Parlophone Announce Signing of Burlesque Superstar Immodesty Blaize
The Ultimate Film on Burlesque Starring burlesque queen Immodesty Blaize In cinemas nationwide January 2010 DVD Available 8th February
November 18, 2009, 08:13 PM
Feathers and fans, corsets and costumes, glitter and rhinestones...
It's hard to move in showbiz-land without becoming engulfed in an ocean of feathers, fans, corsets, sequins, and rhinestones. Just look at artists like Kylie, Katy Perry, Pink, Lady Gaga, not forgetting the Saturday night stable, Strictly Come Dancing. The spirit of sexy camp - as seen in the film Cabaret, set in Weimar Germany, or Moulin Rouge - is back, and with Hollywood blockbuster 'Burlesque' now in production, starring Christina Aguilera and Cher, 2010 is the year burlesque crosses over to the global mainstream.
The glitz and spectacle of burlesque is coming to cinemas nationwide in BURLESQUE UNDRESSED – a feature-length film starring Europe’s queen of burlesque Immodesty Blaize, produced by EMI and distributed in partnership with More2Screen.
BURLESQUE UNDRESSED is a lavish and dazzling journey right into the heart of the art-form, featuring a compelling mix of live performance, interviews from burlesque stars past and present, captivating music and all-round show-stopping entertainment.
British burlesque superstar Immodesty Blaize peels back the curtain to reveal her world of high-octane glamour, and gives an exclusive peep behind-the-scenes to expose the work involved in the art of the tease to produce a signature act of perfection.
From the elaborate spectacular costume designs to the impressive on-stage gimmicks, Immodesty and her pals showcase the best of burlesque in a dazzling explosion of seductive live performance, including footage from her very own sell-out Tease Show.
Veteran burlesque legends reveal hilarious anecdotes from the original Golden Era, including running foul of the censors and getting jailed for shaking their behind even when covered up!
This high-definition film tells the real story of the genre, charting its rise and fall from early British roots to an American evolution, and finally rejoicing in burlesque's 21st century revival. BURLESQUE UNDRESSED also features a special appearance from Marc Almond and a blaizin' big band soundtrack of heart-pounding memorable music.
Immodesty Blaize, crowned the Queen of Burlesque 2007 in Las Vegas, first appeared in the media performing with Goldfrapp in videos and stage shows. With her signature glamorous brand of erotic, ironic theatrical entertainment, Immodesty is uniquely placed to give us a whistlestop tour of the history of burlesque. She has spearheaded the genre's return to prominence in Europe as a sophisticated art-form. In a culture where we're constantly bombarded with overt sexual imagery, Immodesty's shows bring back high voltage glamour, humour and celebration, with the charm and allure of old Hollywood. She is very much in the tradition of national heroines such as Diana Dors and Joan Collins, who combine knowing sexuality with a British wit and a keen intelligence. Immodesty Blaize is a real woman with star quality - a modern day British Bombshell with the curves and the fun factor.
Warm, celebratory, cheeky, glamorous and revelatory, BURLESQUE UNDRESSED is the ultimate film on burlesque.
FEATURING The Burlesque stars of today…
Immodesty Blaize (Star of The Tease Show 2008, 2009, Winner of Reigning Queen of Burlesque at Las Vegas Burlesque Hall of Fame 2007) Kalani Kokonuts (The Tease Show 2009 and this year's winner at the Burlesque Hall of Fame, Las Vegas) Perle Noire (The Tease Show 2009 and this year's winner of Queen of Burlesque, New Orleans) Catherine D'Lish (The Tease Show 2009, Winner at Burlesque Hall of Fame 1992 and 1994) Dirty Martini (starred in The Tease Show 2008, Winner at Burlesque Hall of Fame 2004) Michelle L'Amour (The Tease Show 2008, Winner at Burlesque Hall of Fame 2005) Kitten de Ville (The Tease Show 2009, Winner at Burlesque Hall of Fame 2002)
The Burlesque Legends… Lily Anne Rose - was banned in Boston for 3 years as well as being jailed when she shimmied her butt on stage - covered by 50 yards of ruffles. Satan's Angel (The Devils Own Mistress) - husky voiced hilarious stories from the lady who twirled tassels of fire, like dating Clint Eastwood, Hedy Lamarr and getting stoned with Janis Joplin. April March – (The First Lady of burlesque) arrested several times for lewd and lascivious conduct even though she was known for her elegance and beauty on stage. Joan Arline (The Sexquire Girl) - still wears the same corset as when she was 21 - she is now 76! Dixie Evans – (The Marilyn Monroe of burlesque) Given her act by Harold Minsky himself and was as much a star in her day as Marilyn herself
Other performers… Marc Almond - vocalist (The Tease Show 2009)
Other interviewees… Grant Philipo, costumier, talks to Immodesty on screen at his showgirl museum about the head-dress he recreated for her from a 50s design, and generally how painful costumes are to wear. Steven Jones, milliner, on the 3 foot feather headress he designed for Immodesty and also Kylie Minogue's Showgirl tour outfit. Sir Peter Blake, pop art royalty who’s inspired by burlesque dancers and wrote his thesis on burlesque at the Royal College of Art. Basil Patton, vintage burlesque performer, recounts tales of the vintage stage Professor Christopher Breward, Victoria & Albert Museum, on the history of burlesque and the costumes.
More2Screen London-based More2Screen is the leading independent provider of cultural programming to digitally equipped cinemas and at big screen venues in the UK. Programmes include pre recorded and live concerts, music documentaries, sporting events and educational features.
Co-founders Christine Costello, former CEO of Pearl & Dean cinema advertising, and Penny Nagle, former MD of igig.tv, have over eight years experience in releasing alternative content into cinemas in the UK and Europe (including the first-ever live high definition broadcast of a music concert in Europe, Robbie Williams Live in Berlin, in 2005). Robbie Williams and Led Zeppelin theatrical releases delivered the highest and second highest selling music DVDs in the UK ever in 2004 and 2005.
In 2008 More2Screen was the worldwide theatrical distribution partner for a series of operas from the world renowned Glyndebourne Festival. They also exclusively distribute programmes from world renowned La Scala, Salzburg Festival, Italy’s Grand Operas and the Kirov ballet plus many more. More2Screen
