Bettie Page: Dark Angel (2004)

User Rating:

3.2/10   

Director:

Nico B.

Writers:

Carly Adler (screenplay)
Nico B. (story)

Genre:

Biography | Drama

Plot:

Tells the story of the last 3 years of her brief career.

Plot Keywords:

Pin Up | Cult | Bondage | Icon | Pin Up Girl

Cast

Paige Richards	...	Bettie Page
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Frederick Bald	...	Photographer #1
David Boller	...	FBI Agent #2
Oto Brezina	...	Sen. Estes Kefauver
Clinton Ehrlich	...	Marvin Greene
Jaimie Henkin	...	Paula Klaw
Zara Kand	...	Movie Star News Customer
Emily Marilyn	...	Unknown Model
David Maynard	...	Armond Walterson
David Neff	...	Howard Hughes
Mathew Otsuka	...	Photographer #2
Christopher Page	...	Jack Bradley
Bert Rotundo	...	Stalker #1
Brian Ruppert	...	Stalker #2
Wenceslao Salguero	...	Detective #2
Kirsi Sand	...	Bunny Yeager
Will Simmons	...	FBI Agent #1
Julie Simone	...	Patricia Midblane / Julie London
Michael Sonye	...	Irving Klaw (as Dukey Flyswatter)
Hank Spieker	...	Movie Star News Customer
Gil St. Claire	...	Security Guard
Jana Strain	...	Peggy Raye
Dillon Thomas	...	Joan Rydell
Rob Young	...	Casting Agent
Robert J. Zarro	...	Detective #1

Runtime:

USA:90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Goofs:

Anachronisms: The flag on the wall behind U.S. Senator Estes Kefauver has 50 stars, but his Senate Subcommittee on Juvenile Delinquency hearings in the 1950s predated the admission of Alaska and Hawaii.

Movie Connections:

References Teaserama (1955)

For fans, worth seeing, but still dull and poorly written

The major flaw with the film is its uninspired script. It plods back and forth between vignettes of Bettie's story and re-creations of the Klaw short films. While the Klaw re-creations are well done, it is unnecessary to recreate them in their near entirety. Page Richards, while not an amazing actress, does a decent job overall. And, at times, she does bear a remarkable resemblance to Bettie. Also of note is some faithful attention to detail. Costumes and clothing well done, as is some of the set direction. The sets are generally sparse and feel stage-y, but do feel of the era. It is sometimes surprisingly well lit, and the color palette was clearly thought-out to give the overall look a vibrant, retro feel.