The beautiful came to this city {Hollywood} in huge pathetic herds, to suffer, to be humiliated, to see the powerful currency of their beauty devalued like the Russian ruble or Argentine peso;to work as bellhops, as bar hostesses, as garbage collectors, as maids. The city was a cliff and they were its stampeding lemmings. At the foot of the cliff was the valley of the broken dolls.
The city of Hollywood is portrayed as a lot more than just a glamorous destination; it's depicted as a harsh and unforgiving place for those drawn by the allure of fame and beauty. Many beautiful individuals arrive in large numbers, only to face disappointment and degradation. Their beauty, once seen as an asset, loses its value in this setting, likened to the fall of economic currencies. Rather than achieving their dreams, they often find themselves in menial jobs, illustrating the stark contrast between expectation and reality.
This vivid imagery highlights the desperation and struggles faced by many who chase the Hollywood dream. The metaphor of stampeding lemmings suggests that these hopefuls recklessly follow each other toward certain failure, while the "valley of the broken dolls" signifies the tragic consequences of their pursuit. Ultimately, it captures the bittersweet nature of ambition in such a glamorous yet treacherous landscape.
