# 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:** 9
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2010, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gratuitous-nudity-and-non-nudity-in-movies/495447/161 "2010-05-05T18:37:48Z")
I was disappointed there wasn’t any gratuitous nudity in **Kick-Ass**. Several occasions for such, but in each instance the actress kept her hands cupped over her breasts. Hardly the behavior of a masturbatory fantasy, in the case of the English teacher, and a real shame for the girlfriend. She was hot. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2010, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gratuitous-nudity-and-non-nudity-in-movies/495447/162 "2010-05-05T20:58:20Z")
I enjoyed [Shoot 'em Up](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0465602/) quite a bit. But how is it that buxom [Monica Bellucci](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000899/), who plays a prostitute wearing very cleavage-revealing dresses in this movie and who has done nude scenes in the past, NEVER SHOWS HER BOOBS?!?! This injustice can not stand! ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2010, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gratuitous-nudity-and-non-nudity-in-movies/495447/163 "2010-05-05T21:24:20Z")
> [@BwanaBob](#): > > Ah. “Catholic High School Girls in Trouble”. I remember that scene. “What happens when Catholic girls stay out after curfew!” ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2010, 8:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gratuitous-nudity-and-non-nudity-in-movies/495447/164 "2010-05-06T08:00:42Z")
> [@Ferret\_Herder](#): > > I can imagine **Princhester** mulling over the question of what exactly a “bajingo” is, and finally being unable to contain his curiosity. 😃 Actually I was searching for something else, came across this thread, started reading, totally forgot I was reading an old thread from a search rather than a current thread from the front page, typed a silly response, hit “Submit Reply” and immediately realised my mistake and started calling myself names vociferously. I knew I’d cop some ribbing, but actually it hasn’t been too bad. You guys are slipping 😃 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Vorlon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@The\_Vorlon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Vorlon)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2010, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gratuitous-nudity-and-non-nudity-in-movies/495447/165 "2010-05-06T14:22:19Z")
In the bad old days I was a projectionest. Do you realize that what is on the screen is NOT all that is on the film? A fine example was ‘Vacation’ when Beverly D’Angelo was in the shower—the panties were clearly on. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2010, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gratuitous-nudity-and-non-nudity-in-movies/495447/166 "2010-05-06T14:49:50Z")
> [@](#): > > Do you realize that what is on the screen is NOT all that is on the film? Yeah – I saw **Body Heat** in a college auditorium, and the student projectionist hadn’t put on the framer (or whatever it’s called), so I could clearly see the boom microphone bobbing over Mickey Rourke’s head. I thought it was a film problem, and it wasn’t until years later that I learned it was a projectionist error. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Excellent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@Mr.Excellent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Excellent)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2010, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gratuitous-nudity-and-non-nudity-in-movies/495447/167 "2010-05-06T14:57:54Z")
> [@shy\_guy](#): > > That is weird, since what’s-his-face who plays Jay of “Jay and Silent Bob” went full-frontal in ZaMMaP. Well, Jason Mewes has spent his entire career establishing (to his credit) that he is entirely, completely embarassment-proof. One can imagine another actor/actress volunteering to do nudity, but still being somewhat uncomfortable with it. Mewes, I suspect, is more credible when he says “eh, whatever.” > [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > And, later in the movie, Jessica Alba has two scenes in which she should by all logic be naked. In the first she is at work, as a stripper, in a strip club–on stage–and yet is clothed. Isn’t this explained, though? A waitress says something like “She’s just getting warmed up.” Alba’s character is starting her routine, and will presumably be shedding her clothes shortly. ---
**Author:** ![enomaj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/59ef9b/32.png) [@enomaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enomaj)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2010, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gratuitous-nudity-and-non-nudity-in-movies/495447/168 "2010-05-06T16:01:46Z")
> [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](#): > > SWAG here: Back when I was a lad, in the Dark Ages before every home had a VCR and a PC, if you wanted to see a nekkid lady, you had to go to an R-rated movie (preferably a sexploitation comedy like _Porky’s_ or any of the _ouevre_ of Russ Meyer. ) And even then, you couldn’t …er… take matters into your own hand. [Excellent retrospective on the teen sex comedy. (Entertainment Weekly)](http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20033899,00.html) Gratuitous nudity: Anne Hathaway in Havoc. Gratuitous non-nudity: Everyone in Havoc 2: Normal Adolescent Behavior which is about a group of teens 3 boys/3 girls who all have sex w/ each other interchangeably. Plus it was the sequel to Anne Hathaway’s “I’m grown & sexy” movie. Should be rife with nudity, right? Naah! Once again a whole 'nother thread could be had. This time on sequels that scrap the nudity. Or for that matter sequels that add the nudity. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2010, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gratuitous-nudity-and-non-nudity-in-movies/495447/169 "2010-05-06T16:10:23Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > ETA: Having said all that, if they had to choose between showing Carla Gugino naked and Jessica Alba naked, I’m glad they chose the one who has actually **eaten a piece of cheesecake** in her life. A particularly apropos phrasing, following immediately after a reference to lesbians. ---
