DIRTY VELVET

Many decent unsuspecting folk will flock to the recently opened film “Blue Velvet,” on the strength of Sheila Benson’s rapturous mid-week review (Sept. 19). Maybe they’ll even love it.

So will every pervert, sadist, masochist, deviate, misogynist, molester, druggie, transvestite, wife-beater and those who stop to gawk at bloody highway accidents. There’s something in it for everyone.

“Brilliantly disturbing,” “visionary,” “superlative acting,” “purity of conviction,” “endearingly corny”--such descriptive phrases lull the reader into an erroneous assumption that artistry would transcend its violent substance.

Sheila Benson deserves the Pulitzer Prize--for understatement.

PAT YODER GARRITY

Manhattan Beach