this is cut version.


I have the original version on a video tape.It is very graphic.It needs a nc-7 rating.Image version is cut.It omits nearly 6 minutes.

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That's crazy! in this age of dvd and uncut versions of old films being so popular, I can't believe 'Image' would censor some harmless sex scenes!! What a depressing step backwards. 'Image' must really be a crap label to pull this really lame stunt. I havent seen the true version of this film, i wonder too, if it will ever be available. it seems so prudish in an age when you can watch videos of people peeing on eachother with a click of the mouse...

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It's strange, but in the UK edition, all the Kirstofferson-Miles nudity has been cut, but a scene that was deleted for the theatrical release, in which all the young boys go skinny-dipping and then spank each other with cricket paddles, has been restored. Those whacky Brits!

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I agree with everybody--why cut a film in this day and age? I've only read the book and I want to see the film but not if it's edited. They probably cut it because this film is basically unknown and they probably don't think anyone would notice. Or they submitted it to the MPAA and they requested the cuts. Some films that got R ratings in the 1970s would easily get an NC-17 today. Still--that's no reason to cut it.

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OK--thanks for the recommendation. To be totally honest I have no interest on seeing Kristofersoon or Miles nude--I just hate censorship. However I read the novel in college and I'm curious to see how faithful this was to it. Also many people seem to think the cinematography in it is beautiful. So, if I see it I'll pick it up.

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So how is the novel, and is it worth seeking out? It's pretty apparent, after watching this film, that this is based on Japanese source material.

And did you ever track this film down? It's well worth finding – both for its wonderfully twisted story and its beautiful cinematography. And I love seeing both Kristofferson and Miles nude because it enhances a very intriguing story – plus they both have great bods.

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Is the novel good? Well it's short and has a pretty disturbing ending. When I read it for a college course one girl in the class couldn't finish it cause it was too "creepy":) It's worth taking a look at but don't go out of your way.

Nope--still haven't found the movie. However I did get "Valentino" another old movie I was looking for. I'm sure Kristofferson and Miles both have great bodies (or did back then) but I don't think Kistofferson is much of an actor. So, even if he looks great nude, bad acting will ruin it for me.

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The ending is indeed very creepy, which I don't have a problem with. I think I like the story more than you did, so I'll seek out the novel.

I was lucky to find this on VHS for a buck at a video store where I've found a lot of rare films. I also found "Valentino" recently at a different video store but for the same price. I haven't watched that yet. Two other films from the same period I associate with that one are "Gable and Lombard" with James Brolin and Jill Clayburgh (don't have that yet) and "Goodbye, Norma Jean" with Misty Rowe (which I have, and it's horrible).

I'm a huge Kris fan so I don't mind his acting, but he's come a long way from his early films like this. Of course, I love his singing voice, so there goes my credibility. ;-)

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"Valentino" I just got on DVD. While there are zero extras and not even chapter stops it's letter-boxed and looks GREAT! I saw "Gable & Lombard" last year on cable. It wasn't bad. Brolin looked (and sounded) like Gable but unfortunately Clayburgh didn't even remotely look or sound like Lombard. But, the acting was good so that helped. "Goodbye Norma Jean" I have no desire to see. Everybody agrees with you--it's horrible.

LOL OK--I think Kris can sing too. And when he made "Sailor" he was still pretty young so maybe his nude body IS worth seeing:) I'll lay even money there are no frontal shots though.

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No frontal shots of Kris, and barely any backal either. Supposedly this film and the Playboy spread, which is much more explicit, led to his divorce from Rita Coolidge, though I suspect drinking was more to blame – his drinking, of course.

Is your "Valentino" one of those MGM Limited Edition DVD-Rs? Those are pretty bare-boned releases, but there's not a lot of demand for those films so we takes what we gets. I have the VHS version in one of my many piles of movies.

I saw "Gable and Lombard" years ago on cable, when I was too young to appreciate it or even realize who Jill Clayburgh was. I'd love to see it again for the cast, even though it's not considered a credible biopic.

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LOL I figured. I know John Phillip Law should has butt plenty in a Playboy spread for "The Love Machine" but NO shots in the movie! Go figure.

