# Gratuitous nudity and NON-nudity in movies **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 5, 2009, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gratuitous-nudity-and-non-nudity-in-movies/495447 "2009-05-05T18:53:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2011, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gratuitous-nudity-and-non-nudity-in-movies/495447/221 "2011-02-20T05:08:24Z")
I believe there is breast in the comic, if only once. But it’s clear she’s naked. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2011, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gratuitous-nudity-and-non-nudity-in-movies/495447/222 "2011-02-20T05:27:31Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > I’ve only flipped through the original comic, but if I remember right, Nancy’s nudity was mostly kept in the shadows. > > Slightly off-topic: I just realized that Rose McGowan’s constant refrain of “I’m not a stripper, I’m a go-go dancer” in Rodriguez’s Planet Terror was probably a direct reference to Jessica Alba’s refusal to get naked when playing a “stripper” in Sin City. But what cognition was Rose’s strange naked garb in relation to the Marilyn Manson prelate and perversion? She’s afuckin’ freak. That kinbd of sexual freedom doesn’t come without a price. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2011, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gratuitous-nudity-and-non-nudity-in-movies/495447/223 "2011-02-20T05:37:48Z")
> [@devilsknew](#): > > But what cognition was Rose’s strange naked garb in relation to the Marilyn Manson prelate and perversion? She’s afuckin’ freak. That kinbd of sexual freedom doesn’t come without a price. Bwuh? ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2011, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gratuitous-nudity-and-non-nudity-in-movies/495447/224 "2011-02-20T05:40:47Z")
I’m sayin’ Rose was Manson’s slave and she appeared in public naked purely by his command. But then, she probably liked it. There are complicated reaons for sexuality, subtle and blatant, outside of a director’s grasp. And even unknown to the performer. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2011, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gratuitous-nudity-and-non-nudity-in-movies/495447/225 "2011-02-20T05:45:18Z")
> [@devilsknew](#): > > I’m sayin’ Rose was Manson’s slave and she appeared in public naked purely by his command. But then, she probably liked it. There are complicated reaons for sexuality, subtle and blatant, outside of a director’s grasp. And even unknown to the performer. Which has nothing to do with an in-joke a director planted in one of his movies. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2011, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gratuitous-nudity-and-non-nudity-in-movies/495447/226 "2011-02-20T06:18:35Z")
What, you think the two modern directors and ressurectors of exploitation film, Tarantino and Rodriguez, wouldn’t exploit an actress with and without her consent? ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2011, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gratuitous-nudity-and-non-nudity-in-movies/495447/227 "2011-02-20T07:13:21Z")
> [@devilsknew](#): > > What, you think the two modern directors and ressurectors of exploitation film, Tarantino and Rodriguez, wouldn’t exploit an actress with and without her consent? I want some of whatever devilsknew is smoking. ---
**Author:** ![Indygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@Indygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indygrrl)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2011, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gratuitous-nudity-and-non-nudity-in-movies/495447/228 "2011-02-20T07:35:27Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > I haven’t spent a great deal of time in strip clubs, so I could easily be wrong, but my impression has always been that the “strip” part is a thing of the past. Aren’t they naked pretty much the whole time they’re on stage now? It depends on how much cash is being thrown around. No tips,no tits, lol. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2011, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gratuitous-nudity-and-non-nudity-in-movies/495447/229 "2011-02-20T15:15:24Z")
On the few occasions I’ve attended, they are completely naked within 30 seconds of taking the stage. I’ve never seen anyone tip while they were still covered. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2011, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gratuitous-nudity-and-non-nudity-in-movies/495447/230 "2011-02-21T00:48:31Z")
I guess it is agreed that clothed strippers are the most gratuitous and maybe commonest form of gratuitious non-nudity in film, with gratuitous post-coital lounging around with the sheets pulled up over the breasts being the second most gratuitous (and perhaps the commonest, I dunno. It remains for a more interested film historian than me to conduct a thorough survey and come up with definitive numbers). I really cant think of a lot of other places where gratuitous non nudity has occurred. My best guess might be in movies dealing with ancient times, when nudity was more widespread and more accepted. But just try searching Google with the keywords “slave” “nudity”. You’ll get a lot of hits … but none of any historical value! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2011, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gratuitous-nudity-and-non-nudity-in-movies/495447/231 "2011-02-21T04:53:21Z")
Every episode of Sex and the City in which Sarah Jessica Parker kept her bra on during and after sex. Who does that? Maybe a loose T-shirt, but a bra is possibly the most restricting thing a an wears. It would be the first thing off and wouldn’t be put back on until time to leave the house again. (In my direct experience anyway.) ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2011, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gratuitous-nudity-and-non-nudity-in-movies/495447/232 "2011-02-21T18:25:46Z")
