Index: source/blender/makesdna/DNA_scene_types.h
===================================================================
--- source/blender/makesdna/DNA_scene_types.h	(revision 11922)
+++ source/blender/makesdna/DNA_scene_types.h	(working copy)
@@ -572,10 +572,12 @@
 #define SCE_ADDSCENAME		1
 
 /* sce->selectmode */
-#define SCE_SELECT_VERTEX	1
+#define SCE_SELECT_VERTEX	1 /* for mesh */
 #define SCE_SELECT_EDGE		2
 #define SCE_SELECT_FACE		4
 
+#define SCE_SELECT_CU_HANDLES_HIDE 8 /* for curve, when flagged hide handles */ 
+
 /* sce->recalc (now in use by previewrender) */
 #define SCE_PRV_CHANGED		1
 
Index: source/blender/src/drawobject.c
===================================================================
--- source/blender/src/drawobject.c	(revision 11922)
+++ source/blender/src/drawobject.c	(working copy)
@@ -1357,12 +1357,17 @@
 				BezTriple *bezt = &nu->bezt[i];
 
 				if(bezt->hide==0) {
-					view3d_project_short_clip(curarea, bezt->vec[0], s, pmat, vmat);
-					func(userData, nu, NULL, bezt, 0, s[0], s[1]);
-					view3d_project_short_clip(curarea, bezt->vec[1], s, pmat, vmat);
-					func(userData, nu, NULL, bezt, 1, s[0], s[1]);
-					view3d_project_short_clip(curarea, bezt->vec[2], s, pmat, vmat);
-					func(userData, nu, NULL, bezt, 2, s[0], s[1]);
+					if (G.scene->selectmode & SCE_SELECT_CU_HANDLES_HIDE) {
+						view3d_project_short_clip(curarea, bezt->vec[1], s, pmat, vmat);
+						func(userData, nu, NULL, bezt, 1, s[0], s[1]);
+					} else {
+						view3d_project_short_clip(curarea, bezt->vec[0], s, pmat, vmat);
+						func(userData, nu, NULL, bezt, 0, s[0], s[1]);
+						view3d_project_short_clip(curarea, bezt->vec[1], s, pmat, vmat);
+						func(userData, nu, NULL, bezt, 1, s[0], s[1]);
+						view3d_project_short_clip(curarea, bezt->vec[2], s, pmat, vmat);
+						func(userData, nu, NULL, bezt, 2, s[0], s[1]);
+					}
 				}
 			}
 		}
@@ -2851,9 +2856,9 @@
 	float *fp;
 	unsigned int *col;
 	int a;
-
-	if(nu->hide) return;
 	
+	if(nu->hide || (G.scene->selectmode & SCE_SELECT_CU_HANDLES_HIDE)) return;
+	
 	glBegin(GL_LINES); 
 	
 	if( (nu->type & 7)==1) {
@@ -2919,9 +2924,13 @@
 		a= nu->pntsu;
 		while(a--) {
 			if(bezt->hide==0) {
-				if((bezt->f1 & 1)==sel) bglVertex3fv(bezt->vec[0]);
-				if((bezt->f2 & 1)==sel) bglVertex3fv(bezt->vec[1]);
-				if((bezt->f3 & 1)==sel) bglVertex3fv(bezt->vec[2]);
+				if (G.scene->selectmode & SCE_SELECT_CU_HANDLES_HIDE) {
+					if((bezt->f2 & 1)==sel) bglVertex3fv(bezt->vec[1]);
+				} else {
+					if((bezt->f1 & 1)==sel) bglVertex3fv(bezt->vec[0]);
+					if((bezt->f2 & 1)==sel) bglVertex3fv(bezt->vec[1]);
+					if((bezt->f3 & 1)==sel) bglVertex3fv(bezt->vec[2]);
+				}
 			}
 			bezt++;
 		}
Index: source/blender/src/header_view3d.c
===================================================================
--- source/blender/src/header_view3d.c	(revision 11922)
+++ source/blender/src/header_view3d.c	(working copy)
@@ -5326,7 +5326,14 @@
 			}
 			xco+= 20;
 		}
-
+		
+		if(G.obedit && (G.obedit->type == OB_CURVE)) {
+			uiBlockEndAlign(block);
+			uiDefIconButBitS(block, TOG, SCE_SELECT_CU_HANDLES_HIDE, B_REDR, ICON_CURVE, xco,0,XIC,YIC, &G.scene->selectmode, 1.0, 0.0, 0, 0, "Hide curve handles in 3D view");
+			xco+= XIC + 20;
+			uiBlockEndAlign(block);
+		}
+		
 		uiDefIconBut(block, BUT, B_VIEWRENDER, ICON_SCENE_DEHLT, xco,0,XIC,YIC, NULL, 0, 1.0, 0, 0, "Render this window (hold CTRL for anim)");
 	
 		if (ob && (ob->flag & OB_POSEMODE)) {