It's awards season and with the Oscars airing on Sunday, I wanted to shed light on some of the lesser-remembered Oscar-winning movies that have great nude scenes. Check out these films that are not as remembered which have nudity that is worth remembering. No wonder they won Oscars!
Grand Hotel (1932)
The earliest film on this list is beloved amongst lovers of old cinema, but it doesn't get discussed nearly as much as it deserves by the rest of the world. Greta Garbo leads an all-star cast which includes Lionel Barrymore and Joan Crawford. This romantic film glitters with star power and Greta even shines a suck sack onscreen for an early example of movie nudity that earned an Oscar.
In The Heat of the Night (1967)
While this film doesn't get forgotten, this nude scene does. In the Heat of the Night is a notable Oscar winner because it starred Sidney Portier. His star power has lasted for decades, but his co-star Quentin Dean is forgotten. That's a shame because she showed an example of early Oscar-winning skin when she was nude in front of a window to show off her mams.
Kramer Vs. Kramer (1979)
One of the reasons that Kramer Vs. Kramer is nearly forgotten entirely is that the Oscar-winning movie beat out two lasting classics: All That Jazz and Apocalypse Now. To today's cinephiles, it seems crazy that ANYTHING beat Apocalypse Now, but this legal drama did. Kramer Vs. Kramer may have been a product of its times as it was also a huge box office hit. It was a drama about a couple divorcing and having a custody battle.
Divorce rates were going up with the women's liberation movement, so it's easy to see why this film was a success. JoBeth Williams' charming nudity probably helped.
Terms of Endearment (1983)
James Brooks made a name for himself with this beloved film that boasted a huge cast, Oscar-winning production design from Polly Platt, and a critically acclaimed script. So why doesn't anyone watch it anymore? I don't have an answer to that question, but I wish more people rewatched this film because the acting is wonderful. The lovely Shirley Maclaine gave a stunning performance in this film that was enhanced by her breasts.
The Last Emperor (1987)
I am a huge movie history nerd and even I had to double-check to see that The Last Emperor was indeed an Oscar-winning movie. It is nearly entirely forgotten about now which is a shame considering Bernardo Bertolucci directed a stunning film about China's last imperial ruler before the communist regime took over. Jade Go whips out her pair several times to breastfeed the emperor pretty late into his childhood. Lucky emperor!
The English Patient (1996)
The English Patient was so inescapable at the time of its release that there is even a great Seinfeld episode about how bored Elaine was about the film - which outcast her because everyone else loved it. Well, Elaine may have been correct because this film and its widespread popularity have been lost to time.
Kristin Scott Thomas went very nude in the film, making this one of the hotter Oscar winners. Much like Kramer Vs. Kramer, this film's lost memory may be due in part to the other movies that it beat out. It was nominated alongside Fargo and Jerry Maguire whose legacies are fairly lasting.
Crash (2004)
Oh, Crash. One of the most controversial Oscar wins of all time. It beat out Brokeback Mountain, a fact that has not aged well. This tense film focuses on racial injustice with several scenes that remain difficult to watch. Jennifer Esposito's sex scene was very easy to watch and remains so. You can see for yourself here:
