Finally watched this last night. Gretchen Mol couldn't be more appealing in the title role. She manages to put across in every moment of her performance the vitality, joy and innocence that made the real Bettie Page so memorable in photographs and on film. Good casting all around - including Lili Taylor as Paula Klaw, Sarah Paulson (Deadwood) as Bunny Yeager, and David Straithairn as Estes Kefauver. The movie has a great visual look, jumping between Black & White and the vivid Color of 1950s Pin-Up photography, as well as an effective and memorable soundtrack of pop music from that era. Bettie's story is told with great respect and affection - and with a story arc that may be surprising to some. The final denouement could have come off as heavy-handed or insincere - but it is handled with just the right touch of intelligence, sensitivity and humor. It's the perfect "ending" - to a story that didn't end, of course. If you're a Bettie Page fan at all, I highly recommend this movie.

I'm dying to see this, but I can't talk my wife into it. I get the "Why would I want to watch naked women?" line.

I'm dying to see this, but I can't talk my wife into it. I get the "Why would I want to watch naked women?" line.

Hmmm, Try the "It's the story of a woman from a religious background in the south who felt the need to explore a world alien to that upbringing and why she would choose to get naked" line.

Nah, as soon as I mention religion she'll refuse to see it altogether!

Thanks for the review, I'd like to see it.

I'm dying to see this, but I can't talk my wife into it. I get the "Why would I want to watch naked women?" line.

Is she objecting to "I", as in her, or "I", as in you, when you're quoting her?

Her. She doesn't care if I do. Meaning me. She calls me a piggy, but she lets it pass.

One of the things that makes this movie work is it's utter lack of "prurience". The fact that it's directed by a woman probably helps. Several times in the movie, characters comment that even though Bettie is frequently naked as a Jaybird - she never acts like she's naked. She apparently didn't have a lascivious bone in her body and was a "nudist" in the truest sense of the word. Bettie's whole attitude - even when she was doing the S&M stuff - was one of pure "fun" and celebration. That's the key to the real Bettie's appeal and Mol puts this quality across beautifully.

Is this on DVD, I guess? I don't recall hearing anything about it.

Is this on DVD, I guess? I don't recall hearing anything about it.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000GB5M42/imdb-adbox/

http://ec3.images-amazon.com/images/P/B000GB5M42.01._SS500_SCLZZZZZZZ_V65365107_.jpg

Yowza! Thanks, Zorro!

Sooo. That's how you spell Yowza!

Interesting, I may have to rent this.

j

Hey Zorro - was Bettie Page involved in the production of the movie? Is her name in the credits anywhere?

Hey Zorro - was Bettie Page involved in the production of the movie? Is her name in the credits anywhere?

Chris - This was a rental so I can't check the credits but her name doesn't show up on the IMDb page as a consultant or anything.

If I remember right, Bettie was not involved in the production. I believe she did see a final cut of the film before it's release and gave it her blessing.

I wonder if Dave Stevens was involved. He's been the Keeper of the Betty Flame for a couple decades.

John, just tell her a good movie is a good movie. It shouldn't matter if there are naked women or not.

Yeah. This movie is for all intents and purposes the anti-"Showgirls". Thank goodness.

I'm dying to see this, but I can't talk my wife into it. I get the "Why would I want to watch naked women?" line.

She just a lingerie model. Just a nice girl with a pretty smile who models underwear.

Why bother to ask her her if you can watch a DVD?
Sheesh.
Just watch it.

She just a lingerie model. Just a nice girl with a pretty smile who models underwear.

Both Gretchen Mol and Bettie Page show more than just some underwear in their performances. In fact, there are many pics of Bettie Page wearing nothing at all in some risque poses if you look for them in a Yahoo Image Search. Just remember t turn off "Safe Search".:thumbsup:

The Most Bettie Page stuff I have seen in one spot was Robb's Celebs. make sure you have a popup blocker working, but there is a lot of stuff there. I've found Mata Hari, Gypsy Rose Lee and a bunch of others including early Betty White!!

Yay, porn tips!

Why bother to ask her her if you can watch a DVD?
Sheesh.
Just watch it.

