# Sexiest non-sex scene since the sixties **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 9, 2005, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sexiest-non-sex-scene-since-the-sixties/289255 "2005-02-09T20:00:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Jurph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/50afbb/32.png) [@Jurph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jurph)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2005, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sexiest-non-sex-scene-since-the-sixties/289255/41 "2005-02-11T12:40:18Z")
There were so many scenes in **Secretary** that were loaded with innuendo. The scene where she works and works and works to get the first memo typed properly, and he’s on the phone, and just blows her off – “I’m not going to check it. If you’ve done it right, it’s right.” She’s dying for him to get out the red pen, and he is reveling in the teasing. Also the scene where he sits her down on the couch and tells her she’s never going to cut herself again, and then takes her picture with the Polaroid camera. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2005, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sexiest-non-sex-scene-since-the-sixties/289255/42 "2005-02-11T14:36:29Z")
> [@Torgo](#): > > _Pish-posh._ Watch the scene again. Look at the way Hopkins’ eyes gaze at Thompson while she wrestles the book out of his hands and tell me that isn’t a look of lovelustadorationworship. BTW, interesting definition of **rape** there, but there are other forums for that discussion. Well, if we are describing non-sexual events in sexual terms, what do you can an unwanted encounter. Oh and I’m not the only person who thinks Hopkins didn’t want her in his room. Here is a snippet from [Roger Ebert’s review.](http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19931105/REVIEWS/311050304/) > [@](#): > > Miss Kenton is clearly attracted to the butler, but he is terrified of intimacy, and sidesteps it through a fanatic devotion to his work. The film demonstrates this in a series of quiet, almost secretive scenes, in which she pushes, and he flees. The most painful, and brilliant, shows Miss Kenton surprising Stevens in his room, reading a book. > > What book? she asks. He hides the cover. She pursues him, cornering him, snatching the book away to find it is a best-selling romance. > > She had not imagined he read romances! He only reads, he stiffly explains, to improve his vocabulary. If you don’t want to call it rape then at least it is molestation. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2005, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sexiest-non-sex-scene-since-the-sixties/289255/43 "2005-02-11T15:29:02Z")
> [@Zebra](#): > > > [@Ivan-Osokin](#): > > > > I opened the thread solely to mention Thompson and Hopkins in “Remains of the Day” and Sampiro steals it away with the third post of the thread. > > Actually that one bothers me. > It’s not sexy. At least I don’t find rape sexy. > > She violates him. He has this one private thing, this one little thing he wants to keep for himself and she comes in and rips it from his hand, against his will. > > I didn’t find that scene sexy at all. C’mon! Did you see what he was wearing? He was \*asking \* for it! But seriously, as Ebert says, Mr. Stevens was terrified of intimacy, but he clearly wanted it, too. That’s what gives the scene its emotional power: the internal conflict within Stevens. It’s the only moment of intimacy in Stevens’ entire life. If it’s rape, it’s like Rhett’s infamous rape of Scarlett in _Gone With the Wind_. Oh, and **Case Sensitive** , Uma appeared in at least three films before _Munchausen_, although the only decent one was _Dangerous Liaisons_. That was where I first noticed her. She’s presented as this gawky, innocent, little thing, not terribly attractive, and then Malkovich’s character starts seducing her, and opens her blouse. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2005, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sexiest-non-sex-scene-since-the-sixties/289255/44 "2005-02-11T15:39:02Z")
Yeah, but IMHO, after it, he was humiliated. I don’t find humiliation sexy, not that there’s anything wrong with that. ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2005, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sexiest-non-sex-scene-since-the-sixties/289255/45 "2005-02-11T15:40:28Z")
In the Elvira movie, the Mistress of the Dark concocts something from a recipe out of an old magic book and takes it to the church picnic of the puritans who are always harassing her. They eat it and get all horny for each other. One lady looks at a guy leeringly and takes a bite out of a taco that has a hot dog in it. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2005, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sexiest-non-sex-scene-since-the-sixties/289255/46 "2005-02-11T16:10:33Z")
> [@Zebra](#): > > Yeah, but IMHO, after it, he was humiliated. I don’t find humiliation sexy, not that there’s anything wrong with that. Well, first of all, I personally didn’t find the scene sexy, either. Emotionally powerful, yes, but it didn’t turn me on. But I disagree about Stevens being humiliated. Or at least he wasn’t humiliated by Miss Kenton. He was a willing partner in that little drama. He could have simply dismissed her, but he stands there, closer to her than he’s ever been, and makes her pry the book from his hand.\* As Hopkins plays the scene, it’s clear (IMO) that he’s enjoying it. His humiliation comes not from her discovery of the “silly romance” he has been reading, but from his inability to let down his defenses with Miss Kenton. He humiliates _himself_ with his ridiculous excuse of reading the book to improve himself, and by refusing to admit his attraction to Miss Kenton. - This is how the scene is played in the movie. IIRC, it’s not quite the same in the book. BTW, I highly recommend the book. ---
