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{{Infobox film
'''Varietease''' is a 1954 [[documentary]] directed by [[Irving Klaw]]. According to its plot, the iconic [[pin-up model]] [[Bettie Page]] performs a [[burlesque show]] alongside Lily St. Cryr, Chris Le Chris Lynn, Bobby Shields, and others.
| name = Varietease
| image = Varietease DVD cover.jpg
| caption = Varietease DVD cover
| director = [[Irving Klaw]]
| producer = Irving Klaw
| writer =
| screenplay =
| story =
| starring = {{ubl|[[Lili St. Cyr]]|[[Bettie Page]]}}
| music = {{ubl|Ben Blossner|Irma Hollander|Metis}}
| cinematography = Daniel D. Cavelli
| editing =
| studio =
| distributor =
| released = 1954<!-- {{Film date|Year|Month|Day|Location}} -->
| runtime = 65 minutes
| country = [[Cinema of the United States|United States]]
| language = English
| budget =
| gross =
}}

'''Varietease''' is a 1954 [[Cinema of the United States|American]] [[burlesque show|burlesque]] [[documentary film]], and the first such directed by [[Irving Klaw]].<ref name="Digital Retribution">{{cite news
|last=McNamara
|first=J.R.
|title=review: Varietease (1954)
|url=http://www.digital-retribution.com/reviews/dvd/0473.php|accessdate=August 31, 2012
|newspaper= Digital Retribution
|date=August 10, 2006}}</ref><ref name="DVD Verdict">{{cite news
|last=Gibron
|first=Bill
|title=Review: Varietease / Teaserama
|url=http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/varieteaserama.php
|accessdate=Augusy 31, 2012
|newspaper=[[DVD Verdict]]
|date=June 29, 2006}}</ref> According to its plot, the iconic [[pin-up model]] [[Bettie Page]] performs a [[burlesque show]] alongside [[Lili St. Cyr]], Chris La Chris, Vicki Lynn, Bobby Shields, and others.

==Synopsis==
''Varietease'' is a documentary film reflective of burlesque clubs of the 1950s. [[Master of ceremonies]], Bobby Shields introduces the film's acts. [[Bettie Page]] performs a nudity-free [[Dance of the Seven Veils]], but teases in only removing four veils. [[Lili St. Cyr]] does four separate sequences where she dresses and undresses to her undewear. Bettie Page returns presenting act cards while performing a few burlesque moves as she presents. Following are a comic, a female impersonator, the Barrow and Rodgers dance team, additional songs, and [[Can-Can]] dancers. The film ends with a [[Pasties|pastie]]-covered reveal of Lili St. Cyr's chest.

==Cast==
* [[Lili St. Cyr]] as herself
* [[Bettie Page]] as herself
* [[Irving Klaw]] as himself
* [[Christine Nelson (actress)|Christine Nelson]] as herself
* [[Baros & Rogers]] as themselves
* [[Cass Franklin]] as herself
* [[Chris LaChris]] as himself
* [[Monica Lane]] as herself
* [[Shelley Leigh]] as herself
* [[Vicki Lynn]] as herself
* [[Peppe & Roccio]] as themselves
* [[Bobby Shields]] as himself
* [[Dave Starr]] as himself
* [[Twinnie Wallen]] as herself

==Reception==
Bettie Page performed a "particularly sexy but amateurish" [[Dance of the Seven Veils]] in the film.<ref>{{cite book
| last =Foster
| first =Richard
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| title =The Real Bettie Page: The Truth About the Queen of the Pinups
| publisher =Kensington Publishing Company
| series =
| volume =
| edition =
| date =1997
| location =
| pages =70
| language =
| url =http://books.google.com/books?id=aA4qgfLLA-oC&pg=PA70&lpg=PA70&dq=%22Varietease%22&source=bl&ots=hi6VI3Munk&sig=Fcn6fiBh-_7gKVGN7A3ZSqQFaBw&hl=en&sa=X&ei=UxxAULeXDJHciQK3vYGYDg&ved=0CDsQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=%22Varietease%22&f=false
| doi =
| id =
| isbn =0806520752
| mr =
| zbl =
| jfm = }}</ref> One performance by [[Transvestism|transvestite]] performer Vicki Lynn is the film was said to have "crystallized the transgressive potential of the burlesque film".<ref>{{cite book
| last =Schaefer
| first =Eric
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| title ="Bold! Daring! Shocking! True!": A History of Exploitation Films, 1919-1959
| publisher =Duke University Press
| series =
| volume =
| edition =
| date =1999
| location =
| pages =317-319
| language =
| url =http://books.google.com/books?id=CSBZqe0zPaMC&pg=PA317&lpg=PA317&dq=%22Varietease%22&source=bl&ots=FqTMSYHZIK&sig=Emd-jMkQeD1iiQ0lCED7kAgz0gE&hl=en&sa=X&ei=UxxAULeXDJHciQK3vYGYDg&ved=0CC8Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=%22Varietease%22&f=false
| doi =
| id =
| isbn =9780822323747
| mr =
| zbl =
| jfm = }}</ref> Varietease is one of the "famous compilations" of "classic burlesque shows".<ref>{{cite book
| last =Weldon
| first =Jo
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| title =The Burlesque Handbook
| publisher =[[HarperCollins]]
| series =
| volume =
| edition =
| date =2010
| location =
| pages =253
| language =
| url =http://books.google.com/books?id=szzkP4RO9oAC&pg=PA37&lpg=PA37&dq=%22Varietease%22&source=bl&ots=mBYy1V6rpt&sig=gO0VzpnW7VgN5orwNclngoK6z7I&hl=en&sa=X&ei=tS9AUInCCoLIiwKaxoD4Cw&ved=0CFgQ6AEwBzgK#v=onepage&q=%22Varietease%22&f=false
| doi =
| id =
| isbn =9780061782190
| mr =
| zbl =
| jfm = }}</ref>
The film was re-released by [[Something Weird Video]] in 2006 sharing release with ''[[Teaserama]]''. [[DVD Verdict]] noted that the films were both performed and staged as if for live audiences, but offered "Still, there is something endlessly fascinating about this old-fashioned flesh fest."<ref name="DVD Verdict"/> In looking at the films 50 years after they were made, it was noted that the comedians were bad, the dance acts "droned on", and only a couple of the songs were mildly amusing. The reviewer stated that while the film would be best appreciated by viewers already fans of St. Cry and Page, "The stripping is indeed skillful and the ladies are almost always lovely to look at," and continued "Sure, in 2006 these acts look positively tame. However, back when pornography was a social sin and fornication was for procreation, a glimpse of gam or a peek at some pert personal pillows was the height of honorable horniness."<ref name="DVD Verdict"/>

==Lawsuit==
The film was the subject of a lawsuit by Page's estate against Something Weird Video, an Oregon company that was marketing videos of the film. Page's estate argued that marketing materials for the video infringed on Page's rights as a celebrity. A U.S. District Court ruled against Page's estate, because the video company had legitimately obtained all rights to the film and its associated marketing materials.<ref>{{cite news
| last =Goldstein
| first =Seth
| coauthors =
| title =Nostaligic Icon Faces Something Weird; Warner to Absorb Turner, Say Insiders
| newspaper =[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]
| location =
| pages =
| language =
| publisher =
| date =Spetember 21, 1996
| url =http://books.google.com/books?id=wwkEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA59&lpg=PA59&dq=%22Varietease%22&source=bl&ots=cXCCT3rIbr&sig=qYXMukclzqhZcnnYqUHip-6liTs&hl=en&sa=X&ei=UxxAULeXDJHciQK3vYGYDg&ved=0CEsQ6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q=%22Varietease%22&f=false
| accessdate = August 30, 2012}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}


== External links ==
== External links ==
* [http://m.imdb.com/title/tt0047643/ Varietease on IMDb]
* [http://imdb.com/title/tt0047643 ''Varietease''] at the [[Internet Movie Database]]


{{DEFAULTSORT:Varietease}}
{{Uncategorized|date=August 2012}}
[[Category:1954 films]]
[[Category:American films]]
[[Category:English-language films]]
[[Category:Documentary films]]
[[Category:Sexploitation films]]

Revision as of 08:24, 31 August 2012

Varietease
Varietease DVD cover
Directed byIrving Klaw
Produced byIrving Klaw
Starring
CinematographyDaniel D. Cavelli
Music by
  • Ben Blossner
  • Irma Hollander
  • Metis
Release date
1954
Running time
65 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Varietease is a 1954 American burlesque documentary film, and the first such directed by Irving Klaw.[1][2] According to its plot, the iconic pin-up model Bettie Page performs a burlesque show alongside Lili St. Cyr, Chris La Chris, Vicki Lynn, Bobby Shields, and others.

Synopsis

Varietease is a documentary film reflective of burlesque clubs of the 1950s. Master of ceremonies, Bobby Shields introduces the film's acts. Bettie Page performs a nudity-free Dance of the Seven Veils, but teases in only removing four veils. Lili St. Cyr does four separate sequences where she dresses and undresses to her undewear. Bettie Page returns presenting act cards while performing a few burlesque moves as she presents. Following are a comic, a female impersonator, the Barrow and Rodgers dance team, additional songs, and Can-Can dancers. The film ends with a pastie-covered reveal of Lili St. Cyr's chest.

Cast

Reception

Bettie Page performed a "particularly sexy but amateurish" Dance of the Seven Veils in the film.[3] One performance by transvestite performer Vicki Lynn is the film was said to have "crystallized the transgressive potential of the burlesque film".[4] Varietease is one of the "famous compilations" of "classic burlesque shows".[5] The film was re-released by Something Weird Video in 2006 sharing release with Teaserama. DVD Verdict noted that the films were both performed and staged as if for live audiences, but offered "Still, there is something endlessly fascinating about this old-fashioned flesh fest."[2] In looking at the films 50 years after they were made, it was noted that the comedians were bad, the dance acts "droned on", and only a couple of the songs were mildly amusing. The reviewer stated that while the film would be best appreciated by viewers already fans of St. Cry and Page, "The stripping is indeed skillful and the ladies are almost always lovely to look at," and continued "Sure, in 2006 these acts look positively tame. However, back when pornography was a social sin and fornication was for procreation, a glimpse of gam or a peek at some pert personal pillows was the height of honorable horniness."[2]

Lawsuit

The film was the subject of a lawsuit by Page's estate against Something Weird Video, an Oregon company that was marketing videos of the film. Page's estate argued that marketing materials for the video infringed on Page's rights as a celebrity. A U.S. District Court ruled against Page's estate, because the video company had legitimately obtained all rights to the film and its associated marketing materials.[6]

References

  1. ^ McNamara, J.R. (August 10, 2006). "review: Varietease (1954)". Digital Retribution. Retrieved August 31, 2012.
  2. ^ a b c Gibron, Bill (June 29, 2006). "Review: Varietease / Teaserama". DVD Verdict. Retrieved Augusy 31, 2012. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  3. ^ Foster, Richard (1997). The Real Bettie Page: The Truth About the Queen of the Pinups. Kensington Publishing Company. p. 70. ISBN 0806520752. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  4. ^ Schaefer, Eric (1999). "Bold! Daring! Shocking! True!": A History of Exploitation Films, 1919-1959. Duke University Press. pp. 317–319. ISBN 9780822323747. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  5. ^ Weldon, Jo (2010). The Burlesque Handbook. HarperCollins. p. 253. ISBN 9780061782190. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  6. ^ Goldstein, Seth (Spetember 21, 1996). "Nostaligic Icon Faces Something Weird; Warner to Absorb Turner, Say Insiders". Billboard. Retrieved August 30, 2012. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
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