Movies, from the golden days of cinema, to present time, have always explored the complexities of human relations; love and romance, yearning and loss, beauty and betrayal, but it is only in the last 30 years or so that sex has come to play a larger part. The move from implied sexual acts to full blown explicit love scenes didn’t really take place until 1973 with the release of, “Last Tango in Paris”, a film that caused uproar on this side of the water due to its rather graphic sex scenes. The controversy blew over rather quickly, and the door was open for filmmakers to become more risqué in their filming of love scenes.
In the years since, it has become strange to see a film, not intended for family viewing, that does not feature some sort of sexual situation, and it seems to have become imperative for every horror flick to feature a couple of nubile 20 year olds having at it, regardless of plot relevance, a routine that has become so clichéd as to be laughable. When done properly, and when integral to the plot of the film, sex scenes can be very effective. Here are a few of the better ones, in my humble opinion at least.
9 1/2 Weeks – My guess is that the most copied sex scene from any movie is the food eating foreplay scene in front of the open fridge, but there are 2 other moments that strike me as being better. Kim Basinger, blindfolded, is massaged with a piece of ice by Mickey Rourke in a scene that is subtle, yet beautiful. Less subtle, but equally great, is the scene in a back alley, carousing under a water spout in a cloth tearing passion play.
The Postman Always Rings Twice – The sexual tension between Jack Nicholson and Jessica Lange builds to a fever pitch before finally exploding on a kitchen table. Utensils and flour dust fly as the couple engages in a scene so passionate; many believed it to be real, a rumor that has been denied by all involved.
The Name Of The Rose – A young monk, played by Christian Slater, struggles with his faith and is tempted by a wild village girl (Valentina Vargas), in a scene that is brilliantly acted by both. Slater’s apparent nervousness in the clip may have actually stemmed from the fact that this was his first love scene and, at 17, he had just recently lost his virginity in real life. Either way, he played the part very well.
The Getaway – A rather bland remake of the Steve McQueen flick from the 60’s was given a shot of, much needed, adrenaline with a sizzling scene between stars, Kim Basinger and Alec Baldwin. There are a couple of hot sex scenes in the movie, but there is one in particular with Baldwin performing cunnilingus on his real life partner. Very realistic and very hot.
Bound – The scene where Jennifer Tilly and Gina Gershon finally give in to the sexual tension that fairly bristles between them is a short, tasteful moment, but one that is incredibly hot as the camera circles their entwined, naked bodies. It will leave you wishing that it had lasted much, much longer.
Re-Animator – This is the moment where every horror movie love scene cliché was destroyed. A scene so over the top and, so horribly inappropriate, it would be a crime to leave it off of any sex scene list. Imagine, if you will, a beautiful, fully nude young woman, strapped to a steel gurney as a re-animated, headless corpse fondles her breasts, before recovering his lost head and placing it between the woman’s legs. That he is stopped before he can begin the act will leave you feeling equal parts relieved and disappointed.
All the scenes that made this list were, in my eyes at least, crucial to the plot and in no way gratuitous, not that there is anything wrong with an unneeded display of T & A. Enjoy these clips on your own or, better yet, with your partner.
