The 5 Most Shocking Truths About The 'Butter Scene' In Last Tango In Paris And Its 2024 Controversy

The "butter scene" from Bernardo Bertolucci's 1972 erotic drama, Last Tango in Paris, remains one of cinema's most notorious and disturbing moments, a half-century-old controversy that continues to ignite fierce debate on consent, exploitation, and the ethics of filmmaking. As of late December 2024, the film’s legacy is once again under intense scrutiny, with recent protests leading to the cancellation of a screening in Paris, proving that the trauma and ethical violation at the heart of the scene are far from forgotten.

The scene, which depicts Marlon Brando's character, Paul, sexually assaulting Maria Schneider's character, Jeanne, using a stick of butter as a lubricant, is a chilling example of the power imbalance between a director, a veteran actor, and a young, inexperienced actress. This article dives deep into the facts, the confessions, the victim’s perspective, and the lasting impact of this single, unforgettable sequence.

The Central Figures: A Brief Biography of the Last Tango Trio

The intense drama and subsequent scandal surrounding Last Tango in Paris are inextricably linked to the lives and careers of its three main collaborators: the director and the two stars. Understanding their respective paths provides crucial context for the power dynamics on set.

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• Maria Schneider (Actress, "Jeanne")
  • Born: March 27, 1952, Paris, France.
  • Died: February 3, 2011, Paris, France (Age 58).
  • Career Highlights: Best known for *Last Tango in Paris* (1972) and Michelangelo Antonioni's *The Passenger* (1975).
  • Legacy: Her career was overshadowed by the controversy of the "butter scene," which she later described as a defining trauma that led to years of emotional distress and substance abuse. She won the Special David award for her performance in the film.
• Marlon Brando (Actor, "Paul")
  • Born: April 3, 1924, Omaha, Nebraska, USA.
  • Died: July 1, 2004, Los Angeles, California, USA (Age 80).
  • Career Highlights: Considered one of the most influential actors of the 20th century, a pioneer of Method Acting. Key films include *A Streetcar Named Desire* (1951), *On the Waterfront* (1954), and *The Godfather* (1972).
  • Last Tango Role: His performance in *Last Tango in Paris* earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. He was 48 years old at the time of filming.
• Bernardo Bertolucci (Director)
  • Born: March 16, 1941, Parma, Italy.
  • Died: November 26, 2018, Rome, Italy (Age 77).
  • Career Highlights: An acclaimed Italian director known for films like *The Conformist* (1970), *The Last Emperor* (1987) (which won nine Academy Awards), and *The Dreamers* (2003).
  • Last Tango Legacy: He received an Academy Award nomination for Best Director for the film. His confession regarding the scene cemented his controversial status in cinematic history.

The Director's Confession: A Conspiracy of Silence

The ethical storm surrounding the scene intensified dramatically years later when director Bernardo Bertolucci publicly admitted to his actions. The truth behind the "butter scene" was not just that it was a depiction of sexual assault, but that the actress, Maria Schneider, was deliberately kept out of the loop regarding a key element of the scene.

In a 2013 interview, which gained widespread attention in 2016, Bertolucci confessed that he and Marlon Brando had conspired to include the use of butter as a lubricant without telling Schneider beforehand. His goal, he stated, was to elicit an "authentic" reaction of surprise and humiliation from the 19-year-old actress, not Maria Schneider the performer, but Maria Schneider the person.

Bertolucci later attempted to clarify his statement, arguing that the rape itself was always in the script, and the only "novelty" sprung on Schneider was the butter. However, this clarification did little to quell the outrage, as the act of conspiring with the lead actor to use a prop in a sexually violent manner without the full knowledge and consent of the actress is widely viewed as a profound violation of professional and personal trust.

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Maria Schneider's Perspective: Feeling "A Little Bit Raped"

The most heartbreaking and authoritative account of the scene comes directly from Maria Schneider herself. In a 2007 interview with the *Daily Mail*, she unequivocally stated that she felt "humiliated" and "a little bit raped" by both Brando and Bertolucci.

Schneider was only 19 years old at the time of filming, while Brando was 48. This age and experience gap highlights the significant power imbalance on the set of the erotic drama. She clarified that the sex was simulated, but the tears were real.

She explained that the idea of using the butter was Brando’s, and she was only told about it just before the cameras rolled. This lack of full, informed consent led to a deep sense of betrayal. She felt angry, not just at the moment, but for years afterward, stating that she "never forgave" Bertolucci and Brando.

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The trauma from the production haunted her for the rest of her life, leading to struggles with addiction and mental health issues. Her powerful testimony, which surfaced years before Bertolucci's confession, remains the definitive statement on the scene's real-life impact.

The Lasting Legacy: Cinematic Consent and the 2024 Resurgence

The "butter scene" has evolved from a scandalous moment in 1970s cinema to a central case study in the modern debate on ethical filmmaking and consent on set. The resurfacing of Bertolucci's confession in 2016, and the subsequent global outrage, forced a reckoning within the film industry.

The controversy, which involves multiple key entities—Bertolucci, Brando, Schneider, the film's cinematographer Vittorio Storaro, and co-star Jean-Pierre Léaud—has been analyzed through a critical feminist lens, notably in the 2021 documentary *The Butter Scene*.

The 2024 Controversy: Despite the film's age and the deaths of all three main figures, the ethical violation remains a highly sensitive topic. In late December 2024, a screening of Last Tango in Paris in a prestigious French cinema was canceled following protests from women's rights groups. This event underscores that the scene is not merely a piece of cinematic history, but an ongoing symbol of the exploitation of women in the arts.

The film, despite its Golden Globe nominations for Best Motion Picture and Best Director, and its two Academy Award nominations, can no longer be viewed solely through the prism of artistic merit. Its legacy is now permanently intertwined with the question of whether art can justify the emotional and psychological harm inflicted during its creation.

Key LSI Entities and Thematic Pillars of the Controversy

To fully grasp the depth of this scandal, it is essential to consider the broader entities and themes that define its place in film history and cultural discourse:

• Method Acting: Brando's use of Method Acting is often cited, with the argument that the pursuit of "authenticity" was taken to a harmful extreme.
• Erotic Drama 1972: The film's genre and release year place it within a period of shifting sexual mores in cinema, a context that critics argue was used to excuse the scene's brutality.
• Cinematic Consent Debate: The scene is a cornerstone of discussions about the need for strict consent protocols for actors, especially in intimate scenes.
• Vittorio Storaro: The acclaimed cinematographer, whose beautiful, golden-hued work contrasts sharply with the film's dark, brutal content.
• Franco Arcalli: Co-writer and editor of the film, adding another layer to the creative team involved in the controversial production.

The story of the "butter scene" is a sobering reminder that the art produced on screen can sometimes come at a devastating human cost. Maria Schneider's bravery in speaking out decades ago continues to fuel a necessary conversation about power, ethics, and the responsibility of the filmmaker.