LONDON ~ Bruno, the outrageous comedy about a gay Austrian fashion reporter, will become the first film to have two versions showing concurrently in Britain, its makers said.

One minute and 50 seconds of the 18-rated film starring British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen has been cut to make a version that can be seen by cinemagoers aged 15 and under, Universal Pictures announced.

The reedited version will be released in cinemas in Britain on July 24.

The 18-certificate version, featuring a sado-masochistic orgy and full frontal nudity, topped the British box office in its first weekend of release.

Bruno was also the highest-grossing film on its first weekend in the United States, where it has an adult rating, taking US$30.6 million.

The scenes cut from new version feature Bruno and his boyfriend engaged in sexual acts. Another shows Bruno miming sexual activity while visiting a medium, and the third is of couples having sex at a swingers’ party.

Universal Pictures has already cut a scene from all versions featuring Michael Jackson’s sister La Toya because of fears it was in poor taste following the singer’s death.