I've thought about the "Gun's goin' off!" line, because I missed it. I think that if it had been included, it would have produced a big laugh from the audience, and that in turn would have broken the intensity of that moment and for "those new to the idea of mansex" it would have given them an exit, a way to get out of that tent, and thus dismiss the sex, and the sexuality behind it. By not giving a way to vent, that scene sticks with people, really hits them.
I don't think there was a chance in heaven of us getting any "jouncing the mattress", let alone a "half-tumescent" Heath Ledger. Not gonna happen. That scene was cut short in two ways, (sex and the conversation too), because both McMurtry/Ossana and Ang Lee had other ideas for it. The question is, what kind of effect would it have had on the movie, other than to get it an NC-17 rating, an "unrated cut", and no theater contracts? Much as we feel gay sex on screen is a non-issue, it IS an issue. Wrongly, I agree, but there you are. Have other "gay films" been explicit? Jeffrey? My Own Private Idaho?
btb