Trailer Trash: The Notorious Bettie Page

I’m a sucker for biopics, retro design and pin-up girls. The combination of all three results in immediate popping of my cerebellum. At first glance this trailer doesn’t seem to offer much in terms of storyline (even if we all know the story) but I realized of course that that’s for the best. We’re so used to trailers spoiling the best parts of movies these days and completely ruining the experience that we forget what trailers are actually supposed to do: entice us! We’re treated to minor glimpses into Bettie Page’s life, including how men fawned and embarrassingly obsessed over to her, and her introduction to the world of fetish photography, but the trailer paints an indifferent portrait of her without sensationalizing or degrading her.

No, this isn’t a behind the scenes look at Russ Meyer’s Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!

The trailer is a beautiful mix of color and black & white. Both are harmoniously interwoven like a soft chocolate & vanilla ice cream cone dipped in hot fudge. The black & white part where she looks at herself in her compact and all those color magazine covers pop in one after the other with her still modeling about on each cover is just priceless. Perfect editing. Gretchen Mol plays the title role, and there are some expressions that she pulls off that make you forget you’re not looking at the real deal. Just give this lady an Oscar.

Can you see those white dots appearing between the round corners of the squares? Cool, huh?

The music throughout just reels you in. Peggy Lee’s “Fever” couldn’t be more appropriate than in this trailer. I know I needed to cool off after watching this. Fever indeed. All that’s seriously missing from this trailer is a spinning newspaper headline that reads “This trailer will knock your garters and whip clear across the room!” Say, did anyone else think that the real Bettie Page was pushing up daisies? Well she’s NOT! She’s like 153 years old but she’s still alive and kicking. Apparently she’s become somewhat of a recluse, but she did attend Playboy’s 50th anniversary party a few years ago. Long story short, I wish I hadn’t stumbled on her picture ‘cuz it totally ruined it for me. I’m sure she looks a million times better than I will as a crusty old man (my first goal is to make it to 30, then we’ll see) but I’m far from being a pin-up model or from wearing fetish paraphernalia. Kudos to her for breaking boundaries and taboos, but my Captain Caveman boxer shorts are edgy enough for me, thank you very much.

You want me to wear THIS you goddamn sicko?

I love me some pin-up girls. There’s something about that era that brings out the dirty old man in me; they’re classy, yet trashy. I especially have a weak spot for great pin-up artists like Gil Elvgren and Alberto Vargas, but especially lesser-knowns like Jack Cole, Bill Ward, Archie Dickens and even Dan DeCarlo from Archie Comics fame. But there’s one man who puts them all to shame; Dave Stevens, the legendary man behind The Rocketeer (arguably the best comic book movie adaptation ever). For the uninitiated, Dave Stevens’ gal Friday and protagonist love interest was aptly named Betty, modeled after the very own Bettie Page herself (changed to Jenny for the movie, portrayed by the scrumptious Jennifer Connelly… say, who’s up for renting Mulholland Falls?). Now if you’re not a fan of Bettie Page, Mr. Stevens’ art alone can turn you around in a heartbeat and make you a fan forever. And if that doesn’t work, you are a cold, soulless bastard with no heart… or gay.

The gorgeous art of Dave Stevens

View the trailer here: Click Here