# Sharon Stone and \[i\]that\[/i\] scene from Basic Instinct, **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 10, 2003, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sharon-stone-and-i-that-i-scene-from-basic-instinct/160435 "2003-03-10T23:26:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2003, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sharon-stone-and-i-that-i-scene-from-basic-instinct/160435/1 "2003-03-10T23:26:46Z")
I was reading Joe Eszterhas’s book American Rhapsody (he also wrote Basic Instinct) and it reminded me of an argument I had with a friend years ago over the famous scene where Sharon Stone’s character distracts the police from her interrogation using a short dress and her crossed legs. According to my friend (and much breathless gossip at the time) Sharon Stone was wearing nothing underneath and flashes her beaver at the camera. According to me, the whole thing was a beat up to sell the movie and she does nothing of the sort. Someone out there must have the DVD, and must have freeze framed through the scene and resolved this question once and for all. [sub]Come on, own up, oh yes you have![/sub] What say you? ---
**Author:** ![Robb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a183cd/32.png) [@Robb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robb)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2003, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sharon-stone-and-i-that-i-scene-from-basic-instinct/160435/2 "2003-03-10T23:30:49Z")
This is probably an area where Google is your friend, but linking to anything isn’t. Your answer is out there. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2003, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sharon-stone-and-i-that-i-scene-from-basic-instinct/160435/3 "2003-03-10T23:32:51Z")
Nope. Tried that. The answer may out there, but it is buried under a gazillion links to porn sites. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2003, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sharon-stone-and-i-that-i-scene-from-basic-instinct/160435/4 "2003-03-10T23:39:52Z")
Your friend is right. I think it’s fairly obvious watching the movie (especially if you saw it on a big screen and not a small TV), but Ms. Stone has made much about that scene since… > [@](#): > > Although the film placed her in the top ranks, she remains angry with the director, Dutchman Paul Verhoeven. > > “I hated him for showing the world up my skirt,” says Miss Stone. > > "I hated him for making me believe that I could go out on a limb. I didn’t have a net, he wasn’t watching my back. You expect to be able to freewheel as much as you want, because you expect the director to protect you. > > "I really thought that was our agreement. As a mature artist, I agree that shot was the best choice for the movie. I really disagree with the way he got it. Because, it made me look incredibly stupid when I was very, very willing to do what it took to be that character. > > “It would have been better if he had brought me into the editing room and shown me the scene and explained why he did it. But he showed it to me in a roomful of strangers. That was him trying to create a cruel, inappropriate power over me. That hurt me a lot.” ---
**Author:** ![SlickRoenick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@SlickRoenick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlickRoenick)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2003, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sharon-stone-and-i-that-i-scene-from-basic-instinct/160435/5 "2003-03-11T00:02:35Z")
I didn’t see the movie, what am I missing? ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2003, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sharon-stone-and-i-that-i-scene-from-basic-instinct/160435/6 "2003-03-11T00:15:29Z")
Well either nothing or something, Muldoon III, that’s what I’m asking! 🙂 ArchiveGuy, I saw it on the big screen (when it first came out). To me, the scene was dimly lit from behind, all you could see was darkness, could have been anything, could have been black knickers, could have been just shadows, probably was nothing at all beyond the viewer’s imagination. It’s all over in a flash (ahem) and I really would continue to doubt unless you could say either that you (personally, first hand evidence) have seen the scene several times over and over or you’ve freeze framed your way through it on video or dvd and confirm actual beaver (to be crude about it). It was quite clear at the time that the producers were deliberately beating up the noise about the scene to get publicity. I have also heard that SS herself was crying crocodile tears over the issue and knew perfectly well what was going on (that’s what Joe Eszterhas says). I simply don’t believe a word anyone associated with the film says. I want an eyewitness account. Is that what you are giving me, or are you inferring or repeating the words of others? ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2003, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sharon-stone-and-i-that-i-scene-from-basic-instinct/160435/7 "2003-03-11T00:30:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Muldoon III \* > I didn’t see the movie, what am I missing? Sharon Stone’s beaver. In other words, not much. ---
**Author:** ![Kyomara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8edcca/32.png) [@Kyomara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyomara)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2003, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sharon-stone-and-i-that-i-scene-from-basic-instinct/160435/8 "2003-03-11T02:30:28Z")
I was about 13 when I saw this one for the first time, so rest assured that I watched the scene in question REPEATEDLY. And I remember being disappointed because all you could really make out was her pubes. I think the scene is more famous for what it suggested than for what it actually showed. That is to say, you see enough to know what the interrogating cops are looking at, but there is no full-on “beaver shot.” ---
**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2003, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sharon-stone-and-i-that-i-scene-from-basic-instinct/160435/9 "2003-03-11T03:30:00Z")
Seems to me I remember reading that the scene was altered for the video release (shadows darkened or something) so that you couldn’t see the goods. So if you didn’t see the movie in a theatre, you missed your chance. IIRC the reason for the alteration is they didn’t want video captures appearing on the internet. ---
