Let's be clear from the start; this is not a film. It's not a documentary. What it is is a repackaging of a two-volume compilation of fetish loops, some featuring Bettie Page, originally put out when the Cult of Betty was growing. The loops featured within were produced by Irving Klaw, owner of Movie Star News. Klaw ran a used bookstore and carried many movie magazines. He discovered that young ladies were tearing out picture of their favorite stars. Wanting to save his merchandise, and seeing a market, he arranged to get publicity stills from movie offices (of which there were plenty, in New York). He then sold the stills, and copies of the stills. He created a mailing list to sell them elsewhere. He found that certain photos sold more and received request for those photos; usually, those featuring fetishy elements (spanking, bondage, high heels, lingerie, etc...). However, it wasn't easy to find enough material to satisfy this audience. With some financial backing, he started creating his own material, both in photos and film shorts. The models were strippers and average women, who didn't have a problem parading around in their underwear. He did not produce any nude material, though. In fact, the models had to occasionally wear two pairs of panties to avoid showing anything. Betty Page, who worked as a secretary and posed for photos for camera clubs, was one of his models.
The loops feature little scenarios, such as one featuring two women in lingerie, playing chess (or checkers, can't remember). They are interrupted by a bratty third woman, and after her attempts to gain attention, they tie her up. She still causes problems, kicking the card table they are using. So, as you do, they tie her up even more, until she can barely move. Not exactly Orson Wells, but with a bit more plot than your average porn. The loops run the gamut of walking in ridiculously high heels, and dancing to music, to dressing a mistress, then bringing her a female slave to tie up.
These loops won't win awards and are hardly seductive. They are downright prudish, compared to similar material you can find on the internet. However, you can see Page, in all of her glory, in her heyday. You also can see other Klaw stalwarts, like Lois Meriden (a leggy brunette, who allegedly married a judge), Shirley Maitland, Joan Rydell (who dated Buck Henry) and Lili Dawn. They were not the artificial performers of today; they were real women, with real bodies. The whole thing has kind of a kooky charm.
The video does feature music dubs and a voice-over to give it some continuity and sound (these were silent films). It makes it sound more innocent than it was; but, it also doesn't attempt to make it sound seductive. It's playful, much like the material featured, regardless of how weird or kinky it might be.
If you are interested in Bettie Page, this will give you a look at the work she did, plus some of the other ladies who worked for Klaw. It will also show you what passed for erotica in 50s America (along with girlie magazines and stag films). If you are a fetishist, it gives you a bit of historical perspective to others who might share your interests.
The loops feature little scenarios, such as one featuring two women in lingerie, playing chess (or checkers, can't remember). They are interrupted by a bratty third woman, and after her attempts to gain attention, they tie her up. She still causes problems, kicking the card table they are using. So, as you do, they tie her up even more, until she can barely move. Not exactly Orson Wells, but with a bit more plot than your average porn. The loops run the gamut of walking in ridiculously high heels, and dancing to music, to dressing a mistress, then bringing her a female slave to tie up.
These loops won't win awards and are hardly seductive. They are downright prudish, compared to similar material you can find on the internet. However, you can see Page, in all of her glory, in her heyday. You also can see other Klaw stalwarts, like Lois Meriden (a leggy brunette, who allegedly married a judge), Shirley Maitland, Joan Rydell (who dated Buck Henry) and Lili Dawn. They were not the artificial performers of today; they were real women, with real bodies. The whole thing has kind of a kooky charm.
The video does feature music dubs and a voice-over to give it some continuity and sound (these were silent films). It makes it sound more innocent than it was; but, it also doesn't attempt to make it sound seductive. It's playful, much like the material featured, regardless of how weird or kinky it might be.
If you are interested in Bettie Page, this will give you a look at the work she did, plus some of the other ladies who worked for Klaw. It will also show you what passed for erotica in 50s America (along with girlie magazines and stag films). If you are a fetishist, it gives you a bit of historical perspective to others who might share your interests.