Consider the following actresses who have appeared in movies completely naked.

[Washington]

Meg Ryan

Sandra Bullock

Susan Sarandon

Julie Christie

Angelina Joli

Susan Dey

Ashley Judd

Glenda Jackson

Annette Bening

Laura Linney

Kate Winslet

Penélope Cruz

Helen Mirren

Charlize Theron

Diane Keaton

Felicity Huffman

And even Reese Witherspoon in Twilight, and Julie Andrews in Darling Lilli and S. O. B. bared their breasts

These are biggies in the industry---most of them academy award nominees---who really wouldn't have to do nude if they didn't want to. Seemingly, this is reflecting a significant change in our country's attitude toward nudity.

Q. Do you see this as a healthy change or not? AND, why?

 

[stan1980]

I refute your claims. You're going to need to cite references, with photographic evidence. Until then, this thread is worthless.

 

[cantata]

Consider the following actresses who have appeared in movies completely naked.

Don't mind if I do.

*contemplates at length*

 

[Bombila]

Sylvia Miles can be added to your list. Remember the actress who played the aging client in Midnight Cowboy? She got an Oscar nomination for that brief part, during which she revealed her body in a way most of those on your list wouldn't have considered - with wrinkles and cellulite, whether her own or make-up, I don't know.

Nudity wise, I think more of that might be healthy, but i'm sure most would disagree.

http://www.brightlightsfilm.com/24/miles.html

 

[Washington]

I refute your claims. You're going to need to cite references, with photographic evidence. Until then, this thread is worthless.

Might try a site called Celebrity Movie Archive and tour the site.

Consider the following actresses who have appeared in movies completely naked.

Don't mind if I do.
*contemplates at length*

Now THAT's the kind of reaction I like.

 

[keith99]

From all I have seen the vast majority of actors and actresses have always been willing to deal with nudity, as long as it really fits the role and story. Gratutious nedity or sex is a different matter. What has changed is what they are allowed to do, not what they were willing to do.

 

[Washington]

From all I have seen the vast majority of actors and actresses have always been willing to deal with nudity, as long as it really fits the role and story. Gratutious nedity or sex is a different matter. What has changed is what they are allowed to do, not what they were willing to do.

So you think actresses in the 20s, 30s, 40s, and 50s would have been just as willing to doff their undies as today's actresses?

 

[keith99]

So you think actresses in the 20s, 30s, 40s, and 50s would have been just as willing to doff their undies as today's actresses?

Much closer than most would think. Of course they would have considered the problems it would have created. For most of that time it would simply not have been possible in any case. The point would have been to produce art, and art that is not viewed is of minimal worth. If such a film could not have been displayed the point is pretty much gone.

Again the change is not so much in what actors and actresses would be willing to do, but what society would accept.

 

[tulc]

Hey! You didn't list Kathy Bates!
tulc(in "About Schmidt")

 

[Washington]

Much closer than most would think. Of course they would have considered the problems it would have created. For most of that time it would simply not have been possible in any case. The point would have been to produce art, and art that is not viewed is of minimal worth. If such a film could not have been displayed the point is pretty much gone.

Again the change is not so much in what actors and actresses would be willing to do, but what society would accept.

As much as I would like to think you're right, I believe the actresses of yore were more infused with the mores of their culture than you think. It would be interesting to see some good, reliable evidence either way.

 

[Washington]

Hey! You didn't list Kathy Bates!
tulc(in "About Schmidt")

Ah, the hot tub scene. Actually, there are many more I could have included.

 

[stan1980]

No Sharon Stone either? Think she would have been the first name on the list for most guys my age.

I can't speak from any authority whatsoever so this is a guess, but I would agree that I think it is more likely an actor would be willing to take their clothes off now compared to years gone by, and no, I don't think that is a bad thing.

 

[B'alaam]

Consider the following actresses who have appeared in movies completely naked.

Will do Washington

Hmmmmmm...
Healthy change?
I dont know
But for the most part it's something that I like (in addition to male actors nude/partial nude/rare full nude).
Does "I like it" count?

 

[flicka]

So you think actresses in the 20s, 30s, 40s, and 50s would have been just as willing to doff their undies as today's actresses?

It's impossible to say for sure because women have changed since the 20's and we don't know if today's actresses would have been in the business back then or visa verce.

I've read enough autobiograpies and stories of Hollywood history that I'm confident people were just as naughty then as they are now even if it wasn't always on film for the public to see. The public only knew what the studios wanted them to know. If anything has changed it's the availability of information. Who knows what anyone back in the day would have done professionally if everything they did personally was already being captured on video and posted to Youtube.

 

[eMesreveR]

Increased freedom regarding societal restrictions is [almost] never a bad thing.

 

[cantata]

Well, there was plenty of porn being made in the 20s-50s, so it's not like no one was taking their clothes off in front of a camera.

 

[The Princess Bride]

Q. Do you see this as a healthy change or not? AND, why?

Healthy or not, I find it interesting the polarity towards more female nudity to the low amount of male nudity featured in movies.

I think it degrads character, A-list or B-list actress; while they may feel "confident in their sexuality and skin" other's, most people simply oogle because their "nekked".

 

[cantata]

There's nothing degrading about being naked.

 

[sidhe]

We need a new Tallulah Bankhead.

Just 'cause.

 

[Washington]

Well, there was plenty of porn being made in the 20s-50s, so it's not like no one was taking their clothes off in front of a camera.

Of course not, but we're talking about bona fide actresses. People whose sexual behavior is more close to that of the average movie goer.

Healthy or not, I find it interesting the polarity towards more female nudity to the low amount of male nudity featured in movies.

This is a common response. Men are simply more stimulated by female nudity then women are by male nudity. Movie producers give the audience what it wants.

I think it degrads character, A-list or B-list actress;

And I assume this is because you feel there is something intrinsically wrong about non-private nudity itself.

while they may feel "confident in their sexuality and skin" other's, most people simply oogle because their "nekked".

Of course. Nudity, like other things we've been taught to keep hidden, acquires a certain curiosity factor. No surprise. But other than that, nudity in a movie, when germane to the story, is a refreshing nod to honest portrayal. In a movie, if a woman and a man in a spur of the moment decide to go skinny dipping, an act essential to the story, it's much more honest to see them actually go skinny dipping rather than cutting away or otherwise avoid showing them. This brings to mind the scene in the movie Racing with the Moon where the Sean Penn and Elizabeth McGovern characters, having just discovered their mutual attraction for each other, decide to go for an impromptu swim in a near by lake. The Penn character complete disrobes and jumps into the lake naked--although I don't remember if he was shown butt naked. The McGovern character, a bit shyer, strips down to her slip. But once in the water, and in a mutual embrace, she slowly looses the top of her slip, exposing her bare breasts, which to me, more than anything else signifies the extent of her trust and love for the Penn character. I felt it was an absolutely perfect way to express the character's unreserved and forthright commitment to the Penn character. It was actully a very sweet moment in the film.

We need a new Tallulah Bankhead.

In a sense, it might not be a bad thing.