Fur: An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus

Englewood. Englewood.

Anyone for Englewood.

Hello.

Mrs. Arbus?

That's right.

I'm Jack Henry.

Welcome to Camp Venus.

It's terrific to be here.

- Come on in. - Thank you.

I don't wanna be any bother.

Oh, no, not at all. We're delighted to

have a photographer here.

It's simply...

I n order to get permission, you must

take them off.

No one ever mentioned that.

And there are two rules.

- Yes? - The first one is:

No erections.

And no staring.

I'm sorry.

Please, go ahead and disrobe, Ms.

Arbus.

- We're used to it. Aren't we, Jack?

- Hm.

To tell you the truth, I need a moment

to myself, if that's all right.

- I understand. - We'll leave you alone.

Oh.

How pretty.

Belonged to a friend.

Okay, boys, let's move them in.

- Jimmy, get in the back. - Okay, boss.

Mother?

Grandma and Grandpa are here.

Thank you, Gracie.

Welcome to the Allan Arbus Family Photo

Studio...

...run by my son-in-law, Allan... My

talented son-in-law, Allan.

- And his number one assistant, my

daughter Diane.

This also happens to be their home.

So it's a real family business.

We hope you'll all become part of our

family.

Look! Mommy, look!

- Macy's, Bergdorf's and all the other

great stores across town.

Hello, Diane.

There must be someone moving in

upstairs.

Clearly.

There was no way for me to know this

would happen tonight, Mother.

Diane, we're holding the show here this

year to help you and your family out.

I know. We're grateful.

Where did you get that dress?

Well...

...you gave it to me, Mother.

I gave it to you last year.

- I n the living room, please, Merta.

- Yes, Mrs. Arbus.

Easy, Jim.

Easy.

There we go. Hang on.

Hang on, hang on. Set it down.

You got it?

- You okay? - All right.

Keep going, boys, all the way to the

top.

Diane.

- Not now. - Come on.

Here, let me help you with that, Rose.

Your father's already driving me nuts.

I know, Allan.

- He wanted to trim it with monkey. - A

monkey?

I said no.

To all the greatest fur buyers in

America:

My wife, Gertrude, and I welcome you to

my daughter's home.

Thank you all for coming.

She's really something.

Thank you all for taking the time to

join us this evening.

As you know, for the past 30 years...

...Russeks has been the biggest

buyer of pelts...

...and producers of fur garments in

the world.

And like us, you all don't want to let

only New York ladies...

...have the luxury of world-class

furs. - I need gloves. Like this?

- Now, do we? - Of course not.

- So without further ado... - Finally!

...ladies and gentlemen, observe the

fox.

Stealthy, luxurious, the colors of

autumn.

Each individual coat truly a thing of

beauty.

Lustrous, dark-hued, naturally

cloud-soft.

Crafted with the distinctive flair and

elegant styling...

...women of discriminating taste have

come to expect from Russeks furs.

And the leopard.

The spotted and graceful dancer of the

jungle.

Notice the matching hat, purse, mirror

and cosmetic case.

This prestigious ensemble will be the

cornerstone...

...of our fall advertising campaign,

to be photographed, of course...

...by the Allan Arbus Family Photo

Studio which later...

There really isn't an occasion when you

can't wear leopard.

Friends, prepare yourselves...

...for the unbearably soft appeal of

chinchilla.

The silkiest and most sensual fur that

money can buy.

This one's jammed. Get me the

Hasselblad with the wide-angle.

Okay.

- This delicate fur... - Excuse me.

- And certainly.

- All set, Charlie. - Got everything?

That's it.

Good luck to you.

Diane? You got it?

- What? - The Hasselblad.

Yes, yes. I'm sorry.

Come on.

Let's go upstairs for the studio tour.

...take a look at the wonderful work

my son-in-law's doing.

Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, Seventeen.

My husband has... Has shot campaigns

for...

...Chock full of Nuts, Sunbeam and

many more.

But his main focus for the past 10 years

has been the daily new Russeks ads...

...for my father's world-renowned

store that run in The New York Times.

May I ask, uh, what do you photograph,

Diane?

Me? Um, oh, no, I'm... I'm not the

photographer.

No, my husband is.

But, uh, what do you do?

Um...

Well, I...

I take light readings and I, uh... I...

I... iron clothes.

I, um...

I provide straws for the models so that

their lipstick doesn't smudge, and I, uh...

...I accessorize their clothes. I

rearrange their hair.

L... It's not that much.

Diane, uh, do you have any fashion tips

for a friend?

Um, as a matter of fact, yes, yes, I

do.

One's, um...

One's nails should, um... Should only be

slightly longer than the pads of...

Of one's...

One's fingertips, and...

For chrissake, what now?

Excuse me.

- Are you all right? - I'm sorry.

Everyone, dessert is served downstairs

in the living room.

Diane?

Uh...

I'm okay, Allan. I'm sorry.

Just need a moment. Okay?

Are you sure?

Yes.

Okay.

Thank you.

Diane?

Maybe you should take some time off.

- Allan. - I could hire an assistant.

I bought you that square-format camera

10 years ago...

...you haven't even used it, Diane.

Maybe you could take a class.

Is that your secret?

Yes.

My answer is no. I'm not gonna leave

you during the day.

What's yours?

Come on, tell me. What's your secret?

I unbuttoned my dress on the porch

tonight.

What?

Allan, I...

I don't wanna be like that.

Like what?

I'm your wife, I shouldn't do that.

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