MovieChat Forums > Ultimo tango a Parigi (1973) Discussion > Differences between R rated and X rated ...

Differences between R rated and X rated Version

posted 16 years ago by N2738
14 replies | jump to latest

I own a VHS copy of Last Tango in Paris. It's a 1990 MGM/UA Home Video in Deluxe Letter-Box Format and it's 2 hours and 7 minutes long. I was at a used bookstore today and saw an 1987 Key Video VHS tape of Last Tango in Paris that was rated X and was 128 minutes?

What are the differences between the X rated and R rated versions? I noticed the x rated version is 1 minute longer, is that for the x rated scenes? I hope I'm not missing out of any plot with the R rated version.

[–] construct 16 years ago

It's been a long time since I saw the R-rated version. I read that the "butter" scene has a piece of furniture covering most of their bodies in the R-version. In the NC-17 version, the furniture is not there. There are other differences but I don't know what they are.

When I saw it in the movie house, it was rated X. About ten years later I watched the R-rated version on video. I didn't notice a difference. Then when I bought my NC-17 DVD of the film, I still couldn't point to the differences. I'm sure there are no plot points missing from the R-rated version.

[–] Davidreefer 15 years ago

most likely the only difference is the rating on the box. Midnight cowboy and clockwork orange were originally rated x as well, but over time they, like tango, became tame by modern standards.

[–] construct 15 years ago

The most recent DVD release was a "restored" version. It was re-submitted and received an NC-17. I strongly suspect that the added lamp (and perhaps a few minor cuts) brought the rating down to R until the restored version came out.

[–] Studman_Productions 15 years ago

i like butter

[–] brandon-caplan 15 years ago

Is the R-rated cut even on DVD? Or video for that matter?

[–] schwa88 15 years ago

Which version do they show on Comcast OnDemand?

[–] Dmarfish 15 years ago

The NC-17 version is shown on Comcast, I'm watching it right now.

[–] kidjay83 12 years ago

The original rating was for it to be rated X.The original script called for there to be actual unsimulated sex.It was knocked down to a NC-17 i never heard of the x version.I doubt theres not a whole lot of difference then the R version just like theres no difference from the NC-17 version.Both actors refused to do real sex for the director.So there is definitely no real *beep* going on .

this is the "oh no you didn't" generation where a shocking comment has more wit then truth

[–] preppy-3 12 years ago

Actually NC-17 IS an X rating for films that aren't porn. When this was originally released back in 1972 it had an X. The "rerating" was just changing if from an X to an NC-17 with no cuts.

[–] Bucko-2 11 years ago

Right. NC-17 didn't exist before 1990.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motion_picture_rating_system#Ratings

[–] Thirdover4 11 years ago

When the MPAA created the rating system they trademarked all the ratings except for X for some reason and it was coopted by the porn industry and thereafter carried a stigma of being smut. So they created the newer rating of NC-17 to replace the X rating for "adult only" films. This relates to sex, violence, or anything deemed too strong for anyone under 17.

There is often a strong marketing element to ratings as well. When a film gets re released, they must submit it and any new versions for rating if they want the ratings. A lot of times they will not submit a version intentionally and release it as the "unrated version" implying that the material is stronger or more adult, when in realty it only means that that particular version was never submitted for a rating and may have gotten the same rating as the original had it been submitted.

[–] peterwin-97911 8 years ago

What rubbish. NC-17 rated was created 15 yrs after the movie was released

[–] kidjay83 11 years ago

There is no difference i think this movie was rated r and in some places rated NC-17.I saw the sex scenes and they are tamed seriously i think its more the subtle effect .The sex scenes aren't done in a trashy way like they are done today made to look like a late night after hours special like most crap today.Tango focused more on the sexual relationship between the two characters rather than the actual sex itself.

My mother would show up on time and know all her lines but who wants to pay to see my mother?

[–] Tabbycat (894) 2 years ago

Your thinking is wrong.