The Notorious Bettie Page

About The Notorious Bettie Page

The Notorious Bettie Page is a biographical film, released in 2006, directed by Mary Harron. The movie chronicles the life of Bettie Page, a 1950s pin-up and bondage model, narrating her journey from a conservative religious family in Tennessee to her status as a pop-icon in New York City, while highlighting her battles with her upbringing, her work, and the perceptions of society toward her.

Making/Production

The film was written by Mary Harron and Guinevere Turner. It was produced by Christine Vachon, Pamela Koffler, Katie Roumel, John Wells and shot in black and white, featuring some color sequences. It was released by Picturehouse on April 14, 2006.

Actors

• Gretchen Mol as Bettie Page - Gretchen delivered a captivating performance as the iconic Bettie Page, effectively portraying the complexities of her character.
• Chris Bauer as Irving Klaw - Chris skillfully played the part of Irving Klaw, a business man who shot fetish photos and distributed them.
• Jared Harris as John Willie - Jared brought depth to the character of John Willie, a photographer and publisher known for his bondage works.

Trivia/Interesting Facts

• The film was shot in 18 days in Nashville, Tennessee.
• Bettie Page herself was involved in the early stages of production, but eventually, she decided not to associate with the film.
• Gretchen Mol actually wore vintage 1950s clothing to help her prepare for the role.

Music, Soundtrack

• The film received critical acclaim for its soundtrack, which features a number of period-specific songs.
• Some of the notable songs include "I Can't Tell a Waltz from a Tango" by Alma Cogan, "Swamp Girl" by Phil Moore, and "Autumn Leaves" by Roger Williams.

Quotes

• "I'm not ashamed. Adam and Eve were naked in the Garden of Eden, weren't they? When they sinned, they put on clothes." - Bettie Page
• "If a girl wants to make it in this business, she has to be willing to give the people what they want." - John Willie