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Malcolm McDowell, Teresa Ann Savoy, Helen Mirren, Peter O'Toole, John Gielgud ... see more see more... , John Steiner , Paolo Bonacelli , Giancarlo Badessi , Adriana Asti , Leopoldo Trieste , Mirella D'Angelo , Guido Mannari , Osiride Pevarello , Lori Wagner , Anneka Di Lorenzo

This lavish big-budget epic was the pinnacle of a uniquely Italian subgenre, the historical hardcore gore/porn extravaganza. The star-studded cast, perhaps lured by the high-profile involvement of pro... read more read more...ducer Bob Guccione and screenwriter Gore Vidal, includes such luminaries as John Gielgud, Peter O'Toole, and Helen Mirren. Director Tinto Brass, whose similar treatment of Nazi Germany in Salon Kitty won him the job, did his best with the mammoth enterprise, but numerous production problems and re-edits took their toll on the finished product. When Caligula works best, it works because of Malcolm McDowell, whose crazed portrayal of the title Emperor is the embodiment of villainous corruption. McDowell raises his performance level to match the gaudy spectacle around him, which led to charges of overacting, but there are moments when he is absolutely riveting. Some of the cast doesn't fare as well, as O'Toole makes a particularly unsubtle Tiberius. The sex is graphic and steamy, particularly a feverish lesbian interlude between Penthouse Pets Lori Wagner and Marjorie Thorsen (using the pseudonym "Anneka di Lorenzo"), and the various carnival freaks used as atmosphere imbue the film with a grotesque, Fellini-like opulence. There are many memorable scenes and a magnificent score by Paul Clemente, but the heady brew of historical epic, hardcore sex, and gory violence proved overwhelming to many viewers. Still, Gore Vidal's script is surprisingly accurate, and manages to be entertainingly vulgar while bringing a rather loathsome slice of human history to vivid life, warts and all. The more explicit scenes were directed by Bob Guccione and Giancarlo Lui, causing both Vidal and Brass to remove their names from the credits. ~ Robert Firsching, Rovi

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40% liked it

10,010 ratings

Critics

21% liked it

28 critics

R, 2 hr. 30 min.

Directed by: Tinto Brass

Release Date: July 14, 1979

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DVD Release Date: October 2, 2007

Stats: 1,216 reviews

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Helen Mirren Caligula Malcolm McDowell IS Caligula Malcolm McDowell IS Caligula Malcolm McDowell IS Caligula Caligula Peter O'Toole as Tiberius Teresa Ann Savoy Teresa Ann Savoy Caligula Teresa Ann Savoy Teresa Ann Savoy Malcolm McDowel Helen Mirren John Gielgud as Nerva Anneka Di Lorenzo Jane Hargrave and Anneka D'Lorenzo Anneka Di Lorenzo
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Flixster Reviews (1,216)

  • tolkienfan101
    September 27, 2011
    tolkienfan101
    Okay, this was a hard one for me to review, but actually, shockingly so, not that hard to watch considering the filth that is the film's contents. All right, the cinematography is a weird mixture of cheap and well-executed shots. And knowing the turbulent history surrounding the ... read moreproduction of the film, I was able to bypass it for the most part. The editing was shoddy and too fragmented, mostly filling scenes that probably would have been better if kept short, with random jump cuts to penis and vagina taking up most of the frame. The pornographic footage was completely unnecessary and actually, much of it was insanely cruel for really no reason at all (i.e. Caligula's hallucinations, the notorious fisting scene). The direction was beyond messed up. The reason being that the project's original director Tinto Brass was booted off the project and the film's producer, Penthouse founder Bob Guccione, took over filming extra scenes and shots of hardcore porn and tearing the original work print to pieces, actually cutting out over an hour of footage originally in the film. This is on top of his major insistence for tumultuous amounts of sex and nudity in the film at the get-go. The acting, considering the bizarre and fragmented script, was actually really good for the most part in my opinion. With Grade-A actors like Malcolm McDowell, Helen Mirren, Paolo Bonacelli, John Gielgud and above all, Peter O'Toole. I do believe if this project had kept the original screenplay by writing legend Gore Vidal, and Tinto Brass was not forced to accommodate Guccione's requests, I have a feeling this could have turned out to be a good movie, but sadly, this is a high-priced skin flick with some good elements and some disgusting sadomasochistic violence.
  • animegirlaya
    May 18, 2011
    animegirlaya
    Now i Believe for a fact is that my dad saw Caligula when it first opened here about 1981, And despite it he really didn't think much of the film like many...
    He only regreated stadning in those long lines to see this Box Office and record breaking film.

    But like many the on... read morely question he did ask was "Is it really true?" "Is this the most accurate prediction of Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus"? Or is it really nothing but Hard-Core porn.

    And i would like to know how many of you that are reading this saw it when it first played?
  • ajv2688
    January 8, 2011
    ajv2688
    An all star cast works with what they're given in this movie that tells the story of Rome's worst leader, Caligula. I wouldn't recommend watching this movie unless you are either a huge fan of the actors or like sexually controversial movies. There are some interesting stories ... read moresurrounding this one too. Overall, though, the movie itself isn't all that great, not bad, but it really could have been better.
  • matertenebraum
    November 15, 2009
    matertenebraum
    This review is for the unrated version of this magnifecent film.

