It’s been over fifty years. Fifty years of whispers, lawsuits, and a lot of revisionist history regarding Bernardo Bertolucci’s 1972 film. When people talk about the Last Tango in Paris sex scene, they aren't usually talking about cinematography or the gritty, orange-hued lighting of a decaying Parisian apartment. They’re talking about the butter.
They're talking about Maria Schneider.
And, of course, they’re talking about Marlon Brando.
The film was a massive hit when it premiered, even earning Brando an Oscar nomination. It was hailed as art—a breakthrough in how cinema handled adult intimacy and psychological trauma. But looking at it today? It feels different. It feels heavy. The legacy of that specific moment has shifted from a "bold artistic choice" to a case study in ethics, consent, and the power imbalance of 1970s Hollywood.
The Reality of the Last Tango in Paris Sex Scene
Let’s be real for a second. The scene wasn't just "simulated" in the way modern audiences might think of a closed set with intimacy coordinators. There were no intimacy coordinators in 1972. It was just a room, a camera, an aging legend, and a 19-year-old girl who had no idea what was about to happen to her.
The "butter scene," as it’s infamously known, involves Brando’s character using a stick of butter as lubricant during a non-consensual sexual encounter with Schneider’s character. For years, the legend was that the scene was entirely improvised. That’s not quite true. Bertolucci and Brando had discussed the idea that morning. They wanted something visceral. Something "real."
But they didn't tell Maria.
Schneider later revealed in an interview with The Daily Mail in 2007 that the idea was born while Brando and Bertolucci were eating breakfast. They decided on the prop and the action without consulting her. She wasn't told until right before the cameras started rolling. Imagine being 19, on a set with a director you're supposed to trust and an actor who is basically a god in the industry, and having this sprung on you.
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"I felt a little bit raped," she said. Those are her words.
She wasn't actually raped in the physical sense—the act was simulated—but the emotional violation was 100% real. The tears you see on screen? Those weren't acting. That was a young woman realizing that her dignity had been traded for a director’s "vision." It’s uncomfortable to watch now because we know the context. It isn't just a movie anymore. It’s a recorded moment of exploitation.
Why Bertolucci Did It (In His Own Words)
Bertolucci didn't deny it. In fact, he doubled down for a long time. In a 2013 interview that went viral years later, he admitted he didn't tell Schneider about the butter because he wanted her reaction "as a girl, not as an actress." He wanted her to feel the rage and the humiliation.
He wanted the "real" thing.
Is that art? Some people still argue it is. They say the raw emotion of that scene is what makes the movie a masterpiece. But honestly? It’s a pretty high price to pay. Schneider’s career never really recovered. She was traumatized. She struggled with drug addiction and mental health for years afterward. She became "the girl from the movie," a sex symbol against her will, while Brando and Bertolucci walked away with accolades.
The Cultural Impact and the 2016 Backlash
Things stayed relatively quiet for decades, or at least as quiet as a scandal could be in a pre-internet world. But around 2016, the 2013 video of Bertolucci surfaced again. This was right as the #MeToo movement was starting to gain serious momentum. Suddenly, the Last Tango in Paris sex scene wasn't just a bit of film trivia. It was a flashpoint.
Hollywood stars like Jessica Chastain and Chris Evans took to social media to express their disgust. The industry started asking hard questions about where the line is drawn. If a director manipulates a performer into a state of genuine distress to get a "good take," is that genius or is it abuse?
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The consensus shifted. Hard.
The Problem With the "Art" Argument
There’s this old-school idea that to get a great performance, you have to break the actor. You see it with Hitchcock and Tippi Hedren on The Birds. You see it with Kubrick and Shelley Duvall on The Shining. But the Last Tango in Paris sex scene feels more intimate, and therefore more invasive.
It wasn't just about being tired or scared of birds; it was about a sexualized humiliation.
Interestingly, Brando himself found the filming process grueling. He reportedly felt used by Bertolucci, too. He said he felt like his "inner self" was being mined for the screen. But there’s a massive difference between a powerful, wealthy man in his 40s feeling emotionally drained and a teenager being blindsided by a sexualized stunt.
Maria Schneider’s Legacy Beyond the Butter
It’s kind of a tragedy that Maria Schneider is mostly remembered for this one scene. She was actually a very talented, rebellious person who tried to take control of her image. She later refused to do any more nude scenes. She fought for better roles.
She once said, "I was too young to know. Marlon didn’t have to worry, he was Marlon Brando."
She died in 2011, before the massive 2016 wave of support reached her. She never got the public apology she deserved from Bertolucci. He expressed regret for how she felt, but he never really admitted he was wrong to do it. He maintained until his death in 2018 that the result—the film itself—justified the means.
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How the Scene Changed Modern Filmmaking
If there’s any silver lining to the horror story of the Last Tango in Paris sex scene, it’s that it serves as the ultimate "what not to do" for modern productions.
Today, we have Intimacy Coordinators. These are professionals who act as a bridge between the director and the actors. They make sure every single touch, every prop, and every movement is choreographed and agreed upon in writing before a single frame is shot. If a director tried to pull a "butter stunt" today, they’d be fired and probably sued into oblivion.
We’ve moved away from the "Director as God" era. Mostly.
The conversation around this movie basically paved the way for the safeguards we see on sets like Game of Thrones or Euphoria. It forced the industry to acknowledge that actors aren't just colors on a palette. They’re humans with rights.
Practical Takeaways and Insights
If you’re a film student, a cinephile, or just someone who stumbled upon this topic, here is the nuance you need to keep in mind.
- Context Matters: Watching the film without knowing the history is a completely different experience than watching it with the knowledge of Schneider’s lack of consent. The latter makes it a documentary of a psychological assault.
- The "Art vs. Artist" Debate: This movie is one of the biggest tests for this debate. Can you appreciate the lighting, the acting, and the script while knowing the lead actress was being manipulated? There’s no easy answer.
- The Importance of Advocacy: Schneider didn't have anyone on set looking out for her. No agent, no parent (her father was famous actor Daniel Gélin, but he wasn't involved), and no union rep who gave a damn. It highlights why unions and specific onset roles are vital.
- Consent is Not Categorical: Just because Schneider agreed to be in a movie with "sex scenes" didn't mean she agreed to every possible scenario. Consent is specific, and it can be withdrawn. Bertolucci ignored this fundamental truth.
What to Do Next
If this story bothers you, you aren't alone. It should. To get a better perspective on the evolution of ethics in cinema, you might want to look into the following:
- Watch the documentary Searching for Maria Schneider: It attempts to reclaim her narrative and look at her life beyond the 1972 scandal.
- Research the Role of Intimacy Coordinators: Look at the work of pioneers like Alicia Rodis or Ita O'Brien to see how sets have changed for the better.
- Support Ethical Media: When reading about film history, look for sources that center the voices of the performers, not just the "visionary" directors.
The Last Tango in Paris sex scene will always be a part of film history. It’s a dark, oily stain on the legacy of 1970s cinema. But by talking about it honestly—by calling it what it was—we make sure that "the girl from the movie" is finally seen as the human being she was.
Summary of Actionable Insights
- Educate yourself on onset ethics: Understand that "method directing" is often just a mask for workplace harassment.
- Recognize power dynamics: In any creative field, the gap between a newcomer and a veteran can lead to exploitation if not strictly managed.
- Value transparency: Whether you’re in film, business, or any other industry, springing "surprises" on colleagues to get a reaction is a violation of professional trust.
History is written by the winners, but thanks to archives and the bravery of women like Maria Schneider, we finally get to read the truth between the lines.