The Notorious Bettie Page (2005)

Director:

Mary Harron

Writers:

Mary Harron (written by) &
Guinevere Turner (written by)

Release Date:

21 April 2006 (Canada)

Genre:

Biography | Drama

Tagline:

The Pin-Up Sensation That Shocked The Nation.

Plot:

The story of Bettie Page, uber-successful 1950's pin-up model, one of the first sex icons in America, and the target of a Senate investigation (based on her bondage photos).

Plot Keywords:

Senate | Pin Up | Investigation | Model | Bondage

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Gretchen Mol	...	Bettie Page
Chris Bauer	...	Irving Klaw
Jared Harris	...	John Willie
Sarah Paulson	...	Bunny Yeager
Cara Seymour	...	Maxie
David Strathairn	...	Estes Kefauver
Lili Taylor	...	Paula Klaw
John Cullum	...	Preacher in Nashville
Matt McGrath	...	Nervous Man
Austin Pendleton	...	Teacher
Norman Reedus	...	Billy Neal
Dallas Roberts	...	Scotty
Victor Slezak	...	Minister in Miami
Tara Subkoff	...	June
Kevin Carroll	...	Jerry Tibbs
Ann Dowd	...	Edna Page
Michael Gaston	...	Mr. Gaughan
Jefferson Mays	...	Little John
Peter McRobbie	...	Gangel
Dan Snook	...	Mr. Grimm
Jonathan M. Woodward	...	Marvin (as Jonathan Woodward)
Greg Ainsworth	...	Man on Street
John Boyd	...	Jack
David Call	...	Guy #1 at Party
Geoffrey Cantor	...	Director at Audition
Max Casella	...	Howie
Alejandro Chabán	...	Armand
Jaymie Dornan	...	Young Jimmy Page
Teddy Eck	...	Charlie
Jack Gilpin	...	Roy Page
Dan Haft	...	Photographer #1
Lars Hanson	...	Detective Farrell
Daniel Haughey	...	Battle
Frank Hopf	...	Jack Kramer
Ed Jewett	...	Bookstore Owner
Aaron Lazar	...	Jake
Alexandra LeClair	...	Young Goldie
Heather Litteer	...	Model
Gary Lundy	...	Guy #2 at Party
Edmund Lyndeck	...	Father Egan
Marisa Malone	...	Drunken Woman at Party
Shelly Mars	...	Photographer #2
Christopher McCann	...	Dr. Henry (as Chris McCann)
Randy Miles	...	Photographer #3
Molly Moore	...	Young Bettie
Joe Mosso	...	Art
James J. Pollock	...	Court Official
Naelee Rae	...	Young Love
Alicia Sable	...	Goldie
Ean Sheehy	...	Director at Screen Test
Kohl Sudduth	...	Police Officer
Ashley Terrill	...	Marion
Hans Tester	...	Producer at Screen Test
Ben Walker	...	Jim
Michael Boydston-White	...	Choir Singer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Delancey Birzin	...	Acting Student (uncredited)
Monica Braunger	...	Bettie's School Friend (uncredited)
Andres De Oliveira	...	Beach Goer (uncredited)
Brittney Fei	...	Love Page at 16 (uncredited)
R. Brandon Johnson	...	Billy Page (uncredited)
Denis McKeown	...	Evangelical Deacon (uncredited)
Sam Reich	...	Church-goer (uncredited)
EJ Scalzi	...	Tough Guy in Alley (uncredited)
John Ventimiglia	...	Photographer (uncredited)

Directed by
Mary Harron

Writing credits
Mary Harron		(written by) &
Guinevere Turner		(written by)

Produced by
Lori Keith Douglas	....	co-producer
Mary Harron	....	executive producer
Pamela Koffler	....	producer
Katie Roumel	....	producer
Guinevere Turner	....	executive producer
Christine Vachon	....	producer
John Wells	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Mark Suozzo

Cinematography by
W. Mott Hupfel III		(director of photography) (as Mott Hupfel)

Film Editing by
Tricia Cooke

Casting by
Kerry Barden
Billy Hopkins
Suzanne Smith

Production Design by
Gideon Ponte

Art Direction by
Thomas Ambrose

Set Decoration by
Alexandra Mazur

Costume Design by
John A. Dunn		(as John Dunn)

Makeup Department
Jerry DeCarlo	....	hair stylist
Michelle Johnson	....	key hair stylist (as D. Michelle Johnson)
Nicki Ledermann	....	key makeup artist (as Nicki Lederman)
Evelyne Noraz	....	makeup artist
Jeffrey Rebelo	....	hair stylist
Colleen Wheeler	....	background hair supervisor
Diane Maurno	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Julie Teel	....	additional makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Colin Cumberbatch	....	post-production supervisor
Lori Keith Douglas	....	unit production manager
Hans Graffunder	....	production supervisor
Elayne Keratsis	....	production supervisor: Miami
Greg Spence	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Cindy Craig	....	second assistant director
Gary S. Rake	....	second second assistant director
Jonathan Starch	....	first assistant director
Kellie Jo Tackett	....	second assistant director: Miami
John Walsh	....	second unit director (as John C. Walsh)

Art Department
Gary Boesch	....	carpenter (as Gary Bosch)
Jeff Butcher	....	first assistant props
Romain Gateau	....	props
Emily Gaunt	....	charge scenic artist
Katie Kemsley	....	scenic artist
Kevin Kropp	....	set decorator: Miami
Tom LaVecchia	....	set dresser
Tammy S. Lee	....	art department assistant (as Tammy Lee)
Izrael Nazario	....	set dresser
Marc Newman	....	lead man
Celia Parker	....	camera scenic artist
Donna Paul	....	set dresser
Ralph Perry	....	construction grip
Pierre Rovira	....	construction coordinator
Elizabeth Schlitten	....	property master
Philip Schneider	....	property master: Miami (as Phil Schneider)
Diane Soffian	....	on-set dresser
Larry Steinberg	....	construction grip
Roxy Toporowych	....	set dresser
Sylvia Trapanese	....	scenic foreman
R.J. Wilson	....	set dresser (as Robert J. Wilson)

Sound Department
Benjamin Cheah	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Ben Cheah)
Benjamin Cheah	....	supervising sound editor (as Ben Cheah)
Krissopher Chevannes	....	adr recordist (as Kris Chevannes)
Marko A. Costanzo	....	foley artist (as Marko Costanzo)
Gerald Donlan	....	supervising foley editor
Peter Fonda	....	sound utility
Eugene Gearty	....	sound effects recordist
Elisabeth Giglio	....	sound studio manager: C5 Inc.
Anguibe Guindo	....	boom operator: additional photography
Kenton Jakub	....	supervising adr editor
Bobby Johanson	....	adr engineer
Paul Koronkiewicz	....	boom operator
George A. Lara	....	foley mixer
Debora Lilavois	....	assistant sound editor
Brian Miksis	....	sound mixer
Jacob Ribicoff	....	foley editor
Jac Rubenstein	....	supervising dialogue editor
Wyatt Sprague	....	sound designer
Lidia Tamplenizza	....	sound department intern
Noah Timan	....	sound mixer: additional photography
Paul Urmson	....	sound effects recordist
Peter Waggoner	....	sound re-recording mixer
Mitchell Wareham	....	technical support: sound
David Warzynski	....	foley stage assistant (as Dave Warzynski)
Mark Weber	....	sound mixer: Miami
Dan Wesson	....	boom operator
Lila Yomtoob	....	assistant sound editor

Visual Effects by
Jan Cilliers	....	digital compositor: Big Film Design (restoration)
Chris Halstead	....	digital artist: Big Film Design
Janos Pilenyi	....	optical effects supervisor
Ariel Enriquez Saulog	....	optical effects artist
Diane Wright	....	digital asset manager: Laser Pacific