I don't need to ask IF I can watch it, she doesn't care what I watch. The point is, being married and enjoying each other's company, we tend to save new releases for our Saturday night sit-down-together-and-watch-a-movie night. Outside of saturday night, it's difficult for me to find 2 hours that I feel like spending watching a movie all by myself.

Sheesh!

Solution: tell her you'll get naked while the movie is on.

Here come the JohnP photochops....

I don't need to ask IF I can watch it, she doesn't care what I watch. The point is, being married and enjoying each other's company, we tend to save new releases for our Saturday night sit-down-together-and-watch-a-movie night. Outside of saturday night, it's difficult for me to find 2 hours that I feel like spending watching a movie all by myself.

Sheesh!

We're watching "Saved By the Smell" this Saturday night.

We're watching "Saved By the Smell" this Saturday night.


I hear some people* are comparing Screech to a young Marlon Brando.




*Mostly crazy, psychotic people.


I salute your powers of persuasion, Gruff,personally, with a few drinks I could talk the wife into watching The Notorious Betty Page. But there ain't enough tequila in the world to get her in the mood for "Saved by the Smell'.

We're watching "Saved By the Smell" this Saturday night.

HEH!!

Solution: tell her you'll get naked while the movie is on.

Well, that'll keep her eyes on the TV, all right! :lol:

I'm dying to see this, but I can't talk my wife into it. I get the "Why would I want to watch naked women?" line.Actually, considering this is a film about Bettie Page, there's very little nudity. I don't know how factual it is, but it's very well acted and presents her story without moralizations or psycho-babble about why she became one of the most well-known pin-up girls of several generations. And it shows that Bettie was anything but notorious in her views about her modeling career; she simply looked at it as another acting job, playing a role, and seemed to be somewhat naive about the true purpose of the photos.

I left the DVD lying on the table, and Mary picked it up and read the back. I got a "Hm - might be good. Let's watch it."

Whew! :lol:

The Most Bettie Page stuff I have seen in one spot was Robb's Celebs. make sure you have a popup blocker working, but there is a lot of stuff there. I've found Mata Hari, Gypsy Rose Lee and a bunch of others including early Betty White!!
betty white naked aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah
my eyes are burning aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah help aaaaaaaaaaaaaaah hahahahahaha

I saw Betty White's pics. If it is really her, it's just another example of what women will do to get into hollywood. I was surprised to see Betty White did it.

I wonder what other "old fashion gals" did something similar to get into show biz? Imagine Barbara Billingsley (Beaver's mother) doing something.....Wonder if any of those gals on the show "Golden Girls" did anything risque?

I'm guessing Betty White's casting as the randy Sue Ann Nivens in "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" may have been influenced by her "early years".

I'm guessing Betty White's casting as the randy Sue Ann Nivens in "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" may have been influenced by her "early years".


I've heard that Betty White is quite bawdy. That's why she was supposed to be so good as the man stealing woman on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show". I'm not surprised that Betty White would do it from things I have read over the years.

Saw the film.
Bettie was a bit naive, eh? "Hello, I'm a strange man you just met. Wanna go out?" "Oh, okay, what harm could it do?" :freak:

Gretchen Moll really captured her look wonderfully (and looks wonderful nekked!!), considering how little she looks like Bettie without the wig.

It was really great that they capped off the special features with one of Bettie's actual strip films.

Anybody know if Dave Stevens had anything to do with the film? He's been the world's biggest bettie Booster since his Rocketeer days.

Gretchen Moll really captured her look wonderfully (and looks wonderful nekked!!), considering how little she looks like Bettie without the wig.


From certain angles, with that wig, I kept thinking of Anne Baxter as Nefretiri in "The Ten Commandments".

Holy Moses, you're RIGHT!! :eek:

Anybody know if Dave Stevens had anything to do with the film? He's been the world's biggest bettie Booster since his Rocketeer days.There's no mention on his site about The Notorious Bettie Page, but the "What's New" section hasn't been updated since January 25th. I don't think he was involved in the project; I haven't seen his name listed anywhere in the available promotional materials.