Depardieu helped with De Niro’s onset erection problem

De Niro was required to become sexually aroused for one particular scene in director Bernado Bertolucci’s movie but he struggled with the task and was forced to turn to his French co-star Depardieu for advice.

The Cyrano de Bergerac actor shared a secret solution involving traditional Chinese heat rub Tiger Balm – allowing the then 33-year-old De Niro to perform without any further issues.

But Depardieu, who recalled the incident during an appearance at the Montreal World Film Festival at the weekend (11-12Sep10), has refused to reveal the recipe for success in the bedroom, reports the New York Post’s gossip column Page Six.