Plot: What’s it about?
You’ll find a vault of burlesque materials in Best of Burlesque, but at the center of the goods, you’ll find two feature length films. So instead of going over the endless shorts included here, I have chosen to provide a synopsis for each of the feature films. In A Virgin in Hollywood, we watch as a small town reporter ventures to the home of the stars. She has been sent to Hollywood on a mission, to uncover the truth about the town’s darker side. In order to land the best story and advance her career, she must delve into that dark side. The road to the truth will be harsh, but she feels she can handle whatever Hollywood has to offer. Of course, she is inexperienced in life and seems poised to fall into some kind of trap sooner or later. She runs into lurid photo sessions, which involve women in little to no clothes. This shocks her, but she pushes onward and seeks to learn all she can about the seedier side of Hollywood. Can she manage to track down the scoop she needs, but stay true to herself in the process? In Too Hot to Handle, there is no real storyline to discuss, as the film is just assorted burlesque. But when you’re dealing with hot ladies taking off their clothes, who needs a complex plot, right?
This two disc release from Something Weird hosts a wealth of burlesque materials, which add up to over seven hours of entertainment. At the center of Best of Burlesque, you’ll find two feature length movies, A Virgin in Hollywood and Too Hot to Handle. I was pleased to find some substance here, as a compilation of shorts isn’t as impressive. I mean, it is great to have all these burlesque shorts, especially gathered in one collection like this, but the inclusion of two feature films give the release some weight. Not that the movies are classics, quite the opposite, but it gives us a chance to see how full length projects were produced. The films don’t have much in terms of plot, as the focus is on burlesque routines. So while feature length, the movies are really just complied shorts with a loose narrative. I found A Virgin in Hollywood to be a fun watch, with a campish edge and old school texture. The 3-D scenes are hilarious and thanks to the included glasses, you can experience the fun in your own home. Too Hot to Handle wasn’t as much fun, but it offers a good amount of burlesque, so it makes an appropriate addition. The shorts run the cycle from wildly entertaining to dull, but all were wise choices to be included here. This is just a fun release, so if you’re a fan of old school exploitation, don’t miss the Best of Burlesque.
Video: How does it look?
All of the material in this collection, both feature length and short form, is presented in full frame, as intended. As you can imagine, some of the elements haven’t been well handled over the years, so the visuals suffer. The prints range in quality, as some look quite passable and others have been raked across the coals. So yes, some of the shorts are plagued with print defects, but in truth, I am surprised to see them surface at all. I would love restored editions, but let’s be realistic, as no other studio would touch these materials. And some of the shorts look decent, even good at times, so not all the elements have been trashed. This is a mixed lot of transfers, but given the nature of the materials involved, I can’t complain much.
Audio: How does it sound?
The audio is all mono, all the time and that is more than adequate. The same comments from the video section hold up here, as the quality varies between material. So you will hear some pops, hiss, and all kinds of other defects, but it never proves to be an issue. And in truth, it would seem awkward to watch one of these burlesque shorts with a pristine DTS-ES soundtrack, so I think the worn mono soundtracks are acceptable. Yes, time has taken a toll, but the flaws never detract from the experience in the least.
Supplements: What are the extras?
You’ll need to call in a few sick days to soak in all the shorts found here, but if you’re a fan of burlesque, it will be a labor of love. You can watch four 3-D shorts, with titles such as Persian Slave Market and American Beauties, which come to life with the included glasses. The floodgates then open, as an endless assortment of shorts are included, from Satan’s Dance to Heels Over Head to The Cobra Girl to Daughters of Eve. A literal treasure trove of dozens and dozens of classic burlesque shorts, what more could a fan want? You can even view some glamour girl photos and exploitation artwork, as if the shorts weren’t enough.
