Loved and loathed: the disturbing story behind 'Last Tango in Paris'

'Last Tango in Paris' is a 1972 film directed by Italian legend Bernardo Bertolucci. Since its release it has been extremely divisive, portraying a recently widowed American starting an adult relationship with an anonymous Parisian woman. The stars of the movie, Marlon Brando and Maria Schneider, were 48 and 19 years old, respectively, at the time of filming.

The movie got Brando and Bertolucci Oscar nominations for Best Actor and Best Director. It also caused riots, was denounced by the National Organization for Women as a tool of "male domination" and was banned by entire countries. However, other major critics praised it as artistic and "the most liberating movie ever made."

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No matter one's view on how the film turned out, there was an issue with the way it was made. That's what the actress involved later testified. People close to her say that much of the movie was built on the abuse of the 19-year-old, mostly unknown actress, Maria Schneider. Here's the story, much of it recently told by Vanessa Schneider, Maria's cousin who published a book about the actress. It was translated into English by Molly Ringwald.

Image: Journalist’s memoir portrays Maria Schneider's life beyond 'Last Tango in Paris,' PBS NewsHour / Youtube

According to Vanessa Schneider, Brando was not Bertolucci's first choice, but other actors refused due to the explicit script. After a series of commercial flops, Brando's star was fading and he needed cash after buying a Polynesian island. So, Brando agreed to do the film for a hefty price... little did he know it would also be the year of the great success of 'The Godfather'.

Maria's cousin wrote that the actress refused a request to get bre4st surgery before filming, but that was her only refusal. "From then on, nothing would be asked, only demanded." Maria didn't know that at first, and despite the X-rated script, her agent said: "You can't refuse a leading role opposite Marlon Brando!"

In 2007, the actress said she only made around £2,500 for the movie, while Brandon and Bertolucci made "a fortune." According to one report, Brando was paid $3 million. Maria said she almost refused to do the film because she was too young and didn't understand the se*ual content. "I had a bit of a bad feeling about it all," she said. Her instincts were right.

Image: 'Last Tango in Paris,' United Artists

Although Brando set limits for filming, Schneider, an unknown actress, worked grueling shifts, sometimes 14 hours per day. During the shoot, she lost 22 lbs and was often found crying on set. Once, when she complained to Bertolucci, he swore at her and said: "You’re nothing. I discovered you," according to her cousin.

Although Schneider was in the buff throughout much of the film while Brando often wore clothes, the worst part of the filming came down to a scene in which Brando’s character forced himself upon the actress from behind. He (in)famously used a stick of butter as a lubricant.

Image: 'Last Tango in Paris,' United Artists

In 2007, the actress spoke about what happened, saying the infamous scene wasn't in the original script. "Marlon said to me: 'Maria, don't worry, it's just a movie,' but during the scene, even though what Marlon was doing wasn't real, I was crying real tears… I felt humiliated and to be honest, I felt a little r4ped, both by Marlon and by Bertolucci. After the scene, Marlon didn't console me or apologize," she told the Daily Mail.

In 2016, there was fervor around the old film when a video surfaced of the director talking about what happened. "I was horrible to Maria because I didn’t tell her what was going on. Because I wanted her reaction as a girl, not as an actress… I wanted her to feel, not act, the rage and humiliation," he said, adding that he feels "very guilty" but doesn’t regret doing it.

Image: Bertolucci on set

After the director’s statements emerged, there was a wave of Hollywood condemnation. "To all the people that love this film - you're watching a 19yr old get r4p e d by a 48yr old man," actress Jessica Chastain tweeted. "The director planned her attack. I feel sick." Chris Evans said it "is beyond disgusting" and Evan Rachel Wood said it was "heartbreaking and outrageous."

'Last Tango' had been mentioned as a favorite movie by Hollywood heavyweights like actor Ethan Hawke or director Martin Scorsese before the scandal emerged, but some kept talking it up. In 2019, when asked which film he would most like to have stared in, Brad Pitt said: "I immediately went to Last Tango – what does that say about me?" His colleague Margot Robbie, who was with him, said she would explain it to Pitt later.

On Inside Edition, Brando's son Miko defended him against allegations that he assaulted the actress. "That’s not my father, he wasn’t that man... He was for human rights, civil rights… he was for the people, not against the people."

Image: Inside Edition / Youtube

Despite Schneider saying that she felt violated by Brando, she reportedly told her cousin that she would always remember him as a generous man of integrity. "He respected all people, no matter how big or small." While she was furious, she said working with Brando was the best part of the movie, and although she was friends with him.. she went to her grave hating the director.

Image: 'Last Tango in Paris,' United Artists

After the infamous scene, Vanessa Schneider said Maria was furious and destroyed the set. "You come out of the filming shattered, sensing this one scene has marked you forever, like a bad tattoo," wrote Vanessa, directed at her cousin. Maria also admitted to having a breakdown afterward.

During the French premiere, Jean-Luc Godard allegedly stormed out after ten minutes yelling: "Horrible!" By the end, the rest of the audience was embarrassed and silent, walking out and avoiding looking at the actress Maria who had been through so much. The only person who comforted her was Jean Seberg who hugged Maria and told her to take care, according to Vanessa Schneider.

The film, rated X in the US, caused massive controversy. Maria Schneider, Brando, and Bertolucci were all given two-month suspended prison sentences in Italy for it. It was banned in Francoist Spain. But many people in democratic countries defend it, praising it as high art. Later on, people around the world harassed Maria, sometimes physically, for her part in it.

Image: 'Last Tango in Paris,' United Artists

After the movie, Maria became incredibly famous. But as her cousin wrote, since the press portrayed her "as a wanton muse," the actress played the part. Maria gave salacious and scandalous interviews. Vanessa says that, although there were so many half-truths, what the press got right was that she was "a young girl ravaged by an explosive public début."

Image: 'Last Tango in Paris,' United Artists

The fame was hard for Maria Schnieder to cope with, and she used drugs, overdosed, and even tried to end her life. "I started using drugs when I became famous. I did not like the celebrity, and especially the image full of innuendo, naughty, that people had of me after Last Tango. In addition, I had no family behind me... I suffered abuse. People who come up to tell you unpleasant things on planes. I was tracked down, and I felt hounded," she said in a 2001 interview.

In 1975, she starred opposite Jack Nicholson in the well-received film 'The Passenger.' It became the actress's favorite project. The same year she also starred in the thriller 'Wanted: Babysitter.'

After those films, things started falling apart. She had some roles, but marked by her experience in 'Last Tango,' she stood up for herself during shooting. She was ousted mid-way from two films for refusing to go Full Monty or do graphic scenes. This gave her a reputation that made it hard for her to find work, and most of her work was in smaller European films. But she never went in the buff in a film again.

She turned her rage to help society, running an organization called 'The Wheel Turns' for aging actors who suddenly see their careers dry up. "It is not so easy for actresses over 50, and the irony is that when a woman gets old enough to have something interesting to say, people don't want to hear her speak," she told the Daily Mail.

In 2011, Maria Schneider passed away at the age of 59 after a battle with cancer. But as more people become aware of the abuse in Hollywood, her story has only become more powerful over time. CBS is reportedly making a TV show about the notorious filming of 'Last Tango'. One of the important lessons she left behind, according to the Guardian, is: "Never take your clothes off for a middle-aged man who claims that it's art."

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