt as Willa Mae Jones

            Molly Dodd as Olive Glover

            Ron Masak as Herbie Maddox

            Amzie Strickland as Shirley Thompson

            Brian Cook as Carlyle Ridley

            Tobias Anderson as Barney

            Bob Hastings as Skeeter

            Arlen Stuart as Bertha Harper

            J.J. Barry as Nolan

            Royce D. Applegate as Dutch

            Whitey Hughes as Stunt Man

            Woody Harrelson
            
            Pitt Herbert as Henry Reilly

            Pat Paulsen as Otis Harper Jr.
See full cast