There was a part of us that was a little sad nobody ever got to see it. We did something that was relatively bold for two young male actors, and we took pride in the places that the original story went. So, it’s nice that people finally get to see Breckin and me kiss.”
— Ryan Phillippe discussing his film 54, which had its gay content edited out prior to the movie’s unsuccessful release in 1998 but has recently been restored for a screening at the Berlin Film Festival earlier this month, in an interview with Vulture
Cam
Wow, Hollywood and the MPA pulled anything gay out of a movie about a huge gay bar? What a shock.
machuffin
He was always the God of sex to me. Can’t wait to see the real version of this movie.
Billy Budd
Is it already available? I want to buy the blu ray.
djw67
love that film and a great performance from ryan
not to mention he is totally totally hot and a nice guy by all accounts
jason smeds
How embarrassing that a simple male-male kiss would be edited out of a movie about Studio 54!! Who were the Hollywood liberals who cut it out? I wouldn’t be surprised if some homophobic homosexual at the studio ordered the cut.
Also, why didn’t Ryan Phillippe kick up a stink about the cut back then? It’s too late, Ryan.
jason smeds
The other thing that should be considered is this: did Ryan Phillippe’s own agency order that the guy-guy kiss be cut? I’m not saying it did but it bears thinking about.
Keep in mind that agents are very nervous about the image of their upcoming male stars I’ve known gay agents to do everything in their power to cover up the idea that their actor clients might have same-sex attractions.
aliengod
Awesome movie! And Ryan Phillippe is gorgeous. I’d like to see this unedited version also.
samwise343
@jason smeds: I bet that you had never even heard of this movie, Ryan Phillipe or even the bar Studio 54 before this article appeared.
Large Marge
@jason smeds:
Young actors act in the movie.. they have no authority or rights to determine how it is edited or what gets cut. They probably didn’t even know about it until the premiere.
Seasoned actors might have some say, but this is really all about the MPAA and the ratings board who were pushing for an X rating because they are prudes.
demented
I don’t want to see anyone, male or female, kiss Breckin Meyer. He annoys me.
jwtraveler
What’s next: a movie about Motown with the black content edited out? Maybe they could edit the Jewish content out of “Fiddler on the Roof” or take the Italian content out of “The Godfather”.
jason smeds
Large Marge,
I hardly think that a kiss between two men warrants an X rating, even by the standards of the MPAA.
It just seems the whole thing was cut so as to appease homophobes.
Sammy Schlipshit
ATTENTION EVERYONE…..
Want to know how various movies get their odd ratings?
Watch the documentary “This Film Is Not Yet Rated.”
Certainly there are no ‘liberals’ or ‘homosexuals’ on the current ratings board. I suspect it was probably worse back in the day.
All the most horrific violence seems perfectly OK to the board but they have set a limit on the number of times a penis can be shown….and never, ever erect.
Who gave these folks such power? Why are movie moguls still buying into this crap?
I am Gay (just like you), Black, HIV-Positive, and Back Bitches!!!
@jwtraveler: I think the Italians would appreciate that!