Yeah--the "Valentino" is an MGM DVD-R but it's in great shape. I was impressed.

Clayburgh was a wonderful actress but she's nothing like Lombard was like in real life in the movie. Still her acting was very good.

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Was the "Love Machine" spread in Playboy's "Sex in the Cinema" feature, or a regular layout? Seems odd for them to feature a male that early (1971).

It's strange that I had completely forgotten Jill Clayburgh played Carole Lombard until you mentioned that film. Jill was tremendous in everything I saw her in, but she just seems horribly miscast there. Normally I don't care that much when an actress doesn't look like the person she plays in a biopic, but when the role is a Hollywood legend, the casting just seems lazy. Madeline Kahn or Carol Kane would have been better, for starters.

I was just thinking about Kris Kristofferson's stint as host of "Saturday Night Live" in July 1976, about the time this film came out (and that other one with Mrs. Brolin). I'm normally clueless about these issues, but even I can see he's coked out of his mind in every skit. It's like watching Dennis Hopper in "Apocalypse Now." I wonder if there were concerns on the set about him and Belushi ODing on live TV. Like they said: Anything can happen.

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I don't THINK it was in a "Sex in the Cinema" feature but I could be wrong. All I remember is Law posing with the twins he had sex with in the movie. Naturally everything is shown on the two women but not him.

I respectfully disagree. Kahn or Kane would have been equally miscast as Lombard (although I think Kahn could have gotten her attitude down right). They would have to have cast a beautiful blonde actress who could act AND have a *beep* attitude about life. I guess since Brolin looked so much like Gable they just though audiences wouldn't care. (They did. The movie bombed.)

Kristofferson used drugs HEAVILY back in the 1970s and 1980s--but so was mostly everybody else in Hollywood:) Just see him in the dreadful 1976 movie "A Star is Born". He HAD to have been on drugs all during that--especially when he was "singing".

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It seems to me that "Sex in the Cinema" didn't start in Playboy until later in the '70s, judging from my unscientific survey digging through my dad's and my neighbor's stash when I had the chance. Was there that much sex in the cinema in 1971 to merit a regular feature. Playboy seemed extremely resistant to any male skin for a long time, while Penthouse had its "Couples" section right after (or was it before?) those tan newsprint pages.

Honestly, I don't really know enough about Carol Lombard to suggest a replacement. Those two names just sprang to mind immediately. It seems like today there's a much greater attempt to capture the look of Hollywood icons in biopics.

"A Star Is Born" is a complete mess, and the chemistry between Streisand and Kristofferson is grueling. That film was heavily hyped long before its release, and I think audiences were prepared for a much better (or at least much different) film based on the hit singles that preceded it.

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You know that pic of Law MIGHT have been Penthouse. I saw it years ago when I was a kid and my uncle gave me a stack of porno mags (he felt it would help me be a man:)). It was a combo of Playboys, Penthouse and OUI. The Sex in the Cinema even had a pic of a gay couple in bed (only from the chest up). Judging by what you're saying it was probably Penthouse.

Carole Lombard was beautiful, full of life and VERY outspoken. At one point somebody asked her what it was like being married to Gable. Her response: "He's very handsome but a lousy lay:)"

I liked "A Star Is Born" when I first saw it at the tender age of 14:) Then I saw it a few years after and was horrified at how BAD it was! I love Streisand but she was WAY out of her depth in this movie. The best thing to come out of that movie was the song "Evergreen".

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It does sound more like Penthouse than Playboy. Hugh Hefner has always seemed very old-school in his view of what an adult magazine should be, and that seems to preclude male nudity. Bob Guccione pushed the envelope further with Penthouse with much more explicit shots, but he also wanted to attract women (and perhaps gay men) to the magazine with male shots.

One of my neighbors growing up had a huge collection of porn magazines, and we'd always raid his garbage bins for some educational trash. Some of it was quite shocking, at least to a preteen: Screw and Hustler.

As for "A Star Is Born," I didn't see it until well into the '80s, and I was surprised at bloated it was. Kristofferson is believable as a burnout (art imitates life), but I just couldn't buy Streisand as an arena rock superstar. This would also be the first (and last) time that a woman with the name of Esther would become a rock star.

