Shirley Jones (nude swim)

this scene is in the Todd-AO version of Oklahoma

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• FlipShare

[nudist0885]

The horse has a bow on it's head?

...and Mrs. Partridge is still a babe today. 

[DoctorScuba]

I never saw this before! thank You for posting it!

[callmetom04]

@callmetom04 "Tarzan & His Mate" came out a few months before the PCA was established, & what I read was that the SRC ordered MGM to cut that scene actually before it premiered: MGM essentially ignored the command, releasing various versions in different areas, with the swimming scene intact in parts of the U.S. with liberal censorship boards. At some point after the PCA started, the film was heavily cut, & that was the only version out there until it came out on VHS decades later.

[callmetom04]

@callmetom04 I mean, "High School Confidential!" LOL

[callmetom04]

@Gnillob802 To be clear, I don't know if what I saw on TV so long ago was as complete or not as the version is that we have now, but by any measure it was an extremely adult film by the former standards of the PCA; with the title character & the Indian maiden getting pregnant out of wedlock, and the 2 of them going before her father the chief, & urging it to him as a reason for peace between Indian & White; then in the last scene, the 2 of them cuddling together nude in the water.

[callmetom04]

@Gnillob802 Yes, I'm familiar with that "European version" issue, but that practice of U.S. films including nude scenes just for European release didn't start until a little later, and in fact the very 1st Hollywood film to do that (to fanfare at the time) was "Teenage Confidential" ('58)--2 other early ones were "Last Train From Gun Hill" & "Cry Tough" (both '59)...I personally saw some version of that "The Indian Fighter" nude scene on U.S. television no later than the early '70s.

[Gnillob802]

@callmetom04 ....and I should bring up that many made-for-TV movies from the 1970's on filmed extra nude scenes for European release only and are now popping up on DVD fully restored. So just because you see a nude scene in a film today doesn't necessarily mean it was always there.

[Gnillob802]

@callmetom04 I am familiar with that film as well. The thing is that many films had nude scenes that were cut or trimmed for their U.S. theatrical releases, though may or may not have been shown during screenings. This is one of the films that is often mentioned in that vein and have since been restored. Perhaps the most famous film in this regard was the pre-Hayes Code Tarzan and His Mate in which a nude swimming scene was removed after its premiere (and thus beginning the Hayes Code).

[callmetom04]

@Gnillob802 And along with that, if you check out the United Artists movie "The Indian Fighter" that was released the same year (1955), you'll see a swimming scene featuring Italian actress Elsa Martinelli in which she really was nude, that actually includes some quick looks at her boobs, and a partial view of her bottom (through bushes) as she she's walking down to the water. So yeah, right around that same time, you just start seeing a lot more freedom in the Hollywood movies.

[callmetom04]

@Gnillob802 Hey, thanks for the response--Yes, I figured that probably was the case, but I just wondered if you knew fo sho from inside info: If Shirley said that in interviews, then that's good enough for me!

About the code, though, you may know this but the PCA at that time was already making a point of lightening up on their overdone standards (since Breen's retirement in '54)--or else they may have even had a problem with that scene as is, bathing suit or no bathing suit LOL!

[Gnillob802]

@callmetom04 In 2009 a strange rumor made the rounds that Shirley Jones was going to pose nude for Playboy. The rumors actually came from husband Marty Ingels to make the point that the actress was still immensely attractive at 75. Jones ultimately denied the rumors & mentioned more than once on various entertainment interviews that she wore a skin-colored bathing suit in Oklahoma. In addition, the film was made during the Hayes Code & 20th C Fox kept well within decency standards at that time.