Our Staff Picks column is a new addition that takes you back to a time when video stores reigned supreme and the "Staff Picks" section was the place to find out what films were worthy of one's time. Of course, our version has a decidedly nude angle, as we suss out which films from a certain genre with great nudity. This week: period pieces.
What exactly is a period piece? It is a movie or TV show that takes place in a different period of time - somewhere in the distant past. I'm trying to go as distanced as possible with these choices. These all take place at least one hundred years ago when people had many more layers of clothing to wear. Luckily, those clothes get taken off in these hot picks!
Dance of the Forty One
This recently made Mexican film shines a light on a piece of history a lot of us probably do not know a lot about: gay soirees in the late 19th century in Mexico. This is based on a true story in which a Mexican congressman is found out to be part of a society known as The Forty One in which Mexican elites who liked to dress up in women's clothing and/or fraternize with men would gather for underground balls.
He was found out and it became tabloid fodder. This really happened! You can watch the film to find out more about this story. You will be delighted to know that there is a lot of hot gay content in the movie. Alfonso Herrera makes love with multiple men AND there is a sexy orgy scene that shows the party in action. Hey, how do I become the 42 here?
Victoria
If you love period pieces, then you know about PBS shows that explore the royals. Victoria is one of those! This TV mini-series takes a look at Queen Victoria as she begins her courtship with Prince Albert at only 18-years-old. The naked men were all over the place in Victoria! Namely, hottie Leo Suter stripped naked and dove into the water with Jordan Waller in a really flirty scene that has some will-they-or-won't-they vibes to it. These booties are worth kneeling for.
Total Eclipse
This film is best known here at Mr. Man for being young DiCaprio's dick moment, but it's a delightful period piece about a French poet named Arthur Rimbaud. He was a teen dilettante who shagged everyone he could and wrote poetry about it before he even turned 20. This movie takes a look at the poet's relationship with Paul Verlaine, played by David Thewlis. This steamy romance is explored with several nude scenes between the two.
You've certainly seen Leo's dick in this film, but what about David Thewlis? He shows his cock twice!
Penny Dreadful
Penny Dreadful was a fantastic series that combined horror with history in this series is set in Victorian London that brings literary horrors to life. Dr. Victor Frankenstein, Dorian Gray, and vampires all show up to wreak havoc on bloody London. Broadway star Reeve Carney has been tearing it up onstage in Hadestown, but before that, he was playing the absolutely hunky Dorian Gray. As Dorian, he wanted to have sex with everyone - especially Jonny Beauchamp!
Who wouldn't want to bang Jonny? Jonny is a gorgeous, cocktastic creature during this full-frontal nude scene. This disrobing scene has retro Crying Game vibes for sure and Jonny's penis is perfect. Seriously - this penis looks like it was molded by an artist! Beauchamp is a babe.
Plus, Josh Hartnett stars and shows his balls and his booty. That's a dreamy booty and there is a lot more nudity in this series than these few examples here. I highly recommend if you like horror, hotties, and Victorian clothes falling to the ground.
The Power of the Dog
It's a recent film that you have probably seen, but if you haven't then let me recommend it to you. Jane Campion took home the Best Director Oscar for this film about ranchers in the wild west. Two brothers love their way of life being ranch hands, but one of them meets and falls in love with a widow. The other brother, played by Benedict Cumberbatch, feels threatened by this change in their life. He starts to psychologically torture her while also getting romantically close to her college-aged son, played by Kodi Smit-McPhee.
Yes, there is gay stuff. Yes, there is nudity. Most importantly, there is Benedict Cumberbatch's dick!
Outlander
Outlander is currently airing and there's no doubt that you know about it. But let me tell you, if you want steamy old-timey romance then this is a series that you need to watch. It's a time-traveling series that goes from 1945 to 1743 when a 20th-century nurse is transported back in time and forced to marry Sam Heughan. Oh no, what a punishment...not!
She develops feelings for him and the pair have a lot of sex, but they aren't the only ones. Ed Speleers, Richard Rankin, and Tobias Menzies all go nude. THIS is why people are watching this show: it's sexy! Case in point, Tobias and Sam making sweet oiled-up love:
