History Main / TheModestOrgasm

In television and movies however, the various censors don't like female orgasms. Or at the very least, not loud and boisterous ones (Herbal Essences commercials notwithstanding). As you might imagine, this is something of a DoubleStandard, since male orgasms don't suffer the same treatment (mostly, they don't get shown.)

* In ''TheMatrix Reloaded'', the Merovingian illustrates his "Cause and Effect" speech by delivering a specially prepared (programmed?) dessert to a woman in the restaurant. She is somewhat surprised at the effect it has, but maintains her composure with aplomb. ([[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMCSmH_dC6s See]] 1:16 et seq.)

* Though this may just be her reaction to sex in general rather than orgasm in specific, ''Film/MarieAntoinette'' (in Sofia Coppola's 2005 film) simply gives a pleasantly surprised "Oh."

* An extremely passionate hook-up between the hot chick and her not-boyfriend in {{Cabin Fever}} ends with a surprisingly mild gasp and hair toss by the woman, who then collapses on to her lover. The guy didn't make any noise at the grand finale, but that's probably because he was being smothered under a couple of 36D pillows. [[GreatWayToGo Damn]].

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* [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=weijnvNCxqY British porn]] in ''FamilyGuy''.

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* Shanti Carson in ''{{Shortbus}}''. Although in many ways her scene is as immodest as one can get seeing as a) it takes place during an orgy and b) her scene and all the other sex in the mainstream film is famously unsimulated, the actual orgasm itself is quite subtle. According to the behind-the-scenes featurette on the DVD the orgasm was real, making this one a borderline real world example, too.

* In ''TheMatrix Reloaded'', the Merovingian illustrates his "Cause and Effect" speech by delivering a specially prepared (programmed?) dessert to a woman in the restaurant. She is somewhat surprised at the effect it has, but maintains her composure with aplomb. ([[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-lpy3E3fA0 See]] 3:34 et seq.)

* ''ForgettingSarahMarshall'' has perhaps the most modest orgasm possible, where the protagonist is trying to [[CaptainObvious forget Sarah Marshall]] by sleeping around with a multitude of gorgeous models, which is intended to show [[RuleOfFunny how models are closer to mannequins than they are to people.]].

* An extremely passionate hook-up between the hot chick and her not-boyfriend in {{Cabin Fever}} ends with a surprisingly mild gasp and hair toss by the woman, who then collapses on to her lover. The guy didn't make any noise at the grand finale, but that's probably because he was being smothered under a couple of 36D pillows. [[GreatWayToGo That's how I wanna go]].

** How many people do you know of would be willing to have their sexual activities observed under the premise of checking their spine for orgasmic luminescence?
*** [[AllMenArePerverts Quite a few!]]
**** I think he means that the mechanical/physiological properties of the Cylon spine that allow it to glow, should also distinguish it enough from a regular human spine that you could pick it up on a medical examination.
*** Of course, certain sexual positions would also make it possible to see someone's spine glowing during the act as well.

** Kind of a weird juxtaposition of modest and immodest: her orgasm is levitating, but she is also singing "You make me COM-plete!". I'm not musical, so I couldn't say the exact notes, but the first syllable is definitely a lot higher and louder than the second.

* Though this may just be her reaction to sex in general rather than orgasm in specific, ''MarieAntoinette'' (in Sofia Coppola's 2005 film) simply gives a pleasantly surprised "Oh."

* In ''{{Amelie}}'', during the sequence when Amelie is imagining how many people are in the midst of orgasm ("fifteen!"), the last woman's O sound is somewhere between a gasp and a squeak. ''Amelie'' is far from modest.
** On the other hand, the rest of the montage (and the bathroom scene later) are [[TheImmodestOrgasm a little less subdued]].

* ''ForgettingSarahMarshall'' has perhaps the most modest orgasm possible, where the protagonist is trying to [[CaptainObvious forget Sarah Marshall]] by sleeping around with a multitude of gorgeous models.

** Well, that was just [[RuleOfFunny to show how models are closer to mannequins than they are to people.]]

* Several directors are interviewed about this trope in the documentary ''Film/ThisFilmIsNotYetRated''. It goes into quite a bit of detail about the DoubleStandard and also how incredibly selective it is. One truly bizarre sequence has scenes from films approved by the MPAA contrasted with scenes banned by the same organization. The movie's big overriding question is what exactly the MPAA's rationale ''is''- two naked lesbians under bedsheets are a moral disgrace, but the infamous [[spoiler: masturbating into an apple pie]] scene in ''AmericanPie'' had no apparent problems.
** It's never said explicitly, but reviewing of the facts of the organization makes it fairly clear that the reason the latter was approved was because it came from a big-budget studio outfit. The former was banned because it came from an indy studio with no real political power in Hollywood.
*** Although it is also noted that homosexual content in general seems to be subject to stricter censorship than heterosexual content. Whether this is because of inherent prejudice or, as noted above, the fact that most homosexual content tends to come from independent producers with little negotiating power (or, of course, both) is not fully revealed.

