The Notorious Bettie Page 2005
I have a theory that the only true stories that are turned into movies are the ones that are too sappy or outrageous for anyone to accept as fiction. The biography of 1950’s pinup model and bondage queen, Bettie Page, is an exception. The rise to greatness, the depths of depravity, the emotional breakthroughs, etc. are mostly absent. Though Page was a pinup, she wasn’t a movie star like Marilyn Monroe. Though her work caused a Congressional hearing on obscenity, it was pretty tame by today’s standards. Though Page is ultimately redeemed, she never sank to horrible depths. She didn’t drink or do drugs. She had a positive relationship with the people she worked with. And, while some of the fetish photography and movies she did were pretty kinky, she considered all of it acting in silly costumes for the benefit of hard-working gentlemen. I do not doubt that many would find this movie kind of boring, which isn’t surprising because Bettie Page’s life was far less spectacular than the body of work she left behind and the sensation that work caused in the prudish 1950’s. When she walks away from all of this, it is just a decision, based on a number of factors, as such decisions usually are everywhere but the movies.
Because the plot is understated, so is the impact of the movie. Gretchen Moll does a good job of capturing Bettie and even when Bettie reads for acting parts, though some might have really overdone it, Moll leaves you wondering why Page didn’t get the part. She also portrays Page’s saucy innocence well, which isn’t easy. So while this is a realistic portrayal, there isn’t much to really grab on to. I can’t give this more than a B.
Written: 11 Jul 2007