Varietease (1954)

The film by Irving Klaw is a sequence of variety routines, with some striptease sections that were as daring as it was possible to go in 1954, which means not very daring at all. Made with a low budget and no scenery (although the set designer does get a credit) it's interesting to see what was at the cutting edge in those days.

There is some very lame comedy -- you actually get the joke, "Take my wife --- please!" but maybe it was new then. There are also some dance routines that are technically good but unexciting to watch.

A Spanish dance duo called Peppe and Roccio (not in the credits in this film) do a serious sub-flamenco dance. The female half of the duo is obviously a crossdresser.

Serious is the operative word for their dancing -- the look of concentration on their faces betrays their anxiety to get it right.

Later there is a dance routine by this girl with her boyfriend seated at a table watching. At the end she sits down with him and says, "How did you like my dance?"

Proving by the stilted dialogue that they are no actors, he says, "I liked it very much -- but you know if I was a woman, I could do a dance that would hold any man."

Naturally enough she says, "I don't believe you: show me."

So he says, "You got a gown I could borrow?"

"Go to my dresssing room and take any one you want."

"OK" says our hero, and goes off.

After another act has a turn, he returns -- we now recognise her as Vickie Lynn, a female impersonator. She does an excellent, but also very modest, dance number. The girl looks on, disapproving, with pursed lips.

Vickie Lynn completes the routine, and goes and sits with the girl. Vickie takes off her wig (but she has longish hair underneath) and lights a huge cigar, to rapturous (canned) applause.

The credits at the end imply that the title of this film is "Under the Influence ... of Tease! Part One", and that Part Two can be seen on the Teaserama DVD, but this is obviously a modern addition, and I am not aware of the "Under the Influence" title being used. However the link to Teaserama reminds us of that film which uses the same performers and the same set-up as this film.

HF March 2011

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