Caligula (1979)

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156 min - Adult | Drama | History - 15 February 1980 (USA)

5.0

Ratings: 5.0/10 from 17,227 users
Reviews: 265 user | 78 critic

Details the graphic and shocking, yet undeniably tragic story of Rome's most infamous Caesar, Gaius Germanicus Caligula.

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
	Malcolm McDowell	...	Caligula
	Teresa Ann Savoy	...	Drusilla
	Guido Mannari	...	Macro
	John Gielgud	...	Nerva
	Peter O'Toole	...	Tiberius
	Giancarlo Badessi	...	Claudius
	Bruno Brive	...	Gemellus
	Adriana Asti	...	Ennia
	Leopoldo Trieste	...	Charicles
	Paolo Bonacelli	...	Chaerea
	John Steiner	...	Longinus
	Mirella D'Angelo	...	Livia (as Mirella Dangelo)
	Helen Mirren	...	Caesonia
	Rick Parets	...	Mnester (as Richard Parets)
	Paula Mitchell	...	Subura Singer

Full cast and crew »

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Storyline

The rise and fall of the notorious Roman Emperor Caligula, showing the violent methods that he employs to gain the throne, and the subsequent insanity of his reign - he gives his horse political office and humiliates and executes anyone who even slightly displeases him. He also sleeps with his sister, organises elaborate orgies and embarks on a fruitless invasion of England before meeting an appropriate end. There are various versions of the film, ranging from the heavily- truncated 90-minute version to the legendary 160-minute hardcore version which leaves nothing to the imagination (though the hardcore scenes were inserted later and do not involve the main cast members). Written by Michael Brooke <michael@everyman.demon.co.uk>

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

Taglines:

What would you have done if you had been given absolute power of life and death over everybody else in the whole world? See more »

Genres:

Adult | Drama | History

Parents Guide:

View content advisory »

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Details

Country:

Italy | USA

Language:

Italian (Italian version) | English (English version)

Release Date:

15 February 1980 (USA) See more »

Also Known As:

Calígula See more »

Filming Locations:

Dear Studios, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Box Office

Budget:

$17,500,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$8,669 (USA) (19 September 1999) (2 Screens) (re-release)

Gross:

$23,438,120 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Penthouse Films International, Felix Cinematografica See more »

Show detailed company contact information on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

156 min | Spain: 137 min | USA: 102 min (R-rated version) | Italy: 123 min (recut version) | USA: 148 min (re-release)

Sound Mix:

Dolby (re-release: 1999) | Mono (original release)

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

See full technical specs »

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Did You Know?

Trivia

Prior to his hiring of Tinto Brass to direct, Bob Guccione had been in negotiations with John Huston, and then Lina Wertmüller - who wanted to cast Jack Nicholson in the film's starring role. See more »

Goofs

Continuity: When Tiberius and Caligula are in the three-story sex building (noted by the man with stilts), first Caligula goes down, following Tiberius on the elevator. Later, they are talking at the bottom, then back on top of the building, then back at the bottom. See more »

Quotes

[Caligula is having a nightmare about Tiberius]
Tiberius: A brother kills a brother who's killed his father who's killed his son. Fate. And then someone will kill Caligula!
See more »

Caligula (1979)
Caligola (original title)

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