Why are people so offended by the nudity?

It never occurred to me that anyone might be offended by it 'til coming here and seeing the topic, "Shouldn't we be warned about the massive nudity?"

Because, of course, one beautiful, pastoral scene of nude men playing like children = "massive" nudity. Bleargh.

Reading some of the responses in this topic made me wonder if some who are offended were perhaps aroused by it, and found the feeling unwelcome. It isn't a sexual scene, so that wouldn't have occurred to me either, but apparently it does sometimes have that effect!

I just always thought it was gorgeous - and hilarious. And, of course, provides a delightful opportunity for Lucy to see what a lovely body her George has, and how sweetly playful he is. Like her brother, whom she clearly adores. That shared sense of play creates an instant bond of friendship between Freddy and George, and the young men's infectious joy draws in Mr. Beebe as well, showing Lucy, and us, how very well George fits in with her family and social circle. Meanwhile, effete Cecil doesn't know what to do with himself, he's so appalled by the undignified spectacle of other men having fun without their clothes on.

With this one scene, and without a word about it, the film neatly delineates how stark is truly the contrast between George and Cecil - and how deep the gulf between Lucy and Cecil. We wouldn't even need any other scenes with or about Cecil (and I could have done without most of them) in order to see it.

"You drank too much!" "That's a thing?"

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I know this is an extremely old post but I'll respond anyway.

I first viewed A Room with a View when I was 15. I'd picked it up randomly in the store because I'd remembered reading somewhere how good of a film it was generally thought to be. Having been raised by an extremely traditional Catholic mother I was only ever allowed to watch movies my parents hadn't previewed first if they were PG, G, or old enough to be "Unrated". This was marked unrated so I bought it planning to watch it that night in our living room since my brothers would be at their football game and I could watch it in peace and girlish delight as I assumed it was an epic love story that my brothers would seek to spoil through mockery.

The time arrives and I'm enjoying it immensely as it is a more subtle and sophisticated movie than my 15 year old self typically watched. I was just at the part where Freddie meets George and immediately, much to the delight of the Reverend, invites him to "bathe", when my mother gets home from work and asks me what I'm watching as she sits down in the recliner behind the comfortable spot I'm lounging on the floor. I tell her it's a period romance full of delightful British characters. She seems interested and joins in my viewing. Then it happens. The penises appear. I immediately freak out and begin to frantically search for the remote so that I may fast forward it as I'm immensely embarrassed and worried that my conservative Catholic mother, who raised all her kids in an extremely sheltered and censored environment, will assume that I bought the movie knowing full well there was male nudity and was looking to satisfy my teenage curiosity.

As Freddie's, George's, and the Reverend's members jostled and flailed to and fro recklessly, so too my arms thrashed about desperately searching for the means to skip or stop this dreadfully humiliating and potentially punishment bringing moment. All of a sudden I find it, the means to my release, hidden among my homemade bed of pillows and sofa cushions was the remote. I hit the power button and the torturous images finally leave the screen. For what seems like ages there is absolute silence in the room. I can't bring myself to raise my head and look at my mother. Finally while hunched over with dread equal to the weight of three men (and their penises), I raise my head and make eye contact with my mother. What do I see but the most ridiculous combination of shock and the popped out look a churchgoer might have when the congregant in front of them has just farted during mass and they're trying desperately to hold in laughter. All of a sudden I witness one of the most memorable and surprising moments of truly getting to know my mother. She begins laughing. Sincerely laughing. And not just an everyday, ordinary "ha ha ha". She's doubled over hysterical guffawing. I had never ever seen my mother laugh this way outside of when she got together with her 8 siblings during holidays. The same woman who wouldn't let me hang out with boys my age outside of relatives unless I was chaperoned, was laughing as a result of this scene and my embarrassment over it.

In summation...if MY mother wasn't offended by this then I am incredulous as to how anyone could be.



Didn't you go to school stupid?
-Yep, but I came out the same way.

Due to what George suffered in an episode of Seinfeld - shrinkage (from swimming) - it is not very, ahem, prominent.

Having read the novel and now these posts I just have to shake my head in frustration. That scene was not 'gratuitous' by any stretch. It was an important part of the plot. Whereas George and Freddy hit it off and which Lucy was very fond of her brother, it also showed how uptight and out of sorts Cecil was and that he represented Lucy's mother and all that Lucy didn't want in a marriage. It furthered Lucy's attraction to George in an innocent and funny way. A few swinging flaccid penises is natural. I went to boy scout camp and we had a lake we swam in and most of us swam au natural. Not everyone did because they were so modest, but maybe it's a guy thing. We found nothing gross or offensive about seeing each other nude, and really as young guys we were trying to make a point NOT to look below the chest lest we be declared 'gay'.

I am a huge fan of Forster, and if you are offended by an innocent romp of three nude straight guys in a watering hole, then you DEFINITELY do not want to see the film "Maurice" which is brilliantly filmed and one of my favorite films. The nudity in "Maurice" is necessary, unless you are emotionally stunted and offended by everyday matters. I highly recommend Maurice. Beautifully filmed, emotionally touching, and I saw both these films back in the 80s.

I posted an adorable picture of me stark naked with only a firehat on when I was maybe one or two years old, and I was told to take it down because it offended people. Well, I wanted to know who these 'FB friends' of mine were because I got more afraid of them for overreacting to an innocent picture and their dirty minds and just wanted to delete them.