Anyone even remotely familiar with the seedy underworld of pin-ups, pornography and kinky fetishes would have to recognize the name Bettie Page. And before you start pointing fingers, I recognize the name because I am a soooper-genius in the area of pop culture. I don’t know a lot about one thing, but I do know a little about a lot of things. For those less fortunate (you know the type… they're into Nascar, football, or other such nonsense), Bettie Page is one of the most famous pin-up models of all time. Her fame grew quickly in the 1950's, not just because of her 'girl-next-door' looks or even the fact that she would pose nude. It was a combination of the fact that many of her layouts would show her in all manner of bondage paraphernalia and she looked mischievously happy to be wearing them. Over time she became somewhat if a cult figure, whose photos and posters are sought after to this day.

My knowledge of her pretty much stops there. I've heard the name over the years and have seen a handful of some of the pictures she is so famous for, but I knew nothing of the woman herself. Looking at her, you would have a hard time believing she would be 'into' some of the stuff her pictures promoted. Earlier this year, director Mary Harron ("I Shot Andy Warhol", "American Psycho") attempted to illuminate audiences about Page's personal life with "The Notorious Bettie Page." And in many way she did, but went even further than that. She and co-writer Guinevere Turner successfully re-created an era where America's faux-innocence and supposed lack of decadence was beginning to be brought out into the spotlight.

Caught in the middle of the whole affair was Bettie Page, who is shown as a naïve and reserved woman… who just happens to be very comfortable taking her clothes off. Her naiveté seems most prominent in that she doesn’t have a clue that what she is doing is in any way wrong or that her photos are in any way provocative. The very idea that men are ogling her openly is lost on what in essence is the Forrest Gump of pin-up queens. Is this was indeed the way the real Bettie Page lived, actress Gretchen Mol deserves an Oscar nod for a perfect performance. Mol, whom I always considered to be a talented actress, becomes totally lost in her portrayal. Within moments of seeing her, you feel a though you are watching the real Page.

Additionally, Harron injects an air of timeliness by photographing most of the film in black and white, which looks flawlessly gorgeous. Occasionally there are bits and pieces that are shot in color, and they are so vividly done that the contrast is nearly startling.

HBO Home Entertainment is releasing "The Notorious Bettie Page" on DVD this month, and though the extra features are few… what they have included seems perfectly chosen for this feature. There is a commentary where Mol, Harron and Turner, which for the, most part leans towards the technical aspects of the film, but there are enough anecdotes worth hearing about. There is also a documentary about the real Bettie Page, which allows for the contrasts between the real life and Hollywood versions of her story. Finally, you'll find some silent film footage of the real Page doing a striptease.

"The Notorious Bettie Page" is a very entertaining film in part for its take on such an unusual subject, but more so for its representation of a time and place in American history as we have never seen it.

Directed by: Mary Harron
Starring: Gretchen Mol, Chris Bauer, Jared Harris, Sarah Paulson, David Strathairn, Lili Taylor, Jonathan Woodward
Extras: Audio Commentary with Gretchen Mol, Writer/Director Mary Hanna and Writer Guinevere Turner, An Inside Look at the Pin-up Queen of the Universe, Theatrical Trailer, Presenting Bettie Page
Specifications: Widescreen, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound
Studio: HBO
Release Date: 9/26/2006
Region 1
MPAA Rating: R (For Nudity, Sexual Content and Some Language)
Website

We'll give The Notorious Bettie Page an A.