Being There : Missing/deleted scene

Missing/deleted scene

I have seen this in a number of movies that have been made into DVDs or VHS.....during the grand ballroom party where Chance meets the Russian ambassador, he also encounters a gay man who takes him upstairs to a private room and engages in a sexual act with him. Why was this omitted? In this current sexual atmosphere, why has this been removed?

Re: Missing/deleted scene

Although this scene exists in the novel, I've never seen or heard any evidence that it was ever filmed.

Re: Missing/deleted scene

I saw the movie many years ago; the scene that started this "event" is STILL in the film, but the part where they go upstairs and engage in gay sex was deleted. Yes, it was in the film!

Re: Missing/deleted scene

Beyond your apparent recollection, I've never seen one shred of evidence that this scene ever existed. It's not even in the script.

Re: Missing/deleted scene

I am curious as to how you have a copy of the script.....

Re: Missing/deleted scene


I saw the movie many years ago; the scene that started this "event" is STILL in the film, but the part where they go upstairs and engage in gay sex was deleted. Yes, it was in the film!


It was? In a Hollywood movie made in 1979? Pretty unlikely, unless it was more 'suggested' than shown.

Re: Missing/deleted scene

I'm glad the alleged scene was not in the film.

Re: Missing/deleted scene

No. The scene did not play that way. At the party he was asked if he had ever had sex with a man. After his usual conversational pause, which causes others to think he's being clever rather than just slow of thought, he says no, he doesn't think so. The man asks if he wants to go upstairs and Chance asks if there is a television up there. He likes to watch. The man says, "You like to watch?! Wait right here. I'll get Warren!" and he walks off. That was it. It was simpy another set up for a joke. (Not an item of great import mysteriously deleted from the files of the culture war and thus victim of some vast Orwellian conspiracy to whitewash the truth.)

Re: Missing/deleted scene

I saw that scene in the original theatrical release, too. If I remember correctly, it had Chauncey stand on a bed and grinding his heel into the crotch of one of the men -- while he watched TV, of course. I may be misremembering the details, after all these years, but I'm sure the scene Chris Van Laer describes was in it. In fact, that's why I sought out this conversation: to see if I could find any references to that scene. I love the film, and while I don't think its deletion from later prints seriously detracts from the film's integrity, I have been curious about why it was removed, and who made the decision to do so.

Re: Missing/deleted scene

I can confirm I have seen the scene on a VHS version back in the early 1990's the first time I ever rented the movie. In fact, I didn't realize it was missing (watched this over and over on DVD) until you mentioned it. Checked my DVD version from a few years ago and it's not there. Definitely true though.

Re: Missing/deleted scene

I'm sorry but this scene was never even filmed never mind appeared in the final cut. It's not in the shooting script either. As an authoritative on the film I can swear on my children's life you are all mistaken. I have been working on a book about this masterpiece for several years and have spoken to several cast members as research. I'm afraid people are suffering from false memory syndrome I think!

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Re: Missing/deleted scene

Case Closed.


113 INT. SOPHIE'S HOUSE - NIGHT

Dennis Watson is a homosexual and is coming on strong
to Chance.

DENNIS
...You're fascinating, Mr. Gardiner -
I've never met anyone like you in
Washington before.

CHANCE
Yes, I've been here all my life.

DENNIS
Really? Well, where have you
been all my life?
(Chance smiles)
Tell me, Mr. Gardiner, have you
ever had sex with a man?

CHANCE
(a beat)
No. I don't think so.

DENNIS
We could go upstairs right now.

CHANCE
Do they have a TV upstairs?

DENNIS
A TV? I'm sure they do.

CHANCE
I like to watch.

DENNIS
You like to waaaaaatch? Well -
you wait right here, I'll go get
Warren.

Dennis hurries off. Eve appears, moves to Chance.

EVE
Let's get out of here, Chauncey -
Let's go home...

Eve takes Chance by the arm and they move off.

114 INT. WHITE HOUSE - OVAL OFFICE - NIGHT

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Re: Missing/deleted scene

Yeah, your right. Of course it wasn't. It's an odd thing to lie about. The people who said it must have this strange agenda for finding injustice towards gay people in which homosexual scenes are deleted from films!
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