Sharon Stone in Basic Instinct: Unrated Ultimate EditionThe director of Showgirls, Basic Instinct, Starship Troopers, and other skin classics was born on this date in 1938.


On the brink of World War II and Nazi occupation, Amsterdam welcomed among its citizenry Paul Verhoeven.

The loopy little Dutch boy would grow up to become on of cinema's most erotically provocative masters, beginning with arthouse hits made in his homeland such as Spetters, Soldier of Orange, and The Fourth Man.

Once he crossed the sea to Hollywood, Verhoeven created the hyper-violent but thought-provoking and skin-ventive sci-epics Total Recall, Starship Troopers, and Hollow Man.

Still, he is best (and properly) revered for his two most towering contributions to world skinemaBasic Instinct and Showgirls.

Elizabeth Berkley in Showgirls The former made a skinstant, skinternational superstar of naked Sharon Stone.

The latter, which showcases naked Elizabeth Berkley and naked Gina Gershon mo(i)st spectacularly, was initially lambasted as a torpid turkey, but has since been critically reappraised and stands now as a universally beloved cult classic. And it's also Mr. Skin's favorite movie of all time.