New book says sex scene in movie 'Don't Look Now' was real

A new book has claimed that the sex scene in 1973 occult thriller Don't Look Now starring Donald Sutherland and Julie Christie, really took place.

Former Variety editor Peter Bart's book, Infamous Players: A Tale of Movies, the Mob, (and Sex), tells of a funny, profane, revealing anecdote about visiting the Venice set on that "auspicious day".

At the time, Bart was a Paramount executive and, according to the book, Nicolas Roeg, who directed the movie, told him as he arrived on the set, "Good day to come by".

While he was watching the filming, Bart claims his mind drifted off for a few moments to other logistics of his trip before suddenly focusing back on the actors, who were completely naked.

"It was clear to me they were no longer simply acting: they were f****** on camera," the Hollywood Reporter quoted Bart as writing in the book.

But the anecdote actually carries over to a few months later, when Bart says he got a surprise visit at his Beverly Hills office from Warren Beatty, who was either dating Christie or had just broken up with her at the time.

Beatty apparently had seen Roeg's cut of the movie and angrily demanded that the scene be re-edited because it was graphic enough that you could see Christie's private parts.

Bart demurred, saying that the censors would never let it through.

But Beatty wasn't appeased and insisted: "I want to cut the movie with you, p**** hair by p**** hair..."

The book, published by Weinstein Books, is set to come out in May.