Bettie Page: Dark Angel

Turn over to the right.

You're squinting. Don't look into the sun. Look at the camera.

Okay, run your fingers through your hair.

Open your eyes, wide open.

One hand on your hip.

And smile.

Well, we are finished here. These will be great.

- Thank you, Bunny. - Well, go have fun with your boyfriend.

He's waiting so patiently.

- So Armond, what'd you think? - Beautiful as ever.

So you can spend a few more days here?

No, you know I have to get back to work.

Well, we'll just have to make the most of the time we have.

Maybe I'll come back some day.

- Hello, Irving. - Good afternoon, Bettie.

- How was your trip? - It was fabulous,

but you know I always miss New York.

Well, you're too late today, so you'll have to come back tomorrow.

How was your week?

Weeks are better when I put out pictures of you.

Stop joshing me. See you tomorrow.

Chop chop. Time is money.

I'm ready if Paula is.

Bettie, are you ready?

I am, Irving, but can we please have some music?

There's no time for that. We are ready to shoot.

I'm ready!

All right, action!

And cut. Okay, we're done.

Everybody, same time, same place, tomorrow.

Irving? Irving?

Do you mind if I get paid now instead of the end of the week?

If I give you an advance, can you do some other shoots tomorrow?

I've been getting some special requests.

Sure, I'll be there.

Thank you.

- You look so pretty with your tan. - Thank you.

Do you think I can go to Florida with you next time?

- Maybe, if you're nice. - I'll be nice.

Oh, I see how nice you are.

So, Marvin,

what do you say that we study our script

for tomorrow's audition?

- All right. - Okay?

- Yeah. - All right.

I'll be back.

Okay, one for you.

All right, let's go.

You know how I feel about you,

with your raven hair and bronze skin.

But you know we cannot marry.

Father would never hear of it.

He has promised me to another.

Run away with me.

Sometimes I... I don't think

you even see us as a couple.

I do.

I picture us happy...

in our home...

with the white picket fence,

two kids and a dog.

I do think that way about us.

You mean the world to me.

I see you in my dreams every night,

but then Father and Mr. Reynolds come and take me away from you.

Run away with me.

Okay.

- So I think we did pretty good. - Yeah.

I hope I get the part tomorrow.

You're gonna get bigger roles than that.

Look how popular your pictures are.

I know, but I wanna be an actress.

You will.

- You will. - Thank you for having faith in me.

So how do you like the new spurs?

I like them.

- What are we doing today? - You're tying the ropes.

Your hair looks great. Come on, let's go.

Come on Bettie, let's go.

Jack, we are all set.

Bettie, why don't you spank her with the hairbrush?

Great, Bettie. How about some stills?

Beautiful.

Oh, yeah.

Yeah, how about one more?

Perfect. Great.

- Nice job. - Thank you.

Why don't you go get changed? And Jack, why don't you pack up?

We'll go meet Irving and get something to eat.

- Thank you. - Yeah.

- Yeah, should be fine. - I think it will be too.

Okay.

Okay, Irving, what are they saying about "Teaserama"?

Well, let's see.

"'Teaserama' stars stripper Tempest Storm.

Other girls include Chris LaChris,

Twinnie Wallen, Vicki Lynn,

Cherrie Knight, and Trudy Wayne.

Bettie Page as the showcard girl is underrated.

She has the beauty, the build, and the presence to steal my heart.

Her expressions are classic,

and she's more amazing in motion than she is in her stills.

Miss Storm is one of the biggest tease artists of all time.

You can see why she is such a delight.

However, Miss Page steals the scene as Miss Storm's maid."

Wow.

And here's some more about you, Bettie.

"'Teaserama' is the biggest burlesque film ever.

The sexy Tennessee tease Miss Bettie Page

terms up with that hurricane of delight, Miss Tempest Storm

in a boudoir bit that scorches the screen.

I'm convinced that there will never be another like Bettie.

Forget the comics. They're awful.

And enjoy the ladies. Bettie Page completely outshines the rest."

- Bettie. - Y'all have very big imaginations.

Hey, listen to this.

"I was pleasantly surprised

by the fresh, sexy, and flirtatious 'Teaserama.'

Miss Page always seems to be having a good time...

the most attractive and alluring woman ever."

Here, and what about this one?

"With her girl-next-door smile and hourglass figure,

Bettie Page performs two stylized dance numbers.

As a favorite photographer's model

and a girlie film cutie, she isn't a real stripper,

but rather a lovely 'come-on girl."'

Bettie, you're a star.

Irving, you're being silly.

Let's just enjoy our dinner.

Could you pass me the water, Irving?

- Yeah, sure. - Want some wine, sweetie?

- Yeah, I'll have some wine. - Here you go, Bettie.

Hello? Irving.

Yes.

So you saw Bettie in a magazine.

Yes.

Well, how can I help you?

Screen test?

Hollywood?

For Howard Hughes?

I think she would love to do a screen test.

The number is Greenwich-543...

Hello, Miss Page. I hope your flight was a pleasant one.

- It was, thank you. - Well, good.

- Right this way, then. - Okay, thank you.

Here are some costumes to try on. Pick whatever you like.

Okay. Thank you.

Come in.

Mr. Hughes, Miss Page is changing right now.

Thank you, Jimmy. That'll be all for now.

Okay, just tell us about yourself.

Okay. Hey there, my name is Bettie Page.

I am 5'5" tall.

I have black hair and blue eyes.

I live in New York City.

I'm originally from Tennessee.

I was the second runner-up

in the Miss New York Pageant in 1951,

and uh...

I guess that's it. Thank you.

Great. Thanks. We're done here.

Well, thank you. So do I meet Mr. Hughes now?

We thank you very much for your time, but Mr. Hughes has left for the day.

Okay, did you want me to come back tomorrow?

Actually, we're done. So you can change,

and have a safe flight back to New York.

Thank you.

Run away with me.

Sometimes, I wonder if you ever see us as a couple...

together, happy,

in our home...

with a white-picket fence,

two kids and a dog.

I do see us that way.

I think about you every night in my dreams

and it's wonderful,

but then it turns into a nightmare

when Mr. Reynolds and my father come and take me away from you.

Run away with me.

You all right, Bettie?

Irving had me do the strangest thing today.

He had me down on all fours,

with this leather harness on my head.

You couldn't even tell it was me.

You know, I wish you didn't even do the bondage stuff.

Marvin, you know I have to do the bondage.

I don't get paid if I don't do it.

I don't get hurt and it pays twice as much as the regular stuff.

Yeah, I know, but I mean, maybe...

maybe that's why Howard Hughes never called you back.