In our weekly seriesAnatomy of a Nude Scene, we're going to be taking a look at (in)famous sexscenes and nude scenes throughout cinema history and examining their construction, their relationship to the film around it, and their legacy. This week, we look at an absolutely legendary nude scene from Penthouse Pet-turned-actress Monique Gabrielle alongside future Oscar winner Tom Hanks in the 1984 comedy Bachelor Party.
Three months prior to the release of Bachelor Party, America embraced Tom Hanks as a leading man—outside the confines of television—for the first time with Splash. Hanks was now a bonafide leading man, and though the films he starred in for the rest of the 80s varied wildly in quality, they made Hanks one of the most belovedman-child typesin comedy. While a great many of his films had a romantic angle to them, it was hard even in 1984 to really think of Tom Hanks as a sexual being. It's impossible now because he's America's dad, but it was pretty hard in the 80s and 90s as well.
Usually any sexy scenarios Hanks found himself in were of the comedic variety, like an hour and eleven minutes into Bachelor Party when he finds himself in that age old bachelor party pickle... Do I, as the groom, have sex with the prostitute I think my buddieshired—as if anyone's fiancée would overapprove of this particular scenario—or do I pass? The film poses this conundrum in a comedic way, allowing us the benefit of always seeing Monique Gabrielle's breasts while he ponders over his various options here...
You see, at this point in the film, Hanks' lowly bus driver Rick is engaged to marry rich girl Debbie (a pre-WhitesnakeTawny Kitaen), but her parents don't like him one bit. They enlist Debbie's devious ex Cole (Robert Prescott) to sabotage the couple, so Debbie is already suspicious of Rick. When she catches him in flagrante delicto with Monique's Tracey—hired by Cole and not Rick's boneheaded buddies—it's almost enough to sabotage the entire wedding. It's quite a pickle and right at the center of it is this gorgeous woman.
Monique Gabriellefirst came to notoriety as December 1982's Penthouse Pet of the Month, then became a B-movie queen and a so-called Video Vixen, headlining a number of Penthouse video compilations. Since Tawny Kitaendidn't go nude in the film, it was easy for Monique to steal the show, even in such a relatively small role. It is odd that Kitaen isn't nude in this flick considering she's naked all up and down Gwendoline, released the same year.
While IMDb Trivia isa healthy mix of facts and rumors, this particular entry in Bachelor Party's Trivia section has some rather pernicious editorializing—not to mention an error in the year she was Pet of the Month...
Let's right a few wrongs with that statement. First of all, Monique had already been in the blockbuster hit Flashdance the year prior, along with a role in the exploitation classic Chained Heat with Linda Blair.She also hadsome prominent pre-Penthouse roles in high profile films like Airplane II and Night Shift.Post-Bachelor Party, she had roles in Young Lady Chatterley IIalongside Adam West, a killer segment in the cult classicAmazon Women on the Moon, she headlined an Emmanuelle film, and all in all racked up over 60 credits. In 2002, she retired at the age of 39, getting married the next year and never looking back.
So respect and credit where credit is due for, as IMDb callsher, "B-movie legend"Monique Gabrielle. If anyone knows how to edit IMDb Trivia and would like to amend this rather egregious bit of editorializing nonsense, us Skin fans would appreciate it for the rest of time!
Catch up withour most recent editions ofAnatomy of a Nude Scene
—An Entire Generation of Men Saw Bare Breasts for the First Time in Caddyshack
—Maggie Gyllenhaal Holds Nothing Back inSecretary
—Demi Moore Took a Record Paycheck to HeadlineStriptease
—That Time We All Fell in Love with Kelly Preston inMischief
—What Happened with Marisa Tomei's Nude Scene fromUntamed Heart
—Cybill Shepherd is Uncomfortably Relatable inThe Last Picture Show
—Penelope Cruz Does Very Different Nude Scenes Playing the Same Role inOpen Your EyesandVanilla Sky
—Joyce Hyser Becomes an 80s Icon inJust One of the Guys
—Charlize Theron Lands on the Map with2 Days in the Valley
—SirensMay be Plural, But All Eyes Were on Elle MacPherson
—Eva Green's Star is Born in Bertolucci'sThe Dreamers
—Phoebe Cates Takes a Dip and Becomes a Legend inFast Times at Ridgemont High
—Kim Basinger Gets All Wet for Mickey Rourke in9½ Weeks
