Thora Birch topless

UncleScoopy

Thora Birch in American Beauty (1999)

This finished #4 among the Top Nude Scenes of 1999

8 thoughts on “Thora Birch topless”

  1. Olivia Hussey was 17, when Romeo and Juliet was released in 1968, but I believe she was 16 when it was filmed. We read Romeo and Juliet in 9th grade and after reading the play we watched the movie in class. I was kind of surprised at Hussey’s topless scene, not expecting nudity in a film shown in a high school English class. I did appreciate Mrs. Zalaznick thinking we were mature enough. I had the complete opposite experience in a 12th grade social studies class. After studying McCarthyism, we watched the Woody Allen film “The Front.” The film is about Woody Allen becoming the most sought after screenwriter in Hollywood by fronting for blacklisted writers. At the end of the film, Woody has to testify before the House Un-American Activities Committee (or at least a fictional equivalent). At the end of the film, Woody tells the committee something. I didn’t find out what he said for 20 or 25 years because our teacher muted the TV. It was to go “F” themselves I found out later. I probably would have done the same thing when I was teaching high school social studies, but I really resented my teacher saving me from hearing profanity. By this time I was 18 and I doubt anyone in the class was under 17. But I understand why she did it. You never know when a parent will be offended and file a complaint.

  2. I think her mother was on set to protect Thora. Ironically enough, Thora’s parents are/were former porn stars.

    My reading/understanding of obscenity law tells me that mere underage nudity does not make something child pornography. That really depends on how the child is posing/what she is doing in the scene. A fully clothed child acting in an overtly (even simulated) sexual manner may violate child pornography laws. I never practiced law in this area myself so rely on my understanding at your own risk. I think your Walmart rule should keep you out of trouble.

  4. If I recall correctly Thora Birch, was only 16 when she filmed American Beauty. The way digital effects are routinely used on motion pictures today, if this scene was filmed recently I imagine an older actress would likely would have been used as a body double. But there have been some other hollywood films and a larger number of European films containing nudity by underage (under 18-years-old) actresses.

    Scoopy, I am genuinely curious where the line is for what is safely legal for you to host on one of your websites and what might expose you to legal risk. From your perspective, is it enough that a scene was released by a major studio? Do you feel that because you run an “adult site” you need to be more careful than a studio like Dreamworks?

    1. In this specific case, the pic is not on my site, but remember also that Thora got special permission from her parents and it got cleared by Dreamworks. If I remember right, one or both of her parents were on the shoot with her!

      In general, the way I see it is this: if the DVD is rented by Wal-Mart, it is safe, especially since they are carrying it strictly for the purpose of making money, so they can’t use any “artistic” justification. That would apply to this and Romeo and Juliet.

      The one exception I make to the Walmart rule is Pretty Baby, which is obviously (to me) the sexualization of a child, not even an adolescent. I think WalMart does sell that, at least online, although both Mr. Skin and I have shunned it.

      https://www.walmart.com/ip/Pretty-Baby/49967027

        1. She has no regrets – until they ask her if she would let her daughter do the same thing.

          But really it doesn’t matter what she thinks. The film presents the sexualization of a child. I sure as hell ain’t gonna glorify that.

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