One of my friends from Arizona says she was present during the filming at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, and apparently she's visible in a crowd shot. Unfortunately, I've never been able to pick her out, and I've lost touch with her.

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Yeah--Penthouse was popular with gay men back in the 1970s and 1980s. Playgirl too. I've talked to older gay men about it and they said before the gay nude magazines came out that was their only "outlet". I have zero respect for the publisher of Penthouse though. His "Caligula" was the first X rated film I ever saw and it was just sickening!

"Screw" and "Hustler" huh?:) THAT stuff was pretty extreme. I remember seeing a few and being shocked.

"A Star Is Born" (1976) was the SECOND remake of a 1937 movie! The first had an actress I can't remember at the moment, the second had Judy Garland. Redoing it for the 1970s was a BAD idea. The movie was torn apart by critics and lost money. Also Streisand did NOT look good with an afro:)

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"Caligula" is completely gross, and even though I love revisiting culty classic films, I have no urge to sit through that again. It's by far my least-favorite Helen Mirren film.

Really, despite the conversation here, I'm not into porn of any kind, but it was pretty amazing to see the stuff as a child.

Onto other trash: The 1937 "A Star Is Born" featured Janet Gaynor as Esther, a '30s name if there ever was one. I wonder if Janet ever saw the 1976 film, and if so what she thought of it. The first two versions were set in the world of the old Hollywood glamor machine, and it really doesn't work to translate it to the '70s rock thing. Streisand, for all her talent, would hardly be a rock icon despite her portrayal in the film. And though her hair looked ridiculous, there were probably thousands of women and girls copying it that year.

Even though the critics hated it, for good reason, was it really a commercial bomb? This site says it was the No. 2 film of 1976, second only to "Rocky." Despite all the hype, it seemed to have horrible word of mouth from anyone who saw it, and I'm surprised it did that well. It has not held up well at all -- mainly because it was so weak to begin with -- and even though I love the '70s big-time I have no sentiment for that turkey.

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We definetely agree on "Caligula". When I first saw it up a theatre people were walking out left and right after the first hour or so. I made it up to the second hour and then I had to get out--if not I was going to throw up! Somebody got me the 4 disc (!!!) set of "Caligula" a few years ago. No--I didn't ask for it:) It has the R rated, the X rated and then the unrated cuts! I thought unrated and X rated meant the same thing--I guess not. Also there is an audio commentary with Malcolm McDowell and Mirren basically blasting the film to pieces. BTW--Mirren only did the film because they were throwing so much money at her she couldn't say no:) It isn't the worst film I ever saw though--"Salo" still wins that award.

OK--you're right--"A Star" WAS a commercial success but I think it was more for the hit single "Evergreen" than anything else. Next to "The Mirror Has Two Faces" and "Yentl" this is Streisand's worst film.

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I remember two films being notorious during my early days watching Siskel and Ebert: "Caligula" and "I Spit on Your Grave." Four discs of "Caligula" is 3 1/2 too many. So what is the difference between the "unrated" and "X-rated" versions? I thought an X-rating was basically self-assigned when the MPAA rejects the other options. I have not seen "Salo" yet, but I'll watch anything that has the guise of art ... eventually.

I'm sure that despite the hype, if it were to open today, "A Star is Born" would die an almost immediate death because the Internet buzz would destroy it. Back in 1976, people had been brainwashed with "Evergreen" for months and thought they had to see the film. That was one of the early films where the blockbuster mentality was unstoppable despite the mediocre reality.

I think at one point La Streisand would actually take direction and, as a result, made some delightful films: "Up the Sandbox," "Funny Girl," "What's Up Doc." Then the ego took control and she became the director, no matter whose name was in the credits. I have not seen "Yentl" in years and remember liking it at the time, but like "A Star Is Born," the hype machine preceded that film for months. "The Mirror Has Two Faces" is sheer torture to sit through, but it provides insight into Babs with the way she treats her co-stars. She especially seems to take delight in degrading Brenda Vaccaro's character, and the way she treated Dudley Moore before firing him is disgraceful.