**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 11, 2005, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sexiest-non-sex-scene-since-the-sixties/289255/47 "2005-02-11T17:05:58Z")
> [@Jurph](#): > > There were so many scenes in **Secretary** that were loaded with innuendo. The scene where she works and works and works to get the first memo typed properly, and he’s on the phone, and just blows her off – “I’m not going to check it. If you’ve done it right, it’s right.” She’s dying for him to get out the red pen, and he is reveling in the teasing. > > Also the scene where he sits her down on the couch and tells her she’s never going to cut herself again, and then takes her picture with the Polaroid camera. How could I forget Secretary? The scene where she licks the envelope … I mena, it SETS THE STANDARD for envelope-licking. I mean, I have seen ENTIRE EXPLICIT SEX SCENES that didn’t have 1/100th of the hotness of that scene. The Spader character was such a fool … when you find a woman who can lick an envelope like that, you don’t reject her, you move heaven and earth to keep her. ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2005, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sexiest-non-sex-scene-since-the-sixties/289255/48 "2005-02-11T22:33:18Z")
> [@commasense](#): > > Oh, and **Case Sensitive** , Uma appeared in at least three films before _Munchausen_ The IMDB lists the following films she made in 1988, in chronological order: **Johnny Be Good** , **Kiss Daddy Goodnight** {no, I’ve never heard of them either, although the second sounds fairly icky}, followed by **Baron Munchausen** and _then_ **Dangerous Liasons**. Busy girl that year. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2005, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sexiest-non-sex-scene-since-the-sixties/289255/49 "2005-02-11T22:40:07Z")
_Age of Innocence_ --Daniel Day Lewis–the scene where he smells her glove (or fondles it or something, it’s been a while). That whole movie simmers with bridled lust. And I agree with the Remains of the Day–Emma is practically begging him to kiss her (she does not humiliate him re: the book at all), but he is unable to. He does try to rekindle stuff later in life, sadly… ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2005, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sexiest-non-sex-scene-since-the-sixties/289255/50 "2005-02-11T23:11:19Z")
> [@Case Sensitive](#): > > The IMDB lists the following films she made in 1988, in chronological order: **Johnny Be Good** , **Kiss Daddy Goodnight** {no, I’ve never heard of them either, although the second sounds fairly icky}, followed by **Baron Munchausen** and _then_ **Dangerous Liasons**. Busy girl that year. Ah, but if you look at the release dates, you’ll see that _Dangerous Liaisons_ opened in the U.S. in December 1988, and _Munchausen_ in March 1989. I was confused by that list too, because, as I mentioned, I found Uma’s scene in _DL_ quite memorable, and was certain that it was the first time I had seen her. I recognized her when I saw her again in _Munchausen_. It looks as though IMDb’s lists are sorted by the earliest release date, no matter where it was. _Munchausen_ opened in Germany a week before _Dangerous Liaisons_ opened in the U.S. ---
**Author:** ![Einmon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Einmon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Einmon)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2005, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sexiest-non-sex-scene-since-the-sixties/289255/51 "2005-02-11T23:27:21Z")
I just saw a great little movie called **Mostly Martha** then hastened to open this thread. Scene in question: Martha (a chef) is blindfolded and has to taste spices in a soup spoon-fed to her by her ruggedly handsome Italian co-chef…wow. _fans herself_ ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2005, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sexiest-non-sex-scene-since-the-sixties/289255/52 "2005-02-11T23:33:35Z")
Maybe these both rely on the innate sexiness of the actresses involved, butthe first ones that came to my mind were the scene in _Unmarried Woman_ where some guy is rubbing Jill Clayburgh’s feet, and then Lois Lane and Superman’s get-acquainted rooftop scene in the 1978 _Superman_. In the comics Lois never said things like: “What color underwear am I wearing?” in a gravelly, guttural coo… ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2005, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sexiest-non-sex-scene-since-the-sixties/289255/53 "2005-02-11T23:39:37Z")
> [@commasense](#): > > Ah, but if you look at the release dates, you’ll see that _Dangerous Liaisons_ opened in the U.S. in December 1988, and _Munchausen_ in March 1989. > > I was confused by that list too, because, as I mentioned, I found Uma’s scene in _DL_ quite memorable, and was certain that it was the first time I had seen her. I recognized her when I saw her again in _Munchausen_. > > It looks as though IMDb’s lists are sorted by the earliest release date, no matter where it was. _Munchausen_ opened in Germany a week before _Dangerous Liaisons_ opened in the U.S. I think I’m losing my mind ON the Barron Von Munchausen DVD on the director commentary Terry Giliam mentions how he was dissapointed that he didn’t get to have Uma on screen first. That Dangerous Liasons got out before his movie. But My Baron VM disk doesn’t have a director commentary. So now I’m wondering where I heard that. Or If I heard that. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2005, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sexiest-non-sex-scene-since-the-sixties/289255/54 "2005-02-11T23:49:51Z")