**Author:** ![Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swallowed_My_Cellphone)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2010, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gratuitous-nudity-and-non-nudity-in-movies/495447/170 "2010-05-06T16:30:36Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > I’d also say there was no particular cause for Jason Seagal’s full frontal debut in Forgetting Sarah Marshall. Actually, that scene was based on real life. I can’t remember if it was in the DVD commentary or an interview, but he said the scene was actually replaying a scene from Segel’s own life (he was also the writer). Including the ridiculous logic where he says if he puts on pants, it would be like admitting acknowledging his relationship is over. And one of his comments on the scene in question: > [@](#): > > When a woman does nudity in a movie, men immediately switch into a sexual mode. For women, from what I understand, it’s not like that. They see a naked, out-of-shape man crying and it’s funny – something weird, disturbing and disgusting we can all laugh at. ETA: :eek: Holy crap! This thread has four pages??? :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Flying\_Saucer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9dc877/32.png) [@Flying\_Saucer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flying_Saucer)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2010, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gratuitous-nudity-and-non-nudity-in-movies/495447/171 "2010-05-06T17:03:11Z")
I just joined and this is my first post. If this thread is any indication, the SDMB is the greatest online forum in history. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2010, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gratuitous-nudity-and-non-nudity-in-movies/495447/172 "2010-05-06T17:06:16Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > A particularly apropos phrasing, following immediately after a reference to lesbians. Gugino and/or Alba are lesbians? -Joe ---
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2010, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gratuitous-nudity-and-non-nudity-in-movies/495447/173 "2010-05-06T18:03:52Z")
> [@Merijeek](#): > > Gugino and/or Alba are lesbians? > > -Joe They are in my head. Film at 11:00, nightly. ---
**Author:** ![tim-n-va](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim-n-va/32/3001_2.png) [@tim-n-va](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim-n-va)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2010, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gratuitous-nudity-and-non-nudity-in-movies/495447/174 "2010-05-06T18:55:34Z")
> [@corkboard](#): > > They are in my head. Film at 11:00, nightly. In my mind Ms. Alba is into married, overweight, balding, middle-aged men and wants nothing but a discreet, no-strings-attached physical relationship. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2010, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gratuitous-nudity-and-non-nudity-in-movies/495447/175 "2010-05-06T19:58:18Z")
> [@Mr.Excellent](#): > > Well, Jason Mewes has spent his entire career establishing (to his credit) that he is entirely, completely embarassment-proof. One can imagine another actor/actress volunteering to do nudity, but still being somewhat uncomfortable with it. Mewes, I suspect, is more credible when he says “eh, whatever.” > > Isn’t this explained, though? A waitress says something like “She’s just getting warmed up.” Alba’s character is starting her routine, and will presumably be shedding her clothes shortly. 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? ---
**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:** [May 6, 2010, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gratuitous-nudity-and-non-nudity-in-movies/495447/176 "2010-05-06T20:25:42Z")
Almost. They go on stage wearing a bikini top and G-string, both of which come off within about half a minute. … uh … so they say! 😃 Actually, there is some degree of variation among venues, but, generally speaking, yes, there’s unfortunately very little “striptease” in stripping these days. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2010, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gratuitous-nudity-and-non-nudity-in-movies/495447/177 "2010-05-06T21:48:55Z")
> [@Ferret\_Herder](#): > > As a woman, I kept thinking - what woman would wear panties that were constructed like **that**?! You hike the string part up on your hipbones, for heaven’s sake. I spent half that scene pissed at Costuming, not worried about what was going to happen to her or engrossed in the action. As a man, I had the same reaction to those ridiculous undies. . ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2010, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gratuitous-nudity-and-non-nudity-in-movies/495447/178 "2010-05-06T21:52:44Z")
> [@FalconFinder](#): > > Monty Python’s Meaning of Life: > > The topless women chasing after Graham Chapman as his chosen method of death. Michael Palin. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2010, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gratuitous-nudity-and-non-nudity-in-movies/495447/179 "2010-05-06T23:01:49Z")
> [@Lamia](#): > > I always found it amusing that She-Hulk’s shirt DOESN’T get torn to shreds, even though we know that this happens all the time to the male Hulk. But when the Hulk is a She, her shirt might rip but enough fabric will always remain in place to cover her nipples. Shouldn’t have worried that this topic would go away. It took me a bit to find the image I’m about to show you (Yay Bittorrent) Anyways, that’s explained in _[Spectacular She-Hulk Vol. 1 #4](http://trlkly.drivehq.com/images/myimages.html?image=she-hulk-ccc.png)_. (I’m not gonna tell you, you have to look.) ---
**Author:** ![Satchmo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/satchmo/32/4223_2.png) [@Satchmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Satchmo)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2010, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gratuitous-nudity-and-non-nudity-in-movies/495447/180 "2010-05-06T23:28:21Z")
Quote: Originally Posted by FalconFinder View Post Monty Python’s Meaning of Life: The topless women chasing after Graham Chapman as his chosen method of death. > [@TreacherousCretin](#): > > Michael Palin. Oh no. It was definitely Graham Chapman. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gratuitous-nudity-and-non-nudity-in-movies/495447.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gratuitous-nudity-and-non-nudity-in-movies/495447.md?page=10)