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I think the difference between the X-rated and unrated versions is about 20 minutes! It seems the "director" shot a lot more historical stuff (mostly non-pornographic) that was cut from the final print. That was all restored for the unrated pic. Goody--20 more minutes! (I'm being sarcastic). I remember when it was reissued at art house cinemas for it's 20th anniversary (in 2000). The audiences I had saw it as a coming attraction and were in hysterics laughing at it:) Also, when it played (I didn't go), they had a sign up reading "No men allowed just wearing raincoats. This means YOU!" At least they had a sense of humor about it!

BTW--"Salo" is also X rated. If you enjoy seeing torture, humiliation, degradation and some truly horrific violence "Salo" is for you! Shortly after the film came out the director was murdered. Some people said it was some of the cast in revenge for what they had to endure!

Don't be too sure of "Star" bombing if it were released today. Streisand still has plenty of fans and they might see it cause they feel they have to! I hate to say this but even "Top Gun" (which I call "Top Crap") would be successful if released today. It's easily one of Tom Cruise's worst films (and that's saying alot) but his fans and the soundtrack would have people running out to see it.

The worst things about "Mirror" were seeing poor Jeff Bridges and Lauren Bacall (two wonderful actors) giving their worst performances. Purportedly both were browbeaten so much by Streisand that they vowed never to work with her again.

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Thanks for the details on "Caligula." I think I shall avoid wasting my money and time on any version. What I would much rather see is a documentary on how the film was made and financed, the controversy that surrounded its release, and maybe some of the principals looking back on it (though I highly doubt Helen Mirren would cooperate these days, and I can't say I'd blame her). Is there such a bonus feature in the "Caligula" set? Documentaries about infamous films are often better than the films themselves: "Troll 2" (the bar was very low there), "Deep Throat," "Apocalypse Now" (though both the film and doc were excellent).

I wouldn't mind seeing quality films that cross beyond that R-rated line, but there have been so few good NC-17 films outside of "Henry & June" (which I still don't understand why it wasn't rated R), Cronenberg's "Crash," and Peter Greenaway's "The Cook, the Thief, His Wife and Her Lover." I think "Showgirls" pretty much tarnished the NC-17 rating for good (really, for very bad). NC-17 still has the aura of soft-core porn, or maybe not so soft-core.

Does "Salo" have any "point" to the degradation, like a plot of some sort? I saw a documentary about Pasolini some years ago that suggested his death was a Mafia hit (or more like a drive), that the hustler was a setup. Apparently he had a lot of enemies.

And you're right that "A Star Is Born" might well be a mega-hit these days, considering that the masses are still flocking to see Johnny Depp mimicking Keith Richards. I guess we'll have to wait for the Beyonce version to see how bad it can get.

As for "Top Gun," that movie effectively ended in my mind with the death of Goose, who was my only interest in the film anyway. Even in 1986, I knew the film was crap. I continue to like a lot of crap, but "Top Gun" will never cut it for me.

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OK--I got the three-disc "Imperial Edition"--ho ho--of "Caligula" right here with me. It DOES have full-length audio commentaries by Malcolm McDowell, Helen Mirren and Ernest Volkman (one of the writers). There's also a "Making of Caligula" documentary! So yeah--Mirren DOES talk about it. I'll give her credit for never trying to hide the facr that she was in it. Never saw "Troll 2" though I heard it was so bad that it's fun. The first one was just dull. Saw "Deep Throat"-fell asleep:) "Inside Linda Lovelace" though was great. "Apocalypse Now" I agree with you.

Hated "Crash" and "The Cook, the Thief...". Needlessly sick and graphic and I couldn't see any point to either one. "Showgirls" was just stupid and trashy. I saw it opening night in a theatre in Boston. Sold out but the audience HATED the film. People booed at the end!

"Salo" has a point but it's lost in its virtual nonstop degradation and humiliation. I think I saw the same doc on Pasolini that u did. A hustler DID admit that he killed him...then retracted his statement. His death is officially unsolved. He did like rough trade so the hustler might have told the truth.

Beyone doing "A Star Is Born". OK--that's just scary:) Could be worse. They could pick Britney Spears!!!

