Which Marlon Brando’s Movie Was Banned in Italy?

Marlon Brando has had many films that has done well over the years and one of them is Last Tango in Paris. It came out in 1972 and made a whole lot of money, but it was very controversial and received lots of backlash that it was even banned in Italy.

Marlon Brando’s Last Tango in Paris was banned in Italy because it showed levels of sex and violence that made many uncomfortable.

Marlon Brando’s Last Tango in Paris was Highly Controversial

In Last Tango in Paris, an American widow named Paul (played by Brando) finds himself in Paris as his new Permanente abode. He is looking for a place to call his home when he meets Jeanne, a young French woman (played by Schneider). Something sizzles between them and they soon start sleeping with each other without even bothering to know what the other person’s name is.

As time goes by, Paul becomes more and more obsessed with Jeanne, and the sex between them turns violent at times. Jeanne’s boyfriend, a filmmaker named Tom, asks her to marry him and she says yes. She thus begins to feel guilty about her cheating. Meanwhile, Paul loses control upon hearing that Jeanne is engaged. When Last Tango in Paris came out, it was shown in theaters in the U.S. and made $36 million.

Why Was Last Tango in Paris Banned in Italy?

There were sexual scenes that were too in-your-face in Last Tango in Paris. Apart from that, there was also violence, some of which was connected to the sexual activity. This was why it was banned in several countries including Italy. Efforts were later made to bring the movie to Italy after the first ban. When some years had passed, the people in charge of the film cut out some scenes and re-released it in Italy.

Sadly, the new version also came under prohibition. On January 29, 1976, the court in Italy said that all copies of the movie in the country should be destroyed. Some of the people who featured in the movie as well as the director were also sentenced to two months of jail time though this was suspended.

The Lukewarm Reception to Last Tango in Paris

It wasn’t only in Italy that there was a challenge to the showing of Last Tango in Paris. In the U.K., some scenes had to be cut out before it could be shown to the public. In France, there was censorship as well because of the obvious sexual content.

It wasn’t until 1978 that the ban on the movie was lifted in Japan. It began showing in Spain in December 1977, a good five years after it came out. During the 30 years that the military ruled Chile, Last Tango in Paris was banned completely. It was only in 1974 following the Carnation Revolution that people in Portugal got to watch it.

Other nations that said Last Tango in Paris should not be shown on their land include Singapore, Venezuela, Argentina, and South Korea. In Canada, there is a particular Province known as Nova Scotia. They also said the film shouldn’t be watched there. Some people thought this was wrong and went to court. It was the Supreme Court that finally decided the matter in 1978. They said Provinces have the power to say what film can and cannot be shown in their territory.

In Australia, Last Tango in Paris had smooth sailing. It was certified R and released to the public there without any cuts. This was in February 1973.

The Butter Rape Scene Redefined Maria Schneider’s Acting Career

The Butter Rape Scene Redefined Maria Schneider’s Acting Career

So far, we have been talking about the high level of sex and violence in Last Tango in Paris. Well, a good example is the scene where Paul raped Jeanne using butter as a lubricant. It was an intense one and the lady who played Jeanne later said it was a trauma for her. She was only 19 at the time of filming.

In an interview, Schneider said she felt humiliated and violated while making that particular scene. She said she was not told upfront everything that the scene would involve including the butter prop. She felt that Bernardo Bertolucci and Marlon Brando, who were both much older and more experienced than her, abandoned her.

After Last Tango in Paris was released, Schneider struggled with things that were not nice such as Drug addiction and depression. To keep herself apart from the film was also hard.
Later, she would say that she suffered on a physical and emotional level and that the film hurt her career.

Tyna G
Tyna G
Tyna is passionate about sharing authentic news and giving her readers great content. Apart from writing, she is a music enthusiast who enjoys watching good movies

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