Stunts
Michael Russo	....	stunt coordinator (as Mike Russo)

Camera and Electrical Department
Michael Berg	....	camera operator
Michael Berg	....	director of photography: second unit
Timothy Berg	....	gaffer
Charles Casillo	....	grip
Joe Casillo	....	grip (as Joseph Casillo)
David Flanigan	....	second assistant camera
Abbot Genser	....	still photographer
Lisa-Marie Gleeson	....	electrician
Dan Hersey	....	first assistant camera
Tom Hocking	....	dolly grip
Laura Hudock	....	camera loader
Greg Kasper	....	key grip: Miami
Tom Kerwick	....	key grip (as Tom Kerwick Jr.)
George McCabe	....	grip
Martin Nowlan	....	best boy electric
Thomas O'Connor	....	electrician
Alfred Padilla	....	electrician (as Alfred Padolla)
Rusty Pouch	....	gaffer: Miami
Jim Riley	....	grip
William M. Weberg	....	best boy grip (as Billy Wieberg)

Casting Department
Sharon Blythe	....	extras casting associate
Deborah Maxwell Dion	....	casting associate: Los Angeles
Lori Eastside	....	extras casting
Sondra James	....	voice casting
Paul Schnee	....	casting associate: New York

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Stephanie Biear	....	seamstress
Gail A. Fitzgibbons	....	costume supervisor (as Gail Fitzgibbons)
Rebecca Hofherr	....	costume production assistant
Dain I. Kalas	....	tailor (as Dain Kalas)
Lisa Padovani	....	assistant costume designer
Meredith Markworth Pollack	....	costume production assistant (as Meredeth Markworth-Pollack)
Michelle Elaine Teague	....	set costumer (as Michelle Teague)
Julia Van Vliet	....	costumer
Rose Wells	....	key costumer (as Rosalie A. Wells)
Peter White	....	wardrobe supervisor: Miami
Michelle Elaine Teague	....	costume fitter (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Susan Lazarus	....	consultant: post-production
John F. Lyons	....	associate editor
Lisa Melodia	....	post-production intern
Kevin O'Connor	....	colorist
Noëlle Penraat	....	negative cutter (as Noelle Penraat)
David Pultz	....	color timer
Matthew Shapiro	....	post-production assistant
Lori Taffet	....	post-production coordinator
Alexandra Torterotot	....	post-production coordinator
Adriaan van Zyl	....	post-production intern
Harry Muller	....	color timer (uncredited)

Music Department
P.J. Bloom	....	music supervisor
Joseph S. DeBeasi	....	choir arranger
Joseph S. DeBeasi	....	composer: choral music
Don Fleming	....	music researcher
Evyen Klean	....	music consultant (as Evyen J. Klean)
Suzana Peric	....	music editor
Ted Spencer	....	music mixer
Ted Spencer	....	music recordist
Mark Suozzo	....	conductor
Mark Suozzo	....	music producer
Mark Suozzo	....	orchestrator

Transportation Department
David Boyde	....	driver
Jim Buckman	....	transportation captain (as James S. Buckman)
David Chacon	....	driver (as Dave Chacon)
Larry Crenshaw	....	transportation coordinator: Miami
Kenneth Garrison	....	driver
Robert Johnson	....	transportation co-captain (as Robert L. Johnson)
Dennis Kelly	....	driver
Dermot Mackin	....	driver
Daniel Palmer	....	driver
Luis Rodriquez	....	driver
W.J. Speranza	....	driver