Ah yes--Goose of "Top Gun". When he was introduced the first thought in my mind was, "Yup--he's dead":) I won't deny that I liked "Top Gun" the first time I saw it...but I saw it on a HUGE screen with stereo sound blasting. The second time I realized how incredibly stupid it was with the lousy scripy, bad acting and total lack of sexual chemistry between Tom Cruise and Kelly McGillis. Also she was 5 inches TALLER than him! I got a good laugh when she looked down at him and said, "When I first saw u u were 8 feel tall.":)

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Sorry for the late reply. I'm glad Helen Mirren hasn't totally ignored "Caligula" because, for better or worse (really just the latter), she's stuck with it on her resume. I admire her for participating in the documentary, but I still won't be seeking out that film anytime soon in an form.

I saw "Top Gun" with a group of friends in the summer of '86, and I felt out of sync with them because they loved it and I was pretty much bored silly. Those "event" pictures have always left me cold. I always found the soundtrack very curious: Berlin's "Take My Breath Away" is a beautiful song, but really felt like a sellout for them, and Kenny Loggins' "Playing With the Boys" seems to send a mixed message (well, maybe not so mixed). I've always loved that song much more than "Danger Zone," which was the big hit but just felt phony to me.

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Well Mirren is a professional respected actress. Even "Caligula" couldn't take that away from her. Also they wanted her so they could give the movie an air of respectability:) She has made it clear that she didn't want to do the movie but they offered her enough money to put a down payment on a house she wanted! How could she say "no" to that?:) Also it seems that the original director was serious about making a historical epic...but didn't have a clue on how to do it. Most of the sex footage was shot behind his back by that owner of Penthouse. Still I don't think it's a misunderstood masterpiece.

"Top Gun" WAS stupid and silly but audiences loved it. Another one that was even worse was "Independence Day"! That movie was just downright insulting. I actually got angry watching it cause it was treating the audience like a bunch of total idiots! I saw it right after having a serious illness. I almost had a relapse:) BTW I don't think Berlin was selling out with "Take My Breath Away". Lyric wise it was obvious but the music was so LOUD and great that it really worked it. "Playing With the Boys"---trust me--it means EXACTLY what u think it means. A LOT of gay guys loved this movie cause of all the hot young guys flexing on the beach and casually undressing in the locker room. The makers of the movie KNEW what they were doing:)

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Helen Mirren is a total professional, and she seems very grounded as well, which I love. The fact that she actually contributed to the "making of" on the "Caligula" reissue makes me respect her even more. Now to get Glenn Close to reunite with Up With People for the Embarrassing Early Career Moves tour. ;-)

"Playing With the Boys" was played a lot in gay clubs, based on my "research" at the time. It seemed to clear the dance floor because it wasn't quite as accessible as the hits by Madonna or Whitney Houston, but I love those danceable rockers. Disco was officially dead, at least in name, but you still had major rockers releasing 12-inch singles.

Others in that vein were Pat Benatar's "Invincible" (from "The Legend of Billie Jean," a movie I saw at the drive-in), Bruce Springsteen's "Dancing in the Dark," Rick Springfield's "Affair of the Heart," and my absolute favorite: Cyndi Lauper's "Change of Heart." That song absolutely rocks – and it has a nice beat and you can dance to it as well.

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LOL Wait a minute! Glenn Close has done some pretty good movies. I remember her first was "World According to Garp" and the second was "The Big Chill"--both are very good movies. Her only embarrassment is "Maxie" (which I unfortunately paid to see in a theatre).

The gay dance clubs played mostly Pat Benatar, Cher, Whitney and Madonna back in 1986. The only song from "Top Gun" that I remembered hearing was "Take My Breath Away". It was ALWAYS the last song played, the lights were turned down very low and the guys were basically hugging and kissing. It was actually kind of romantic:) I remember "Invincible"--loved the song--hated the movie (which looks like it had a LOT of editing done before it came out). "Dancing in the Dark"--great song but Springsteen was NEVER played in a gay dance club. "Change of Heart" I never even heard of! The Lauper songs I like are "Girls Just Want to Have Fun", "True Colors" and "Time After Time".

