In the scene, Stone's character, Catherine Tramell, is being interrogated by detectives in a police station. The camera is positioned in such a way that it appears to be looking up at Tramell's legs, and her crossed legs reveal that she is not wearing underwear. This moment, often referred to as the "leg-crossing scene," has become one of the most iconic and controversial moments in the film.
In interviews, Stone has stated that she was aware of the scene and its potential impact. She has said that she was comfortable with the way it was shot and that she trusted Verhoeven and de Bont's vision for the film. In a 1992 interview with Rolling Stone, Stone said, "I trusted Paul. I knew that whatever he shot would be artful and not exploitative."
Verhoeven, for his part, has stated that the scene was meant to be a commentary on the power dynamic between Tramell and the detectives. He has said that the camera angle was chosen to emphasize Tramell's control and dominance in the scene. In a 1992 interview with The New York Times, Verhoeven said, "The point of the scene is that she's in control of the situation. She's playing with the police. She's revealing herself to them, but only in a way that she wants to reveal herself."
De Bont, who was responsible for the film's cinematography, has also spoken about the scene and the camera positioning. In a 1992 interview with American Cinematographer, he said, "The camera angle was chosen to give the impression that Tramell is in control of the situation and to add a touch of eroticism to the scene."
It is likely that Stone, Verhoeven, and de Bont discussed and planned the scene in detail before filming, and that Stone was aware of the camera positioning and its potential impact. However, it is not confirmed if Stone knew exactly where the camera would be positioned during the filming of the scene.
Overall, the interrogation scene in Basic Instinct has become one of the most iconic and controversial moments in film history. The camera positioning and the revealing shot of Sharon Stone's legs have been widely discussed and analyzed, with some viewing it as a commentary on power dynamics, while others see it as exploitative. Regardless of one's interpretation, it is clear that the scene was carefully planned and discussed among the film's creators and that Stone was aware of its potential impact.
