Caligola (1979)

Directors:

Tinto Brass
Bob Guccione
(more)

Writer:

Gore Vidal (earlier screenplay)
(more)

Release Date:

15 February 1980 (USA)

Genre:

Adult | Drama | History

Tagline:

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

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Caligula | Hardcore | Emperor | Horse | Orgy

Cast

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
Osiride Pevarello	...	Giant
Donato Placido	...	Proculus
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Anneka Di Lorenzo	...	Messalina
Lori Wagner	...	Agrippina
Patrick Allen	...	Macro (voice) (uncredited)
Gerardo Amato	...	Roman Soldier (uncredited)
Pino Ammendola	...	Roman Soldier (uncredited)
Eduardo Bergara Leumann	...	High Priest of Rome (uncredited)
Signe Berger	...	Imperial Brothel Worker (uncredited)
Eolo Capritti	...	The Executioner (uncredited)
Valerie Rae Clark	...	Priestess of Isis / Imperial Brothel Worker (uncredited)
Maria Cumani Quasimodo	...	Priestess of Isis (uncredited)
Lucky Fellows	...	Man in Imperial Brothel (uncredited)
Jane Hargrave	...	Priestess of Isis / Imperial Brothel Worker (uncredited)
Henrietta Kelogg	...	Imperial Brothel Worker (uncredited)
John Francis Lane	...	Guest at Proculus' Wedding (uncredited)
Giuseppe Maffioli	...	Master of Ceremonies (uncredited)
Juliet Morris	...	Imperial Brothel Worker (uncredited)
Carolyn Patsis	...	Imperial Brothel Worker (uncredited)
Susanne Saxon	...	Imperial Brothel Worker (uncredited)
Melanie Sutherland	...	Imperial Brothel Worker (uncredited)
Bonnie Dee Wilson	...	Imperial Brothel Worker (uncredited)

Directed by
Tinto Brass		(principal photography)
Bob Guccione		(additional footage)
Giancarlo Lui		(additional footage)

Writing credits
Gore Vidal		(earlier screenplay)
Bob Guccione		(additional scenes) (1984 version) uncredited &
Giancarlo Lui		(additional scenes) (1984 version) uncredited
Franco Rossellini		(dialogue) (1984 version) uncredited

Produced by
Bob Guccione	....	producer
Franco Rossellini	....	producer
Franco Rossellini	....	line producer (uncredited)
Jack H. Silverman	....	executive producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Bruno Nicolai		(as Paul Clemente)
Renzo Rossellini		(1984)

Cinematography by
Silvano Ippoliti		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Nino Baragli
Enzo Micarelli		(1984 version)
Russell Lloyd		(uncredited)

Casting by
Paolo Heusch
Roberto Tatti

Art Direction by
Danilo Donati

Costume Design by
Danilo Donati		(uncredited)

Makeup Department
Giuseppe Banchelli	....	makeup artist (as Guiseppe Banchelli)
Iole Cecchini	....	hair stylist (as Jole Cecchini)

Production Management
Mario Di Biase	....	production manager
Sergio Galiano	....	unit manager
Augusto Marabelli	....	production supervisor
Alessandro Mattei	....	production supervisor
Franco Rossellini	....	post-production supervisor (1984 version)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Piernico Solinas	....	first assistant director
Luca Ronchi	....	second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Gianpiero Grassi	....	property master
Domenico Mancino	....	blacksmith
Giovanni Natalucci	....	architect
Luigi Urbani	....	set dresser
Franco Velchi	....	architect

Sound Department
Marco Di Biase	....	boom operator
Gerry Humphreys	....	dubbing mixer
Archie Ludski	....	dialogue editor
Claudio Maielli	....	sound engineer
Giuliano Maielli	....	boom operator
Stefano Morandi	....	sound mixer (1984 version)
Robin O'Donoghue	....	dubbing mixer
Winston Ryder	....	supervising sound editor
Roger Van Engel	....	sound editor

Special Effects by
Franco Celli	....	special effects
Marcello Coccia	....	special effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Eddie Adams	....	special photographer
Jerry Bauer	....	special photographer
Giuseppe Di Biase	....	camera operator (as Pino Di Biase)
Bob Guccione	....	cinematographer: additional scenes
Giancarlo Lui	....	cinematographer: additional scenes
Stan Malinowski	....	special photographer
Claudio Patriarca	....	special photographer
Enrico Sasso	....	camera operator
Mario Tursi	....	unit photographer

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Gloria Musetta	....	wardrobe mistress (as Gloria Picone Mussetta)
Gregorio Simili	....	wardrobe master