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I absolutely love Glenn Close, and I didn't mean that as a slam. It's just very curious that she was once on the road with Up With People. She's always been embarrassed by that association, and Spy Magazine tried to humiliate her at a press conference by bringing it up. I have seen "Maxie" several times and have it on video, and though it's a "bad" film, it's still very entertaining. Not all of Glenn's films are keeper, but she's generally the highlight of disappointing films and excellent ones as well.

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I agree with you 100%. I HATED HATED HATED "The Natural" but her presence alone made the movie bearable. Same with "Fatal Attraction". Aside from the ending I found it boring and uninvolving...except for her. Anne Archer too.

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Even better than the final theatrical ending to "Fatal Attraction" is the one where Glenn Close's character gets her revenge from the grave, but that was canned when the test audience thought it was too bleak. You can tell on the bonus features that Glenn hated having to reshoot it, and she was right.

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Yeah--I saw the original ending and didn't like it. The revised ending was more exciting and a LOT more satisfying. When I saw it in a theatre the audience applauded loudly when she got shot. Close didn't like the reshooting but Archer hated it more. The original ending gave her a more dramatic part which was gone in the reshoot.

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Glen Close in the "alternate ending" added a huge "OMG!" to the movie, and the husband's goose was cooked! It was made to seem that he only was 'redeemed' by finding what he found; without it he was totally done for. The searching made the ending a bit anti-climatic though, and one of the things Hollywood movies are known for is the 'clear' endings for resolving the problems (not so much in foreign films...); and what the heck, Hollywood LOVES its guns anyway...

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I don't know if either of the two posters in their dialog realize that TOP GUN was based around a real pilot, and he DID the 'Loving Feeling' thing to pick up women, (and it worked for him!!!). The movie was a major plus in recruiting for Navy and Air Force pilots.
The other point is how the F-14 was a '70's-'80's vintage top-of-the-line aircraft during those years, and you have the advantage of seeing the film with 30 YEARS later viewer's eyes. Viet Nam era dog fights were initially done with missle-only weapons, and it quickly became obvious that guns were needed, and added back to the fighter planes for close and/or sub-sonic combat where missles just didn't get the job done.
Oh, and the 'cobra' manuever didn't work on previous fighters, so that was also 'new' back then. (Previous planes got overstressed, and/or simply didn't have the 'agility' to pull it off. Refered to as 'putting on the brakes' in the movie.)
BTW, F-16's initially had problems getting overstressed with their rotation to a steep climb after they got off the runway, and their landing gear got jammed - not good. They were/are restricted from doing that sharp rotation until their landing gear is completely retracted.

As far as actor/actress heights go, camera lenses favor short people, and tend to make taller people appear ungainly and slow. Even the ALIEN series with 6-ft Sigourney Weaver shows her as a ungainly at times, even in the fighting scenes. And the new TV series DALLAS has a 6-ft 'blonde' actress that knowing how tall she is (compared to many of the other characters), you can see how the camera angles used in the show try to minimize her height.
BTW, T.C. IS really short as lead actor's historicly go...

Re: cut/uncut/X/NC-17 and other ratings

There are outdated criteria (now 40 years later) for the "X" rating that were used back then.
Would you be surprised to know that BARBARELLA was rated "X"? It has been re-released as BARBARELLA QUEEN OF THE GALAXY, and carries a PG-13 rating. When BARBARELLA was submitted for its rating, free-love and a "sex pill" (presumed to be the new birth control pill) apparently caused the "X" rating.

The original LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT was "X" for the violence and drugs with a dose of sexuality/nudity on the side... It was cut so many times, and so many different ways, that some of the original theatrical footage could not be found to produce the DVD release. (This is covered in the DVD extras, BTW.) The producers did find prints of the movie with different cuts, and tried to reassemble the original theatrical version, but they weren't certain that they completely succeeded. (Similar things happened with THE WIZARD OF OZ...)

A movie named IN THE REALM OF THE SENSES was released by Criterion in the NC-17 rating. and had some scenes apparently put back in from the original releases where it was both rated "X" and banned in many places. (Read about that one before you see it, and if you do, watch the extras on the release (DVD, BluRay), and it was based on two actual Japanese people.) Pretty much anything said about it could be considered "spoilers", so I leave the research reading up to the potential viewers.

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