Behind the Burly Q

Leslie Zemeckis guides viewers through the long, sometimes scandalous history of burlesque, moving from its vaudeville roots to midcentury decline and a modern revival. Rather than a straight timeline, the film pieces together first person interviews, archival photographs, period film clips and vintage advertising to show how changing tastes and legal pressure shaped the art form. Performers, historians and family members contribute memories that reveal the personalities behind the striptease and comedy acts, while the narration keeps things informative and anecdotal without giving away any surprises.

Released in 2010, the documentary was directed by Leslie Zemeckis and leans heavily on archival material and interviews. The film includes appearances via archive footage by figures like Bud Abbott and features contemporary interviews with people such as Joan Arline, Beverly Arlynne and Al Baker Jr.

Critical and audience response has been mixed, reflected in a modest user rating of 4.917 out of 10 from a small sample of voters. Reviewers tend to praise the archival finds and oral histories, while some note the pacing and depth vary across segments. Major themes include performance as labor, the shifting boundaries of public morality, censorship, and how sexuality intersects with entertainment and entrepreneurship.

Aside from presenting rare photographs and clips, the film helped preserve firsthand accounts that might otherwise be forgotten, making it useful to historians and enthusiasts. It arrived during a period when neo-burlesque was gaining visibility, and for niche audiences the documentary served as a reference point and conversation starter about the genre's legacy and continuing cultural presence.