Other crew
Bhagavan Antle	....	animal wrangler (as Doc Antle)
Fabio M. Arber	....	location manager: Miami (as Fabio Arber)
Beth Avery	....	location assistant
Abby Bailey	....	first assistant accountant
Chris Baker	....	catering assistant
Randall Balsmeyer	....	title designer (as Randy Balsmeyer)
Paul Brennan	....	legal services: Sloss Law Office
Creel Brown	....	additional set production assistant
Linda Burk	....	consultant
Moksha Bybee	....	animal wrangler
Jared Cauliffe	....	key set production assistant: re-shoot
Chika Chukudebelu	....	executive: Killer Films
Amyjoy Clark	....	second assistant accountant
Grover Cleveland	....	craft service
Wendy Cohen	....	additional clearances
J. John Corbett	....	title designer
Steve Dale	....	production assistant
Melissa Marie Davis	....	production assistant
Laura DiBiase	....	production assistant: re-shoots
Kimberly Feinman	....	assistant location manager: reshoots
Michael Fucci	....	assistant location manager
Jay A. Gertzman	....	historical consultant
Catherine Gore	....	script supervisor
Sam Green	....	researcher
Benjamin Harrison	....	craft service assistant
Jocelyn Hayes	....	executive: Killer Films
Selena Hernandez	....	set production assistant
Anne Hubbell	....	representative: Eastman Kodak
Aaron Hurvitz	....	assistant location manager
Nadine Johnson	....	production assistant
Robert M. Johnson	....	animal trainer
Robert M. Johnson	....	animal wrangler
Todd Judson	....	production secretary
Matthew G. King	....	location assistant
Steve Kornacki	....	production coordinator
Ashley Kravitz	....	clearance
Stephanie Lundy	....	office assistant: Miami
Peter J. Manno	....	chef
Doug Masiuk	....	set production assistant
Lauren McSorley	....	assistant: Ms. Koffler
Kristen Mink	....	location assistant
Dani Minnick	....	consultant
Susan Monson	....	stand-in: Gretchen Mol (as Siouxsan Monson)
Melissa Mugavero	....	set production assistant
Charles Pugliese	....	assistant: Ms. Vachon
C.J. Scheiner	....	historical consultant
Clifford J. Scheiner	....	historical consultant
Jessica Kumai Scott	....	office production assistant
Mollie A.J. Smith	....	production assistant
Jason Stant	....	payroll accountant
Daniel Steinman	....	legal services: Sloss Law Office
Grant Sutton	....	production assistant
Ashley Terrill	....	assistant: Ms. Harron
Ashley Terrill	....	film researcher
Rebecca Thornell	....	clearance
Beau Tipton	....	set production assistant (as James 'Beau' Tipton)
Marisa Vrooman	....	set production assistant
Steven Weisberg	....	location manager: re-shoots
Susan Weiss	....	insurance services: AON/Albert G. Ruben
Benjamin Whitehouse	....	payroll services: Axium International (as Benj Whitehouse)
Meghan K. Wicker	....	assistant production office coordinator (as Meghan Wicker)
Michael Wiggins	....	executive: Killer Films
Whitney J. Willard	....	production accountant
Tom Yeager	....	location manager
Paul Young	....	production assistant
Alex Zoppa	....	production intern
Norene Bini	....	dialect coach: Alejandro Chaban (uncredited)
Peter Hawkins	....	inserts (uncredited)
Justin Remer	....	set production assistant: re-shoot (uncredited)

Thanks
Bunny Yeager	....	thanks

Production Companies

• HBO Films (presents)
• Killer Films (as A Killer Films/John Wells Production)
• John Wells Productions (as A Killer Films/John Wells Production)

Distributors

• Picturehouse Entertainment (2006) (USA) (theatrical)
• Home Box Office Home Video (HBO) (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Odeon Films (2006) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Phantom Film (2007) (Japan) (theatrical)

Special Effects

• Cineric (optical effects)
• Big Film Design (title and graphic design)

