Inside Move
TV viewers get 'Eyes'-ful
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TV viewers around the world were rubbing their eyes in disbelief Thursday at a digitized clip of the erotic thriller -- containing steamy scenes between stars Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman -- that found its way into their living rooms.
A spokeswoman for the film's financier and distributor, Warner Bros., said the studio was not involved in the release of the clip but did confirm its authenticity to media outlets.
She added that Kubrick and his U.K.-based production company Hobby Films were behind the decision to have the clip sent to TV shows across the country, including "Entertainment Tonight" and "Access Hollywood." According to some sources, Kubrick selected the clip himself and asked that it be distributed via satellite just hours before he died Sunday.
"It was his wish that this be satellited by his company to the world at the same time it was shown to exhibitors (at ShoWest)," the spokeswoman said. "His production company fulfilled his wish, and Warner Bros. respects that."
Normally, a studio has to have every clip and trailer that it sends out approved by the MPAA, which could not be reached for comment.
Media outlets that downloaded the clip saw what ShoWest attendees saw: a resplendent 90 seconds of Tom and Nicole, complete with nudity and passionate kissing. Some broadcasters cut around scenes where Kidman's breasts and buttocks are exposed; others pixilated or otherwise obscured the nudity.
A number of TV producers initially balked completely at using the material. "This is unprecedented," one said. "The MPAA would never normally approve a clip like this." But evidently such doubts didn't trouble the TV folk for long.
A spokeswoman for Cruise and Kidman said the couple had no comment on this latest twist in the "Eyes" saga.
