Varietease

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

Bettie Page performed a particularly sexy but amateurish Dance of the Seven Veils in the film. One performance by transvestite performer Vicki Lynn in the film was said to have crystallized the transgressive potential of the burlesque film. Varietease is one of the famous compilations of classic burlesque shows. The film was rereleased 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 oldfashioned flesh fest. In looking at the films 50years 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.Cyr 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.The film was the subject of a lawsuit by Pages estate against Something Weird Video, an Oregon company that was marketing videos of the film. Pages estate argued that marketing materials for the video infringed on Pages rights as a celebrity. A U.S. district court ruled against Pages estate because the video company had legitimately obtained all rights to the film and its associated marketing materials. ........

Source: Wikipedia