by mcedes29 » Fri Apr 06, 2012 3:11 am
Possibly the most sexual scene in a film where no clothes are taken off is Kazan's 1956 Southern Gothic epic. Throughout a lot of the movie you have Eli Wallach and Carol Baker keeping eachother at arms length aft Carol Baker's Husband (Karl Malden) is accused of sabotaging Wallach's cotton gin.
Baker's character in no stranger to her sexual appeal as a teen on the verge of 17. In a twist Wallach plays a convincingly smooth talking Sicilian trying to get the truth out of this immature piece of swamp trash. But as the two wonder around the plantation trying to figure the other out, the sexual tension palpitates as the southern day gets muggier.
The first taboo is the age difference in these two characters, but Wallach's honey drenched questions wain on Baker. You can physically see Baker getting weak in the knees and crawling in a swing. Her breathing fastens and as a women that has probably never even experienced anything close to the moistness of being turned on she uses the word "hysterical" .Wallach now has what he needs and as he speaks in low tones to her on the swing, his fingers brushing her collarbone.
As he ask Baker more intrusive questions about the cotton gin accident his eyes are locked on hers, their mouths millimeters from each other, almost speaking to her in a baby like manner. Baker is beside herself with confusion! She smiles crookedly and giggles shortly.
The pure sexuality in this scene (and more of the film) is relentless making it such a wonderful film exploding in seduction and corruption.
Those simple caresses by Wallach to Baker's young skin make me believe in cinema, and yes the whole movie is intoxicating and worth the wait to see Baker's character literally mature in one day. I see those scenes between Baker and Wallach as a lost art mainly off-screen. NOW THAT IS INTENSITY IN FILM. Not sex but pure panty melting seduction.