The Notorious Bettie Page

Year: 2005

Actors: Sarah Paulson, Norman Reedus, Chris Bauer, Gretchen Mol

Duration: 91 min

Bettie Page (Gretchen Mol) is an ambitious, naïve, and devout young Christian woman who longs to leave Nashville, Tennessee, following a childhood of sexual abuse, a failed wartime marriage, and a gang rape. In 1949, she departs for New York City, where she enrolls in an acting class. Amateur photographer Jerry Tibbs (Kevin Carroll) discovers her walking on the beach at Coney Island and she agrees to model for him. He suggests she restyle her hair with the bangs that would become her trademark.Bettie becomes a favorite of nature photographers (including Bunny Yeager, who films her posing with two leopards), and she has no hesitation about removing her clothes for the photographers when asked. Before long, images of the shapely brunette reach brother-and-sister entrepreneurs Irving Klaw (Chris Bauer) and Paula Klaw (Lili Taylor), who manage a respectable business selling movie sills and memorabilia, but also deal with fetish photos, magazines, and 8- and 16-millimeter films for additional income. Their top model Maxie Lee (Cara Seymour) takes Bettie under her wing, and she soon finds herself wearing leather corsets and thigh-high boots while wielding whips and chains for photographer John Willie (Jared Harris), often at the request of Little John (Jefferson Mays), a mild-mannered attorney with unusual tastes. Bette in innocently unaware of the sexual nature of the images that and rapidly making her a star in the underground world of bondage aficionados.In 1955, Bettie is called to testify before a hearing, headed by Senator Estes Kefauver (David Straithairn), investigating the effects of photography on American youth. Though she waits patiently for 12 hours to answer the committee's question, Kefauver (for unknown reasons) decides not to bring her before the committee and dismisses her without an explanation. When it becomes apparent that casting directors are more interested in her notoriety than in any acting talent she might possess, Bettie heads to Miami Beach. Drifting along with limited career prospects and a virtually nonexistent social life, she stumbles upon a small evangelical church, walks inside and rushes forward to embrace Jesus Christ during the altar call. Although she insists she is not ashamed of anything she has done in her life, she appears happy to leave her past behind and return to her spiritual roots by preaching the word of the Lord on street corners.Back in New York City, Irving is stressed out and suffering from poor health. He decided that he and his sister must burn their vast collection of erotic photos, and movie footage to avoid potential prosecution. Paula reluctantly complies with her brother's request, but secretly saves the negatives of many of Bettie's pictures and movies from the bonfire, therefore ensuring that Bettie's work will survive for future generations.

Genre: Action   Biography   Drama