-->'''Brick''', ''CatOnAHotTinRoof''

* Several directors are interviewed about this trope in the documentary ''ThisFilmIsNotYetRated''. It goes into quite a bit of detail about the DoubleStandard and also how incredibly selective it is. One truly bizarre sequence has scenes from films approved by the MPAA contrasted with scenes banned by the same organization. The movie's big overriding question is what exactly the MPAA's rationale ''is''- two naked lesbians under bedsheets are a moral disgrace, but the infamous [[spoiler: masturbating into an apple pie]] scene in AmericanPie had no apparent problems.
** It's never said explicitly, but reviewing of the facts of the organization makes it fairly clear that the reason the latter was approved was because it came from a big-budget studio outfit. The former was banned because it came from an Indy studio with no real political power in Hollywood.

* TheMovie of ''{{Watchmen}}'' has a sex scene between [[spoiler: the second Nite Owl & the second Silk Spectre]] where [[SomethingElseAlsoRises a flame thrower is used to imply orgasm]]. Same scene is in the comic as well, but this trope is mostly for TV and movies.

* In EnemyAtTheGates, Vassili and Tania are having sex in the bunker and have to be very quiet so as not to wake their sleeping comrades. She manages to be quiet when she comes but he covers her mouth for good measure anyway.

* In ''{{Firefly}}'', Inara (the Companion) is actually introduced mid-intercourse, with very muted sounds from both her and her client. The actual moment of orgasm is very brief; Inara softly gasps "Oh my God," and a moment later the camera goes softly out of focus and then back in (double entendre completely unintentional). This is very artsy, and actually quite a beautiful scene (irrespective of its content).
* ''BattlestarGalactica'' was apparently asked to reduce an orgasm scene, only to respond that they had a Cylon orgasm (with flashing lights in her spine!) in the pilot. This was eventually [[RetroactiveContinuity retconned]], since it had implications for the ease of Cylon detecting. Human spines can't light up. How can you miss a luminescent spine in an examination?

* In ''TheMatrix Reloaded'', the Merovingian illustrates his "Cause and Effect" speech by delivering a specially prepared (programmed?) dessert to a woman in the restaurant. She is somewhat [[IfYouKnowWhatIMean surprised]] at the effect it has, but maintains her composure with aplomb. ([[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-lpy3E3fA0 See]] 3:34 et seq.)

* A season four episode of ''GossipGirl'' opens with Blair lying in bed, making smiling faces and a content sigh here or there. Then we find out Chuck was under the covers, [[IfYouKnowWhatIMean getting a head start on their morning]]...

* [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFi2GWrliDA British porn]] in ''FamilyGuy''.

* ''Pleasantville''. "Oh, my." Tree catches fire.

* Shanti Carson in ''Shortbus''. Although in many ways her scene is as immodest as one can get seeing as a) it takes place during an orgy and b) her scene and all the other sex in the mainstream film is famously unsimulated, the actual orgasm itself is quite subtle. According to the behind-the-scenes featurette on the DVD the orgasm was real, making this one a borderline real world example, too.

Due to the [[IncrediblyLamePun widening of markets]] in recent years and the preponderance of R-rated movies and even television shows, this trope is getting to be much more out of vogue. See TheImmodestOrgasm for this trope's successor and TheGruntingOrgasm, the male version. On the other side of the coin, euphemistic symbolism for ''male'' arousal is covered by SomethingElseAlsoRises.

* Shannon Tweed in ''Hot Dog: The Movie'' (although with Duran Duran's "Hungry Like the Wolf" blaring on the soundtrack any screaming would have been drowned out anyway, she clearly, er, comes and goes without saying a word.
* Shanti Carson in ''Shortbus''. Although in many ways her scene is as immodest as one can get seeing as a) it takes place during an orgy and b) her scene and all the other sex in the mainstream film is famously unsimulated, the actual orgasm itself is quite subtle. According to the behind-the-scenes featurette on the DVD the orgasm was real, make this one a borderline real world example, too.

* TruthInTelevision. Apparently it's possible for some people to reach orgasm in public and not have anyone notice. According to {{Cracked}}, "you probably sat next to one on a bus at some point".

* How come nobody has mentioned ''TheNakedGun'' yet? It features the rare '''male''' modest orgasm by showing a derrick striking oil.