    Before Rome. Before Gladiator. The most controversial film of all time as you've never experienced it before! Combining lavish spectacle and top award-winning stars, this landmark production is now presented in a b... read moreeautiful new hig-definition transfer from recently uncovered negative elements. From the moment he ascends to the throne as Emperor, Caligula (A clockwork Orange's Malcolm McDowell) enforces a reign like no other as power and corruption transform him into a deranged beast whose deeds still live on as some of the most depraved in history. Also starring Peter O'Toole (Lawrence of Arabia and Academy Award winners Helen Mirren (The Queen) and John Gielgud (Arthur), this unflinching look at the decandence of Ancient Rome shall startle and amaze you like no other film ever made.

    This is actually a pretty good film. Perhaps the intense nudity and graphic-ness was not likeable but the movie was very closely tied to the facts and history of Caligula himself. You don't see many movies that actually stick with the facts instead of making it 'Hollywood.' I reccommend this to people who "know" about Caligula in advance so that they know what their seeing instead of going into the film not having a clue what its about. I don't think they could've made the movie any better that relates to Caligula- he was a psychopath and it showed in this movie.

    Tons of great scenes, and it showed what the "real" Rome was like. Brutal and harsh and misgiving.
  • SirPant
    September 25, 2009
    SirPant
    The only Tinto Brass film you can watch with your girlfriend!
    It's a bit rude but very entertaining, it's a classic and McDowell is brilliant! It's art innit! ;o)
  • pingsley
    February 20, 2009
    pingsley
    I would say that there are scenes in this movie that are 'good'. But not good for the right reasons. Despite a strong cast (including Dame Helen Mirren!) this movie bites. Thanks Bob Gucionne!
  • kenstachnik
    July 21, 2008
    kenstachnik
    Completely ridiculous. The only thing that surprised me was that he DIDN'T fuck his dead sister.

    Yea this movie is sick.

    Sick like Malcolm McDowell fists a dude.

    Yea, on the guys wedding night no less (after deflowering the bride to be of course)

    I can't believe this movie e... read morexists.
  • mjgildea
    July 21, 2008
    mjgildea
    Straight up nonsense. The talent featured (at least O'Toole and Gielgud had the smarts to get knocked off in the first 45 minutes) is the only thing implying an air of respectability about this movie. I'm no prude but there was way too much sex (McDowell goes down on his dead sis... read moreter) here bleeding the pointless plot dry and too much plot to make it a porno--despite Penthouse sticking their name on this one. This movie was intended only to shock and awe and that's all about it succeeds in once it finally shows mercy with an ending it took too long to get to.
  • puffchunk
    June 21, 2008
    puffchunk
    Boring. It was only watchable because I am interested in Romans, but it tried to hard to be controversial.
  • YLOWBSTARDreturns
    October 23, 2007
    YLOWBSTARDreturns
    One of the worst films I've seen. A discusting, ugly, revolting, cringe-inducing and completely pointless piece of junk. How anyone can like this... I do not know. It floors me how the likes of Peter O'toole and Helen Mirren ended up in this garbage.

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Critic Reviews

Variety Staff
December 8, 2007
Variety Staff, Variety

Such established names as John Gielgud and Peter O'Toole will have to be seen to be believed. Full Review

Roger Ebert
December 8, 2007
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Caligula is sickening, utterly worthless, shameful trash. If it is not the worst film I have ever seen, that makes it all the more shameful: People with talent allowed themselves to participate in thi... Full Review

Michael Atkinson
January 1, 2000
Michael Atkinson, Village Voice

For sheer camp RBI, this Tinto Brass-Bob Guccione freak is the World Series played, won, and paraded. Full Review

Fernando F. Croce
November 16, 2009
Fernando F. Croce, CinePassion

Not so much the culmination of '70s porn-chic cinema as its purposefully degraded last hurrah Full Review

Peter Canavese
January 30, 2009
Peter Canavese, Groucho Reviews

More infamous for its widespread ineptitude than for its artistic innovation... [Blu-ray] Full Review

Clint Morris
September 5, 2008
Clint Morris, Moviehole

A classic in the coolest sense of the word

April 10, 2008
Film4

Sublimely ridiculous thesp-filled porno-togarama. Full Review

December 8, 2007
TV Guide's Movie Guide

Unpleasantly violent, often dull, and only intermittently sexy. Full Review

Will Harris
November 3, 2007
Will Harris, Bullz-Eye.com

It ended up almost as infamous and notorious as its subject... and that's not a compliment. Full Review

Rob Vaux
October 24, 2007
Rob Vaux, Flipside Movie Emporium

I suppose certain college fraternities could make screening it part of their hazing rituals. Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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    • Caligula: Caesar cannot be a fool!
    • Caligula: I have existed from the morning of the world and I shall exist until the last star falls from the night. Although I have taken the form of Gaius Caligula, I am all men as I am no man and therefore I am... a God.
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Caligula Trivia

  • In which British film does Kenneth Williams shout: 'Infamy! Infamy! They've all got it in for me!'   Answer »
  • The actor that played Alex de Large in "A Clockwork Orange" is the same that played Caligula in the movie with the same title. Who is this actor?  Answer »
  • Malcolm McDowell, John Gielgud and Helen Mirren starred in this 1979 flop.  Answer »
  • He was Alexander DeLarge, Caligula and H.G Wells, who is he?  Answer »
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