Other Companies

• Shore Club, The  accommodations: Miami
• C5  post-production sound facility (as C5, Inc.)
• Sound One Corporation  post-production sound facility (as Sound One Corp.)
• AON/Albert G. Ruben Insurance Services  insurance services (as AON/Albert G. Ruben)
• Act One Script Clearance  clearances
• Arriflex  camera and lighting equipment
• Axium International  payroll services
• Camera Service Center  camera and lighting equipment
• Clinton Recording Studios  music recorded at
• Du Art Film and Video  dailies telecine and color by (as Duart Film & Video)
• Eastman Kodak  film provided by
• Global Entertainment Partners  final telecine mastering
• Helen Uffner Vintage Clothing  vintage clothing rentals
• Lakeshore Records  soundtrack
• Post Factory NY  post-production facilities
• Premiere Catering  catering
• Sloss Law Office  legal services
• T E K Film Productions  grip equipment
• TSR Recording  music mixed at

Also Known As:

The Ballad of Bettie Page (USA) (working title)
The Last Days of Bettie Page (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for nudity, sexual content and some language.

Runtime:

USA:91 min | Canada:100 min (Toronto International Film Festival)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White | Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R | Canada:14A (British Columbia) | UK:18 | Ireland:15A | Australia:MA | Japan:R-15 | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Portugal:M/16

Filming Locations:

Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

HBO Films

Trivia:

Director Cameo: [Mary Harron]Photographer who asks Bettie to smile for the "boys."

Goofs:

Factual errors: In the scene mentioned above (with the improperly used Stereo-Realist), many photographers are seen using simple 1940s-50s box cameras indoors. No large window or strong artificial lighting seen. Yet, the photographers were shown shooting with ease, as if they were shooting outdoors in bright light. In the 1950s, box cameras and the less sensitive films can only be used satisfactorily outdoors in good light.

Quotes:

[Bettie reacts angrily when John sings a ribald song during a bondage photo shoot]
John Willie: What's the matter, Bettie?
[John pulls the gag from Bettie's mouth]
Bettie Page: It's your language, Mr. Willie.
John Willie: Oh, it's just an old army ditty to help keep our spirits up while fighting the beastly Hun. Do you approve?
Bettie Page: I believe in Jesus.

Movie Connections:

References Destry Rides Again (1939)

Soundtrack:

Goody Goody

Nororious or safe?

If this film strikes you (as it did us and, apparently, others departing the theater) as disappointingly thin, it may be because the subject herself is mildly disappointing. The film faithfully presents us Bettie Page as she probably was: a playful almost-innocent from the rural South whose career as "the pinup queen of the universe" was for her just goofy, natural fun. Her eventual moral qualms, religious conversion and sudden departure from nude and bondage modeling are biographically accurate, yet hard to understand given how untroubled she seemed by her livelihood.

There are many reasons to see this film even so, not least of which are the amazing b&w noir cinematography of W. Mott Hopfel III (complete with old fashioned wipes and dissolves), the 1950's-faithful acting of the cast under the direction of Mary Harron, pitch-perfect performances by some of our most underrated supporting actors (including Chris Bauer, Lili Taylor, Sarah Paulson, Austin Pendleton, Dallas Roberts and Victor Slezak), not to mention the Oscar-worthy and technically difficult lead performance of Gretchen Mol.

Ms. Mol does several scenes fully naked and most others in amazing period lingerie and "specialty" costumes (gloriously assembled by costume designer John A. Dunn), yet she astonishingly maintains Bettie Page's unstudied pleasure in her lush body. To watch Ms. Mol as Ms. Page, an aspiring actress, progressing through degrees of progressively less "bad" auditions and student acting scenes is to see a truly fine actress in complete control of her craft.

The script does effectively bring us into 1950's America, where childhood sexual abuse, lawless abduction and rape, and the legal suppression of brands of pornography which today seem laughably tame, is a reality. 50's New York is evoked with seamlessly-inter cut news reel footage. 50's Miami comes alive in super-saturated, 16mm-style color. The real Bettie Page seems to scamper, smile and pose before us, and yet the effect is curiously lightweight, barely lewd and not at all dangerous.

How odd that bondage's greatest icon should be so lacking in venom, and that this technically excellent biopic should have so little sting.