Terry Gilliam is transmitting messages directly into your brain. Don’t worry, he does that to me, too. Mostly it’s pretty harmless stuff, but if you get tired of it, I find the tinfoil hat works fine. ---
**Author:** ![Lisa-go-Blind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Lisa-go-Blind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lisa-go-Blind)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2005, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sexiest-non-sex-scene-since-the-sixties/289255/55 "2005-02-11T23:58:35Z")
> [@Zebra](#): > > I think I’m losing my mind > > ON the Barron Von Munchausen DVD on the director commentary Terry Giliam mentions how he was dissapointed that he didn’t get to have Uma on screen first. That Dangerous Liasons got out before his movie. > > But > > My Baron VM disk doesn’t have a director commentary. So now I’m wondering where I heard that. Or If I heard that. There was a Terry Gilliam director commentary on the _Adventures of Baron Munchausen_ Criterion laserdisc. ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 9:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sexiest-non-sex-scene-since-the-sixties/289255/56 "2005-02-12T09:37:26Z")
> [@commasense](#): > > Ah, but if you look at the release dates, you’ll see that _Dangerous Liaisons_ opened in the U.S. in December 1988, and _Munchausen_ in March 1989. > > I was confused by that list too, because, as I mentioned, I found Uma’s scene in _DL_ quite memorable, and was certain that it was the first time I had seen her. I recognized her when I saw her again in _Munchausen_. > > It looks as though IMDb’s lists are sorted by the earliest release date, no matter where it was. _Munchausen_ opened in Germany a week before _Dangerous Liaisons_ opened in the U.S. We have a conundrum, then, which depends on where you are - I saw both, and **Munchausen** was _definitely_ released before **Liasions** here in NZ. The reason I’m sure is that after seeing some nekkid Uma in the first, I wanted to see more nekkid Uma in the second. Mmm, nekkid Uma… ---
**Author:** ![Saintly\_Loser](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saintly_loser/32/4045_2.png) [@Saintly\_Loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saintly_Loser)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sexiest-non-sex-scene-since-the-sixties/289255/57 "2005-02-12T16:22:58Z")
What, no Fox and Mulder citations? _Please._ Those two were obviously so hot for each other. ---
**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 12, 2005, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sexiest-non-sex-scene-since-the-sixties/289255/58 "2005-02-12T19:20:29Z")
Well, now that you mention it, there’s a scene from the episode of X-Files written by William Gibson, where a hacker uploads himself to a computer net. Fox and Mulder are trying to figure out why the computer net has started killing people, and the trail leads’ to the hacker’s girlfriend, who’s a hot female hacker. Fox and Mulder capture her and take her to the Lone Gunmen’s lair in handcuffs. The Lone Gunmen see her, recognize her instantly, and are instantly in a weird combination of awe/lust for her. She goes over to their computing rig, punches a few keys and says, “Is somebody going to take these cuffs off or am I going to have to do this with my tongue.” Mulder, taking in the Lone Gunmen, who are just barely managing not to drool: “I’d hate to have to put it to a vote” eliciting a knowing smirk from Scully. A hot/funny little scene. ---
**Author:** ![carlotta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/898d66/32.png) [@carlotta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carlotta)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sexiest-non-sex-scene-since-the-sixties/289255/59 "2005-02-12T20:44:43Z")
**Strictly Ballroom** The whole movie really, sigh, but especially that scene where Paul Mercurio dances by himself, watching himself in the mirror. I mean, Wow. It’s so …private. You know how they always say “dance like nobody’s watching”? And also the scene where Scott and Fran (I’ve switched from actor to character names) start dancing the rumba (rhumba?) behind the curtain as Doris Day sings “Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps” ---
**Author:** ![Dubious\_Weasle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b782af/32.png) [@Dubious\_Weasle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dubious_Weasle)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2005, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sexiest-non-sex-scene-since-the-sixties/289255/60 "2005-02-13T00:46:57Z")
> [@Evil Captor](#): > > How could I forget Secretary? The scene where she licks the envelope … I mena, it SETS THE STANDARD for envelope-licking. I mean, I have seen ENTIRE EXPLICIT SEX SCENES that didn’t have 1/100th of the hotness of that scene. The Spader character was such a fool … when you find a woman who can lick an envelope like that, you don’t reject her, you move heaven and earth to keep her. Yep, pretty much have to echo the comments on Secretary. Not any particular scene but the whole damn movie. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sexiest-non-sex-scene-since-the-sixties/289255.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sexiest-non-sex-scene-since-the-sixties/289255.md?page=4)