Caligula [Caligola] * (1979, Malcolm McDowell, Peter O’Toole, Helen Mirren, John Gielgud, Teresa Ann Savoy) – Classic Movie Review 9881

Director Tinto Brass’s highly controversial 1979 Caligula [Caligola] is the notorious, infamous, hugely costly ($17,500,000) Seventies porn and violence movie, produced by Penthouse Films (US) and Felix Cinematografica (Italy), and released by GTO in 1980 in the UK, based on the life of the Roman emperor Caligula (Malcolm McDowell), aka Gaius Germanicus Caesar.

It’s a shock to find Britain’s esteemed thespians Peter O’Toole (the Emperor Tiberius), John Gielgud (Nerva), Helen Mirren (Caesonia) and McDowell in these circumstances, and surprisingly they are struggling to keep their dignity.

The film is mostly revolting and uninteresting, except for admirers of the dated hard-core porn and scenes of decapitation.

Original story and co-screen writer Gore Vidal and director Brass asked producer Bob Guccione to remove their names from the credits, so the script is uncredited and Brass is named only vaguely (‘scenes directed by’).

The complete, unedited and unrated film runs 156 minutes. There is also the 123 -minute recut 1984 version (Italy), a 200-minute European print, a GB cut version at 103 minutes and an American edited R-rated 102-minute version, among many variants.

The 1999 20th anniversary edition on DVD is either the R-rated 102-minute version or the complete, unedited and unrated 156-minute film.

The hardcore scenes were added later and did not involve the main cast members.

Mirren reflects: ‘Caligula is a total disaster, but it does have an irresistible mixture of art and genitals.’

It is adapted from an original screenplay by Gore Vidal. Masolino D’Amico is the writer of the Italian version.

The press were banned from the studio during filming at Dear Studios, Rome, Lazio, Italy.

Also in the cast are Teresa Ann Savoy, John Steiner, Guido Mannari, Paola Bonacelli, Leopoldo Trieste, Giancarlo Badessi, Mirella D’Angelo, Bruno Brive, Lori Wagner, Anneka Di Lorenzo, Adriana Asti, Bruno Brive, Rick Parets, Paula Mitchell, Osiride Peverello and Donato Placido.

Caligula [Caligola] is directed by Tinto Brass (principal photography), Giancarlo Lui, Bob Guccione, runs 156 minutes, is made by Penthouse Films and Felix Cinematografica, is released by Produzioni Atlas Consorziate (1979) (Italy), Analysis Film Releasing Corporation (1980) (US) and GTO (1980) (UK), is written by Gore Vidal (adapted from an original screenplay by), Bob Guccione (additional scenes) (uncredited), Ginacarlo Lui (additional scenes) (uncredited), Masolino D’Amico (writer: Italian version), Ted Whitehead (additional dialogue) (uncredited) and Malcolm McDowell (additional dialogue) (uncredited), is shot by Silvano Ippoliti (Eastmancolor), is produced by Jack H Silverman (executive producer), Bob Guccione and Franco Rossellini, is scored by Bruno Nicolai [Paul Clemente] and is designed by Danilo Donati.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 9881

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