1/07/2012

Behind the Burly Q (2010) Review

Behind the Burly Q (2010)
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In the golden days of entertainment when it appeared that the moving pictures were threatening to kill the live vaudeville show, the answer seemed clear. Give audiences something they couldn't see in the movie house. And so burlesque was born. Keeping the variety and comedic elements so crucial to vaudeville, burlesque merely upped the skin quotient by adding a strip, a tease, and a striptease. (The film taught me the three didn't always go together!) And a new era of entertainment and a new style of celebrity were born. The colorful documentary "Behind the Burly Q" examines this historical phenomenon and stands as a unique and important look back through history. Filmmaker Leslie Zemeckis deftly weaves archival footage with contemporary interviews to give an exclusive peek at a nearly forgotten art form. And now, if ever, is the time--while there are still first hand accounts to add depth and dimension to the discussion.
Although there were some downbeat components to burlesque--in fact, many of the earliest performers hailed from difficult or abusive backgrounds--the film doesn't' wallow in negative. The ladies interviewed seem to be proud of their status and contribution, as if the stage offered them an escape and not merely exploitation. In those days, it could lead to power, fame and (most importantly) financial stability. And it wasn't just about baring it all, there was an artistic component and outlet involved. I kept thinking about the musical "Gypsy" and the number You Gotta Get A Gimmick (and indeed, the real Gypsy Rose Lee is featured in the film's background material), and the individual ladies often did have a singular claim to fame. One example is the acrobat who moved to the burlesque arena that eventually went on to be the first theme park Tinkerbell flying over nightly crowds at the country's largest attraction (hint, it involved a Magic Castle)!
The real treasure with "Behind the Burly Q" is the preservation and assembly of the performances. The film is noteworthy for that alone. But to get the feedback and additional insight provided in the interviews, this presents an element that might have been lost without this documentary. Even Alan Alda chimes in, his father Robert was big on the vaudeville circuit and was present for the transition into burlesque. The contemporary influence that burlesque has had is unquestionable, and this film is an insightful and entertaining look back through entertainment history. KGHarris, 3/11.

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