> [@acsenray](#): > > Every episode of Sex and the City in which Sarah Jessica Parker kept her bra on during and after sex. Who does that? Maybe a loose T-shirt, but a bra is possibly the most restricting thing a an wears. It would be the first thing off and wouldn’t be put back on until time to leave the house again. (In my direct experience anyway.) Parker probably had a codicil in her contract that she would not do nudity. She tells an amusing story of her experience in a Bruce Willis movie, _Striking Distance._ Willis and the director begged her to do a nude scene, but she refused, and in fact she had had it written into her contract that she would not have to do nudity back when she was hired for the movie. I’m COMPLETELY on Parker’s side on this one. If you want nudity,\* HIRE A FRICKING ACTRESS WHO WILL DO FRICKING NUDE SCENES!\* Is that so hard to understand? I never watched much of “Sex in the City” so I don’t know if Parker’s refusal to do nudity hurt the show. The title makes it sound like nudity would have been helpful. I understand it was a comedy series though, and in comedy, the ability to be funny trumps all. Parker strikes me as a capable comedic actress, maybe it was a good decision. I dunno. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2011, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gratuitous-nudity-and-non-nudity-in-movies/495447/233 "2011-02-21T19:02:24Z")
I knew about Parker’s contractual stipulations. I think the whole world does. That’s irrelevant for the purpose of this discussion. And essentially Parker hired herself for this role, so the burden for harming the quality of the series falls on her shoulders completely. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2011, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gratuitous-nudity-and-non-nudity-in-movies/495447/234 "2011-02-21T19:12:17Z")
> [@acsenray](#): > > On the few occasions I’ve attended, they are completely naked within 30 seconds of taking the stage. I’ve never seen anyone tip while they were still covered. So explain what the cover charge is for. :D;) ---
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2011, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gratuitous-nudity-and-non-nudity-in-movies/495447/235 "2011-02-21T21:51:56Z")
Gratuitous- in _Margo At The Wedding_, Jennifer Jason Leigh seized yet another opportunity to show her tits, albeit unnecessarily. In the scene, she and her financee Jack Black are getting ready for bed. She comes out of the bathroom in standard-issue PJ’s, with the top unbuttoned. In order to uncover her tits, she does a big yawn while stretching so the shirt opens up, and sits on the bed with one or both of them hanging out while she & Black have a conversation. Don’t get me wrong, I wholeheartedly support her willingness to unleash the puppies, but the yawn & stretch seemed forced just for the purpose of showing them. Meanwhile, we are treated to Nicole Kidman masturbating and walking around for much of the movie braless in a tight t-shirt with nipples pointing at the fabric like bullets. Pretty much the only reason I sat through it. Non-gratuitous- _Dancing At The Blue Iguana_, an ensemble piece following the lives of several women who dance at a strip club. I was surprised to see Darryl Hannah, Sandra Oh and Sheila Kelley nearly naked (nothing more than tiny g-strings) dancing and writhing and spreading, and not as surprised to see Jennifer Tilly and a couple others. I would have expected that level of nudity from lesser-known actresses. There may have been more but I fell asleep. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2011, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gratuitous-nudity-and-non-nudity-in-movies/495447/236 "2011-02-23T19:41:13Z")
> [@corkboard](#): > > Non-gratuitous- _Dancing At The Blue Iguana_, an ensemble piece following the lives of several women who dance at a strip club. I was surprised to see Darryl Hannah, Sandra Oh and Sheila Kelley nearly naked (nothing more than tiny g-strings) dancing and writhing and spreading, and not as surprised to see Jennifer Tilly and a couple others. I would have expected that level of nudity from lesser-known actresses. **There may have been more but I fell asleep.** (Bolding mine – EC) LOL! This is wonderfully succinct review of the movie. Says it all! ---
**Author:** ![Ichbin\_Dubist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/51bf81/32.png) [@Ichbin\_Dubist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ichbin_Dubist)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2011, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gratuitous-nudity-and-non-nudity-in-movies/495447/237 "2011-02-23T19:51:42Z")
> [@corkboard](#): > > Gratuitous- in _Margo At The Wedding_, Jennifer Jason Leigh seized yet another opportunity to show her tits, albeit unnecessarily. In the scene, she and her financee Jack Black are getting ready for bed. To say nothing of Jack Black topless in his tighty-whities. ---
**Author:** ![Indygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@Indygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indygrrl)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2011, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gratuitous-nudity-and-non-nudity-in-movies/495447/238 "2011-02-23T20:26:36Z")
> [@acsenray](#): > > On the few occasions I’ve attended, they are completely naked within 30 seconds of taking the stage. I’ve never seen anyone tip while they were still covered. Must be a regional difference. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2011, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gratuitous-nudity-and-non-nudity-in-movies/495447/239 "2011-02-23T20:53:48Z")
> [@Evil\_Captor](#): > > … as you say, writing to Willis while he was in jail, treating Marv decently instead of being frightened of him, even as she makes a living cranking men’s libidoes with her naked body. Nitpick: Nancy Callahan, the exotic dancer, is a different character than Goldie, the high-class hooker specializing in clergy tricks who befriends Marv. The non-nudity of Nancy doesn’t bother me. My impression is that when John Hartigan comes into the club where she dances, her act is just starting, and that eventually she does the Full Monty. But she spots Hartigan, jumps off the stage, and runs off with him. The waitress even tells Hartigan “She’s just warming up”, IIRC. Likewise with Marv in the comic book, although in the comic she gets topless at least. I love that movie. I am in the process of acquiring the comics in bound form. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![FrigidLizard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3bc359/32.png) [@FrigidLizard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FrigidLizard)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2011, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gratuitous-nudity-and-non-nudity-in-movies/495447/240 "2011-02-24T01:28:50Z")
I’m afraid you’ve misplaced your nitpick. Evil Captor is referring to the scene where Nancy lets Marv in her house (IIRC, she also lends him her car). He notes that there isn’t much she wouldn’t do for him since he had saved her from an assault. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gratuitous-nudity-and-non-nudity-in-movies/495447.md?page=11)