Written by: Cliff Wood on September 21st, 2016
Theatrical Release Dates: USA, 1951-1956
Director: Irving Klaw
Cast: Bettie Page and other Glamour Model
BluRay released: September 13th, 2016
Approximate running time: 60 minutes
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 Aspect Ratio / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: Dolby Digital Stereo
Subtitles: N/A
BluRay Release: Cult Epics
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $29.95
Bettie Page was an American model who rose to prominence in the 1950’s for her pin ups photos and mail order 8mm and 16mm ‘specialty’ films. Her most famous work as with Irvin Klaw and they collaborated over a five-year span 1952 – 1957. Though the bulk of her output pre-working with Klaw would fall into Glamour photography. With Klaw she would push the envelope sexually with Klaw as their collaborations featured BDSM themes. By the end of the 1950’s should would leave her pinups days behind her.
Irving Klaw was a photographer and filmmaker who rose to prominence during the 1950’s because of his glamour girls’ pin ups and fetish/bondage shorts features. His two most famous films are Varietease and Teaserama. Both films featured his most famous model Bettie Page. Klaw by the end of the 1950’s he would leave fetish/bondage business after being investigated by the United States government who essentially labeled him a pornographer. Reportedly while he was being investigated by the government Klaw destroyed about 80% of his negatives to avoid jail time. The only surviving images and films that remain today are because Paula Klaw secretly hide some of Irving’s best images/films.
Content wise, The Exotic Dances of Bettie Page essentially ports over the contents from The Irving Klaw Classics Volume One: The Bettie Page Films. And though all sixteen films from that release has been ported over for this release. The first twelve films now make up the main feature, while the other four are presented as extra content.
The BluRay:
All content included as part of the main feature is presented in its intended 1.33:1 aspect ratio and it has been flagged for progressive playback. For this release brand new 2k transfers has been created from original 16mm films. And when compared to previous release there is a marked improved in clarity and shadow detail. Needless to say these films have never looked better on home video.
This release comes with one audio option, a Dolby Digital stereo. It should be noted that there is no dialog and that said soundtracks only feature music. The audio sounds, clean, clear and balanced.
Extras for this release include, a Bettie Page /Irvin Klaw phot gallery, a featurette titled Bettie Page Uncovered: The Private Life and Photo’s (22 minutes 30 seconds) and four bonus films located in a section titled Bettie Page Kamera Club Films and the four films are Bettie Page Nude, Bettie Page in Black Lingerie, Bettie Page in White Lingerie and Bettie Page in Red Lingerie (total running time 14 minutes 24 seconds – 1.33:1 Aspect Ratio 1080 progressive).
The featurette is a Q&A with Ron Brem, the nephew of Bettie Page and he provides a rarely seen look into Bettie Page’s life beyond the public eye.
Rounding out the extras is a collectible Blu-ray O-ring silver print and three text based extras that can be found on the back of this releases cover art. These extras include, a bio for Bettie Page, information about her films and a list of the sixteen titles included for this release. Overall an exceptional release from Cult Epics that fans of Bettie Page are sure to thoroughly enjoy.