Editorial Department
Peter Krook	....	assistant editor
Giancarlo Lui	....	post-production director
Enzo Natale	....	post-production coordinator (1984 version)
Stuart Urban	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Bruno Nicolai	....	conductor (as Paul Clemente)
Bruno Nicolai	....	orchestrator (as Paul Clemente)

Other crew
Walter Alford	....	unit publicist
Ferruccio Amendola	....	dubbing director (1984 version)
Carla Cipriani	....	continuity
Bruno Di Bartolomei	....	accountant
Leslie Jay	....	assistant to producers
Tito LeDuc	....	choreographer (as Tito Le Duc)
Giuseppe Maffioli	....	consultant: gastronomy
Giuseppe Pennese	....	choreographer (as Pino Pennese)
Franco Rossellini	....	director: additional scenes (1984 version)
Maria Ruhle	....	unit publicist
Louise Vincent	....	dialogue director
Masolino D'Amico	....	translator (uncredited)
Paula Mitchell	....	researcher (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Penthouse Films International
• Felix Cinematografica

Distributors

• Produzioni Atlas Consorziate (P.A.C.) (1979) (Italy) (theatrical) (as "Caligola")
• Analysis Film Releasing Corporation (1980) (USA) (theatrical)
• Seville Pictures (1980) (Canada) (theatrical) (Canada: Quebec)
• Ízaro Films (1981) (Spain) (theatrical)
• GTO (UK)
• Citadel Films (1981) (Canada) (theatrical) (Canada: English Canada)
• Gaumont Italia (1984) (Italy) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Independent Artists (I) (1999) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Vestron Video (1996) (USA) (VHS)
• Image Entertainment (1999) (USA) (DVD)
• Cine-Studio (1981) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Roadshow Entertainment (1981) (Australia) (theatrical) (re-edit)
• Tobis Filmkunst (????) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Tobis (1980) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Amuse Pictures (????) (Japan) (DVD)
• BRI Video (????) (USA) (VHS) (R version)
• Bitworks (????) (Japan) (DVD)
• Cine Video Corporation (CVC) S.r.l. (Italy) (VHS) (1984 version)
• Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) (2001) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Ekaterinburg Art Home Video (EAHV) (????) (Russia) (DVD)
• Ekaterinburg Art Home Video (EAHV) (????) (Russia) (VHS)
• Electric (????) (UK) (VHS)
• Filmco Sweden (????) (Sweden) (VHS)
• Future Film (2001) (Finland) (DVD) (2-disc edition)
• Future Film (2008) (Finland) (DVD) (3-disc edition)
• General Media International Financial Services (GMIFS) N.V.
• Hem Films/HemVideo Film (????) (Sweden) (VHS) (re-release)
• Home Video Hellas (HVH) (????) (Greece) (VHS)
• Image Entertainment (1999) (USA) (DVD) (widescreen)
• Image Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• KAVAN-Scanbox Entertainment (????) (Denmark) (VHS)
• Movies Select Video (1992) (Belgium) (VHS) (un-cut version)
• Movies Select Video (19??) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Paradox Entertainment Group (2007) (Canada) (DVD)
• Penthouse Video (1984) (USA) (VHS)
• Roadshow Home Video (????) (Australia) (VHS)
• Screen Multimedia-Metrodome Distribution (????) (UK) (VHS) (re-release)
• TV3 (1992) (Finland) (TV)
• Universal Video (UV) (????) (Italy) (VHS)
• Video Film Express (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD) (3-disc imperial edition)
• Video Screen (1984) (Belgium) (VHS) (cut version)
• Warner Vision Australia (2005) (Australia) (DVD) (cut)

Other Companies

• Cine Audio Effects  sound effects and foley design
• Cinenoleggio  technical equipment
• Ferani Veste  costume rental
• L.C.P. di Pompei  shoes
• Rancati dei Fratelli Sormani  props (as Rancate of Sormani)
• Rocchetti e Carboni  wigs (as Rocchetti-Carboni)
• Royal Italian Symphonia  orchestra
• Soc G.E.S.C.A. S.p.a.  accounting (as Soc. G.E.S.C.A. Spa.)
• Twickenham Film Studios  sound re-recording (as Twickenham Studios, London, England)
• V.G. S.r.l.  titles and opticals (1984 version)

Also Known As:

Caligula (USA)
Caligula, My Son (UK)
Caligvla (International: English title) (alternative spelling)
Gore Vidal's Caligola (Italy) (working title)
Io, Caligola (Italy) (recut version)

Runtime:

156 min | Spain:137 min | USA:102 min (R-rated version) | 210 min (original cut) | Italy:123 min (recut version) | USA:148 min (re-release)

Country:

Italy | USA

Language:

Italian | English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

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

Certification:

Germany:18 (SPIO/JK) (cut) | USA:R (heavily cut) | USA:Unrated (uncut) | Spain:X | Italy:VM18 | Canada:R (Manitoba/Ontario) | New Zealand:R18 | Finland:K-18 (heavily cut) (1981) | Australia:Refused Classification (2005) | Belgium:16 (video rating) | Belgium:KNT (original rating) | Netherlands:16 | West Germany:18 (nf) | USA:NC-17 (original rating) | France:-16 | France:X (DVD release) | Japan:R-18 | UK:18 (uncut version) | Canada:R (Nova Scotia) (re-rating) (2007) | Brazil:18 | Portugal:M/18 (DVD rating) (uncut) | Spain:18 | Australia:(Banned) (original rating) | Australia:R (re-rating, cut) (1981) | Australia:R (Original rating) (uncut) | Australia:X (Video rating) (1984) | Belgium:16 (DVD rating) | Argentina:18 | Canada:(Banned) (Nova Scotia) (original rating) | Chile:18 | Denmark:15 (DVD rating) | Denmark:16 | Finland:K-18 (uncut) (2001) | Hong Kong:III | Iceland:(Banned) (original rating) | Iceland:16 (cut) | Norway:18 | Peru:18 | South Korea:18 (cut) | Sweden:15 | USA:X (self applied MA for "Mature Audiences") | Australia:R (cut) | UK:X (original rating: 1980) (cut) | Germany:BPjM Restricted

Filming Locations:

Dear Studios, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company:

Penthouse Films International

Trivia:

Several different versions of the film have been circulated: - Caligula was originally released in the UK with a running time of 149 minutes, with the hardcore sex replaced by alternate footage inserted by the distributor. However, the latest UK release (and now legal version) has a PAL running time of 98 minutes, 34 seconds (approximately 102 minutes film/NTSC), and is the same as the older R-rated version in the USA. The original 149 minute cut is now highly sought-after. - A 105 minute R-rated version was released in the USA in 1981. This version also used alternate footage and angles in the hardcore sex scenes and during scenes of graphic violence. - The official "uncut" version runs at 156 minutes and includes about six minutes of re-shoots by Bob Guccione. - A 210 minute version was shown at a private screening at the Cannes Trade Festival, and has not been seen since. - In 1984, the film was re-cut and re-released in Italy under the title Io, Caligola. It ran 133 minutes, and was cut to 123 minutes by the Italian censors. When released on home video, some of the hardcore footage shot by Bob Guccione were reinserted into the film. - The second (and current) R-rated version was released in 1999 and used no alternate footage or angles, with the same shots repeating several times to mask the cuts in the film.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: Most of the penises seen in the movie are obviously circumcised. However, circumcision was not practiced in Rome.

Quotes:

Caligula: I hear you have a taste for little boys. Is that not so?
Chaerea: No Caesar, big boys.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in O Lucky Malcolm! (2006)

Soundtrack:

Adagio Of Spartacus And Phrygia

"A viper for the Roman people and a Phaethon for the world"

Maybe it helps to be familiar with the history, Art, and literature of the Ancient Rome because "Caligula" is surprisingly truthful adaptation of the chapter about Caligula in "The Lives Of The Twelve Caesars by C. Suetonius Tranquillus, the Roman Historian. If you read the chapter dedicated to Nero, you'll be even more shocked because Nero was always fascinated by his uncle Caligula (he was a son of Caligula's sister Agrippina who later became a wife of Claudius who adopted Nero and made him the heir for the title and the power of Roman Emperor). Anyway, Nero made Caligula his role model and managed to surpass his uncle's' notorious fame.

The movie is notoriously famous for the plentiful scenes of real sex, including incest, necrophilia, rape, and orgies. The movie also includes quite nasty and gruesome scenes of torture, executions, murders, and humiliations but all of the events have been documented in the historical documents that still exist.

I don't think of the movie as a masterpiece or even a good movie for all of its 2.5 hours. It actually reminds the life of real Caligula. In his childhood and youth, he was adored by Roman people and especially by the army and he was a promising young man. When he grew up as a heir to the cruel and suspicious Tiberius, he had to hide his feelings and go through many humiliations in order to survive. Shrewd Tiberius said about his adopted grandson that "never humankind knew the better slave and the worse ruler than Caligula" and that he was rearing "a viper for the Roman people and a Phaethon for the world."

When the young man finally received an access to the absolute power it had absolutely corrupted him. It is also known that soon after becoming head of Roman Empire, Caligula suffered an illness and as the result of it, he became incredibly nasty, cruel, and suspicious man who had indulged in the worst acts of debauchery, cruelty, and sadism. The movie follows this pattern. I still think that it is an interesting movie with very good actors. Not every day you can see porn with Helen Mirren, Peter O'Toole, Sir John Gielgud, and of course, Mr. Clockwork Orange himself, Malcolm McDowell.