**Author:** ![Arden\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b487fb/32.png) [@Arden\_Ranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arden_Ranger)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2003, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sharon-stone-and-i-that-i-scene-from-basic-instinct/160435/10 "2003-03-11T03:44:56Z")
and yet, I have seen video captures on the 'net. Not posting a link though. ---
**Author:** ![Baldwin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baldwin/32/7264_2.png) [@Baldwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baldwin)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2003, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sharon-stone-and-i-that-i-scene-from-basic-instinct/160435/11 "2003-03-11T03:47:22Z")
Yes, that was definitely Sharon Stone’s nest of spicery. Her perfumed garden, if you will. Best part of a stupid movie. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2003, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sharon-stone-and-i-that-i-scene-from-basic-instinct/160435/12 "2003-03-11T05:59:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Baldwin \* > \*\*Yes, that was definitely Sharon Stone’s nest of spicery. Her perfumed garden, if you will. Best part of a stupid movie. \*\* And really, it wasn’t _that_ good at all. Prescilla Presley has a better looking beaver in the _Naked Gun_, than Sharon Stone has, IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![Apos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@Apos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apos)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2003, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sharon-stone-and-i-that-i-scene-from-basic-instinct/160435/13 "2003-03-11T06:05:44Z")
I don’t know why people get so worked up about this when you can walk down to the corner porno store and by a whole movie full of beaver shots. Oh, you don’t live in New York? ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2003, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sharon-stone-and-i-that-i-scene-from-basic-instinct/160435/14 "2003-03-11T06:16:43Z")
**ArchiveGuy** quoted Sharon Stone as saying the following about Paul Verhoeven: > [@](#): > > “I hated him for showing the world up my skirt,” says Miss Stone. I like [Mr. Cranky](http://www.mrcranky.com/movies/basicinstinct.html)’s take on Sharon Stone’s attitude: 'Unfortunately, ever since the famed scene, Stone has been running around Hollywood disingenuously whining that the shot was done against her will and that she had no idea anybody would actually get to see up her dress. ‘Aside from the fact that [Sharon Stone] says to the investigating officer, Nick (Michael Douglas), “You know I don’t wear any underwear, don’t you, Nick?” one has another reason to be bit baffled by her assertion: There was at least a 10,000-watt spotlight shining up her crotch. Perhaps she had complained that her uterus was cold.’ ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2003, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sharon-stone-and-i-that-i-scene-from-basic-instinct/160435/15 "2003-03-11T06:20:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by tracer \* > \*\*There was at least a 10,000-watt spotlight shining up her crotch. Perhaps she had complained that her uterus was cold.’ \*\* ROTFLMAO! Someone needs to use that as a sig! ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2003, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sharon-stone-and-i-that-i-scene-from-basic-instinct/160435/16 "2003-03-11T07:07:11Z")
Apos the argument I was having with my friend was actually more about the nature of filmmaking. I was arguing that the sensational info put out by Hollywood movie is generally unreliable, and that what appears to happen in movies is often smoke and mirrors and hype (“convenient” romances between stars that last as long as the cinema run, body doubles, stunt doubles, stars saying how much fun making the movie was, blah blah blah). The beaver/no beaver thing was just an example. Over which it seems I was wrong, going by the consensus of posts above. Oh well. ---
**Author:** ![Apos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@Apos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apos)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2003, 8:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sharon-stone-and-i-that-i-scene-from-basic-instinct/160435/17 "2003-03-11T08:28:27Z")
Wasn’t really reffering to you Prin, just the basic hubbub around the shot. ---
**Author:** ![Earthworm\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f07891/32.png) [@Earthworm\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earthworm_Jim)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2003, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sharon-stone-and-i-that-i-scene-from-basic-instinct/160435/18 "2003-03-11T13:19:09Z")
FWIW, in the commentary track on _Total Recall_, Verhoeven says something to the effect that he wanted to get Sharon Stone to undress during the first scene where she & Arnie are in bed, but she wouldn’t do it. So, he got her back with the shot in Basic Instinct. So, having never seen the film, I’d wager it’s the real thing. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2003, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sharon-stone-and-i-that-i-scene-from-basic-instinct/160435/19 "2003-03-11T14:46:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tuckerfan \* > \*\*And really, it wasn’t _that_ good at all. Prescilla Presley has a better looking beaver in the _Naked Gun_, than Sharon Stone has, IMHO. \*\* The one she just got stuffed? ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2003, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sharon-stone-and-i-that-i-scene-from-basic-instinct/160435/20 "2003-03-11T15:22:53Z")
Every woman should have her beaver stuffed now and again. It can be awfully frustrating to her otherwise. 😉 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sharon-stone-and-i-that-i-scene-from-basic-instinct/160435.md?page=2)