Jack Nicholson's Censored Line Too Racy Even for Hollywood
The legendary actor admits filmmakers were right to cut his most controversial dialogue from a major romantic comedy, revealing what happens when even Hollywood's wildest star goes too far.
Throughout his legendary Hollywood career, Jack Nicholson rarely heard the word 'no' when it came to creative decisions. The iconic actor typically got his way on film sets, but even he had to concede that one particular piece of dialogue crossed the line. This admission carries weight, especially considering his notorious habit of incorporating adult toys into his movie scenes.
Nicholson's unconventional approach to filmmaking often caught his co-stars off guard. Matt Damon experienced this firsthand during an improvised scene in The Departed, though he probably should have expected the unexpected. Director Bob Rafelson once recalled receiving very specific instructions while preparing The Postman Always Rings Twice, when Nicholson approached him with a blunt four-word demand: 'Get me a dildo.'
The Actor's Unusual On-Set Requests
When filming Man Trouble alongside Ellen Barkin, the three-time Oscar winner made similar preparations. 'I've got my dildo this time,' he announced with obvious enthusiasm, threatening dire consequences if the prop was removed from the final version. Despite his insistence, he was later disappointed that 'nobody noticed the fucking thing.'
Given this track record, what could Nicholson have possibly suggested for As Good As It Gets that director James L. Brooks deemed too inappropriate? The answer, surprisingly, seems almost tame by comparison to his usual antics.
Behind the Scenes with Helen Hunt
True to form, Hollywood's ultimate rebel couldn't resist commenting on his co-star Helen Hunt's approach to her role. 'She's not, you know, blatant about it,' he told Rolling Stone. 'She asked me in one spot where she had to laugh in the picture to say something offscreen when we got to that point; when we got there, I just said, 'Tits'. And she went higher than a kite.'
The romantic comedy's final scene features Nicholson's character Melvin Udall and Hunt's Carol Connelly visiting a bakery to solidify their relationship. The sequence appears innocent enough, which perhaps explains why the notoriously unpredictable performer thought it needed spicing up with explicit sexual innuendo.
The Rejected Ending
'I also wanted another ending for the picture, and she agreed,' Nicholson explained. 'I hope Jim doesn't shoot me for saying this. When they walk to the bakery, I wanted to turn to Helen and say, 'Warm rolls'. And she would say, 'Wet pants'. Of course, they correctly censored me on that, but I mean, she liked it. They were looking for unpredictability, and I thought that would cover it.'
Rather than concluding with this suggestive exchange that would have created uncomfortable mental images, Nicholson was overruled - a decision that proved wise. Such dialogue would have created a jarring tonal shift for the film's ending, making Hunt's character suggest she was physically aroused by their developing romance in a public setting, which would have felt completely out of place.