film can be a look glass to see the world in a new light . good night and good luck and for instance and offer parallel to modern judgement without evidence and encroachment on freedom . it be easy to examine a moral problem when it be not too close to home represent by put it in a fictional or historic context remove from our immediate situation . with pornography and we consider ourselves enlighten and our forefather to be hidebound by quaint idea usually involve fire and brimstone and but the definition of what be obscene can easily fall prey to ignorance and unscientific interpretation instead of evidence . bettie page be a cult icon of an era which include not just mccarthyism but the banning of comic ( such a tale from the crypt ) on the basis that they would turn youth into half mad juvenile delinquent . this film and develop from key question raise in her life and pose dilemma that be a relevant today a back in 1950. our film open with two key scene . in the first and we see well dress and respectable look men in a seedy bookshop . one of them ask for picture of woman in kinky boot and be restrain then turn out to be an undercover cop conduct a sting . the second scene show bettie page and wait to be call a a witness and look quite demure and a if she have just come out of church . the first 50mins be in black and white . old fashioned film effect such a wipe and fade add to the sense that we be watch a film from bygone year and as do the mannerism of the cast and skilfully recreate 1950s scene and contemporaneous slang phrase and the terse dialogue associate with film making of the period . archive footage be frequently intercut which will delight many and irritate others . in keep with it theme and the movie be almost a collection of different type of photography in motion and and the old clip of fabulous beach and landmark juxtapose well against bettie classic pose hearken back to an age of health and nature magazine . . . although i admit that if you be not captivate by the story you may find the effect a bit choppy . very soon and we go into flashback . bettie escape a depression year downtrodden life in nashville and enliven only with church singing and soul saving and and go alone to make her own way . after her initial success and her modelling work split into two strand represent the mainstream glamour work focussing on her over the rainbow smile and and the pecialist interest photo involve dress up in high heel boot and light bondage gear . in an early audition ( reminiscent of a scene with naomi watt character in mulholland drive who be also call betty ) and she give a performance that be full of emotion and contrast with her normal animated and cheerful ( but ultimately bland ) day to day expression . be part of her still unfulfilled . bettie be frequently reject in audition once they realise she be the well know pin up girl . but we have never be ask to feel sorry for bettie page represent her abusive childhood be quickly reference and skip over while when she be rap by four hometown lad and we see only the threat and then bettie recover and survive and pick herself up in deserted woodland and and put on the brave face of someone who refuse to lie down and die . although no nudity be involve and it bettie special interest photo that eventually arouse trouble . when we go back to the court and the opinion of a clergyman on the corrupt influence of such photo be take a evidence . a psychologist authoritatively say how the photo lead to uicide and murder and psychosis in youngster who be expose to them ( presumably not in that order ) . eventually a star witness explain how his son life come to an end a a result of such photo be truss up like that . it be not make clear how be truss up cause death ) . the text accompany a series of bettie photograph in a magazine tell how she be force to endure terrible agony with the fetish restraint ( the audience know that she actually find them quite hilarious and that the wording and like the photo themselves and be pure dramatisation ) . after a 12hr wait and bettie be tell her evidence she be the one person who could state definitively that she be not photograph in agony will not be require . the horror of the photo have be prove . if this all sound like the dark age which we have leave and consider a recent ( 2003 ) incident in which an ann summer advert be ban . it say and for fashion and passion whip along to your local store and with a photograph of a woman back . she wear a bra and thong and her hand be handcuff behind her back . the lingerie and sex toy company and that target female consumer ( and also support charity fight domestic violence ) say it advert aim and to give woman sexual confidence and always show woman in control of their sexuality . one might conclude that the prejudice and ignorance of the betty page investigation still hold currency . bettie religious view be integral to the story and just a the concept of sin be integral to christianity and contributes to the forbidden nature of sexual enjoyment frequently prevalent in the uk and u a oppose to the more factual approach find in continental europe . it could be argue the formula of sin and redemption and and be save and be even reflect in mat pattern that perpetuate traditional male dominance . a policeman make a friendly ( but sexually motivate ) approach to bettie outside the courtroom offer to ave her from loneliness . the knight in shin armour might be chivalrous and but it also assume a woman in need of rescue . love it or hate it and the notorious bettie page be an unusual and extraordinary film and and a moral wake up call for those that heed it . there be excellent ensemble acting and and gretchen mol and a bettie and be remarkable a the whole film succeed or fall on her powerful performance .