The Notorious Bettie Page

Star Review

Mary Harron's follow-up to American Psycho opens with a rather good joke. A man in a raincoat walks into an adult bookstore and asks for something that shows "a little restraint" - restraints being central to the career of Bettie Page, the God-fearing Southern belle who became
America's leading fetish and bondage model. This highly enjoyable biopic shows how Bettie became tied to her job, as she waits to appear in front of a Senate committee investigating “the contaminating effects of pornography”.
Proposing a more rounded Bettie than cheesecake with come-hither eyes, Harron makes a persuasive case for the artistic validity of her work, suggesting that an image of Page in corset, chains and lace-up boots could be every bit as potent and iconic as, say, the masochist-friendly sight of Brando in his vest in A Streetcar Named Desire. Equally recommendable to Tinto Brass aficionados and academics interested in the representation of female sexuality, it's naughty, but very nice.

Mike McCahill on 12th March 2007

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Film Description

From the director of I Shot Andy Warhol and American Psycho comes a biopic of the titularly notorious 1950s pin up, who pushed the boundaries of cheesecake into fetish territory and sparked a Senate investigation in the process. A provocative exploration of sexuality, religion and pop culture, The Notorious Bettie Page features an incandescent performance from Gretchen Mol in the title role, and cinematography that recreates the look and the feel of the 1950s including black and white noir, lush Technicolor and Super 8 home recordings.

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DVD Extras

• Audio commentary with Mary Harron, Guinevere Turner and Gretchen Mol
• Presenting Bettie Page short film
• Cast interviews
• Theatrical trailer.

Film Details

Cast

David Strathairn, Jared Harris, Gretchen Mol, Chris Bauer

Technical Details