I really like the movie, its pretty good! but TCM kept the nudity in it without cutting it out or censoring it haha it is of course 3 in the morning but still it blows me away that they can air nudity lol anyway i just thought it was interesting and if anyone else is watching and noticed that I would like to hear your take on it
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Above-the-waist nudity was common in late 50s movies in Germany (while in the US, at the same time, married couples still slept in single beds separated by a nightstand) - and so I was really not too surprised at Mr. Wilder's "incentive." What DID make my teeth fall out was the colorful language used. Didn't I hear Jack Lemon's character use the BS word - even GD? All in all, I take nudity over the expletives any day. On the other hand, it WAS 5 in the morning, I could have imagined it
Anyway, terrific movie; can't wait to watch it again.
I watched this for the first time ever this morning. What a great movie! The ending even left a tear in my eye (bittersweet & romantic goodbyes get me every time).
As for the nudity, I thought the sight of Wendell swimming in all but his black socks made for a humourous image. Very apt considering how uptight his character was at first. And the running gag of Pamela's non-existent "weight problem" was another funny touch. Why I hadn't heard of this film before now is beyond me. It's a wonderful romantic comedy.
There being nudity in the movie isnt what really surprised me, it was TCM airing the nudity on television that shocked me.. I have no problem with it really but im sure there are people out there that might offense to it and since the FCC is usually so strict on that its rare to see any type of nudity on television.
shareI may have to move to America soon. But for now I live in Ireland, where thankfully people are liberated enough not to even notice this sort of thing.
I'm looking forward to maybe trying a new life in the land of my wife's birth, but I have to admit I'm nervous about the levels of censorship on TV and the lack of sophistication of the general viewing audience.
Grow up, people. And if you really believe in the God that an increasing number of Europeans have thankfully left behind, then remember that "He" made the bits that you're too prudish to show on mainstream TV, even in the early hours of the morning.
I for one would love to see less censorship in American television. The censorship ruins the quality of most of the films and makes them almost laughable. But I think there are way too many people that live here that get offended way to easily. Its like walking on glass around these people!
There seems to be a common issue with people here that make them think that everything revolves around them, and just because they dont like something, it means that its a direct threat to them or something. This happens with a lot of issues here in the states, like; religion, political affiliation, sexual orientation, and even television programs.
Usually if I dont agree with something I just dont watch it and dont deal with it.. its not my problem so why make it mine right?... thats not the case for some of the people here.. thats why if our television censorship level ever changed to something like yours, it would just freak way to many of our thick headed Americans out and there would be hate messages sent to the networks, protests, strikes, news conferences, more useless bills passed, and probably riots too. So until our culture does do some growing up, I dont see any progress in our future... thats why it does shock me when i do see nudity of that nature on television here.. although it dosnt bother me and I dont think its hurting anyone.
TCM frequently shows nudity, but almost invariably "after hours" (generally past 2AM). As for the absurd prudery of Americans, for God's sake, the country nearly went to war on itself when a sliver of Janet Jackson's nipple got exposed for .5 seconds during the Super Bowl halftime show! When it comes to enlightenment on the front of calm acceptance of our bodies, we are in the Dark Ages.
shareHahaha I know and they all blamed Janet!! When in reality it was Justins fault lol but seriously people freak out over the littlest things. And I didn't know that about TCM.. good for them. Taking steps in the right direction.. Unlike Disney lol
shareOh I am so sick of Europeans acting all high and mighty! Give it a rest, things cycle. Wasn't a time long ago that you were the ones that were the prudes. What scares me is the open animosity towards believing in God. Oh that makes you so superior being an Atheist! I am not even a church going religious person but I find that kind of an attitude rather frightening. And I did not think this was a immoral movie nor was I offended by the breasts and the butts being flashed in this movie.
shareOne of the great things about TCM is that they don't edit the films they show at all, not to fit in a time slot nor for content. You have to remember that beginning in 1968, Hollywood started the ratings system, and in it's wake, many mainstream films had nudity and language that was unimaginable just a few years earlier. When TCM shows films made post-MPAA ratings(1968), there could be adult content like nudity and language, and they won't edit it out. That's the beauty of TCM. You're seeing Avanti the way Billy Wilder wanted you to see it.
shareDo you mind telling us when this thing abut atheism came into the equation, please?
Stick to the post subject and leave this nonsense for another discussion,
for George Carlin's sake!
I look forward to watching Avanti now; ya can't go wrong with Jack Lemmon, plus... we can see Nanny's nellies?!
This board has interesting discussions; I agree with our Irish poster, since US TV censorship is bass-ackwards at times.
"Big props" & "A shout out" to TCM for continuing to show unedited and commercial-free films. They are indeed on cable, so boobs & profanity are not so much the consideration, so I applaud their emphasis on being faithful to the film (uncut). I'd say that their taste and choice of films is far far better than any other movie channel.
A bit OffTopic: I was dismayed to see commercial breaks recently during films on another of my favorite channels, IFC. Oh well, Say La V.
I saw it for the first time recently. It was on the MGMHD channel on Comcast Cable. They showed nude scenes, which were not tasteless in the least. I don't believe the FCC regulates cable TV; I think they only have authority over the wireless electromagnetic spectrum in this country, which the government claims to own. I think the story line would have really been messed up if the network cut those scenes. Also, doesn't TCM advertise that they always show original, uncut films? Regarding film censorship in the 1950's, Avanti! came out in 1972. That was several years after the stage production of "Hair" with its full frontal cast nudity scene.
What I thought remarkable about Avanti! was not the nudity but the fact that the romance was between middle-aged characters, and the wrinkles on Lemmon's and Mills' foreheads were visible in closeups. The typical Hollywood romantic comedy uses only youthful actors for the leads.
You must not watch too many silents or precodes on TCM, otherwise you wouldn't be surprised at seeing nudity on TCM. (Thank goodness, TCM does not censor any of its movies.) Just off the top of my head, there was a naked man chained in the galley of 1925's Ben Hur, a nude female model in Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, a chauffer flipping off the bad guy in The Miracle Woman (1932; not nudity, but a surprising thing to see in a flick, and a Frank Capra flick at that!), Gloria Swanson's naked breast in one of her early talkies, the naked woman wrapped in vines in 1932's The Sign of the Cross. I know I've seen other nudes in silents and precodes, but I'd have to make my brain work too hard to recall them at the moment. :)
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I saw that too. So I take it all back. Europe has as many morons as the US. I'm committing suicide.
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