Director Bernardo Bertolucci was so impressed how the actors so naturally acted naked, he penned an uncredited lengthy extra scene in the script where all three main actors are overtly nude. It ended up on the cutting room floor.
First film since Orgazmo (1997) that was released theatrically in the US with a NC-17 rating. Even with its NC-17 rating, major theater circuits like Regal and AMC agreed to show this film.
Matthew: I thought you had many lovers. I mean when I saw you for the first time, at the Cinématheque, you and Theo, you looked so cool, so sophisticated. Like a movie star.
What are the differences between the R-Rated and the NC-17 Version?
A
Due to several explicit shots, the Uncut Version was rated NC-17 in the US. That's why the milder R-Rated Version lacks more than 2 1/2 min of footage with sexual content. A detailed comparison between both versions with non-explicit pictures can be found here.