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Caligula

Original title: Caligola
  • 19791979
  • UnratedUnrated
  • 2h 36m
IMDb RATING
5.3/10
36K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
848
36
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Malcolm McDowell in Caligola (1979)
  • Drama
  • History
A dramatization of the ascent to Caesar and subsequent reign of Caligula, one of the most notorious leaders of ancient Rome. We see his ambition, his scheming, his perversion and decadence, ... Read allA dramatization of the ascent to Caesar and subsequent reign of Caligula, one of the most notorious leaders of ancient Rome. We see his ambition, his scheming, his perversion and decadence, his brutality and his lunacy.A dramatization of the ascent to Caesar and subsequent reign of Caligula, one of the most notorious leaders of ancient Rome. We see his ambition, his scheming, his perversion and decadence, his brutality and his lunacy.
IMDb RATING
5.3/10
36K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
848
36
  • Director
    • Tinto Brass(principal photography)
  • Writers
    • Gore Vidal(adapted from an original screenplay by)
    • Malcolm McDowell(additional dialogue)
    • Masolino D'Amico
  • Stars
    • Malcolm McDowell
    • Peter O'Toole
    • Helen Mirren
Top credits
  • Director
    • Tinto Brass(principal photography)
  • Writers
    • Gore Vidal(adapted from an original screenplay by)
    • Malcolm McDowell(additional dialogue)
    • Masolino D'Amico
  • Stars
    • Malcolm McDowell
    • Peter O'Toole
    • Helen Mirren
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 328User reviews
    • 130Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 nominations

    Photos208

    Malcolm McDowell and Teresa Ann Savoy in Caligola (1979)
    Caligola (1979)
    Caligola (1979)
    Malcolm McDowell and Teresa Ann Savoy in Caligola (1979)
    Malcolm McDowell in Caligola (1979)
    Malcolm McDowell in Caligola (1979)
    Malcolm McDowell in Caligola (1979)
    John Gielgud, Malcolm McDowell, Helen Mirren, and Peter O'Toole in Caligola (1979)
    Malcolm McDowell in Caligola (1979)
    Malcolm McDowell in Caligola (1979)
    Malcolm McDowell in Caligola (1979)
    Malcolm McDowell in Caligola (1979)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Malcolm McDowell
    Malcolm McDowell
    • Caligulaas Caligula
    Peter O'Toole
    Peter O'Toole
    • Tiberiusas Tiberius
    Helen Mirren
    Helen Mirren
    • Caesoniaas Caesonia
    Teresa Ann Savoy
    Teresa Ann Savoy
    • Drusillaas Drusilla
    Guido Mannari
    Guido Mannari
    • Macroas Macro
    John Gielgud
    John Gielgud
    • Nervaas Nerva
    Giancarlo Badessi
    • Claudiusas Claudius
    Bruno Brive
    • Gemellusas Gemellus
    Adriana Asti
    Adriana Asti
    • Enniaas Ennia
    Leopoldo Trieste
    Leopoldo Trieste
    • Chariclesas Charicles
    Paolo Bonacelli
    Paolo Bonacelli
    • Chaereaas Chaerea
    John Steiner
    John Steiner
    • Longinusas Longinus
    Mirella D'Angelo
    Mirella D'Angelo
    • Liviaas Livia
    • (as Mirella Dangelo)
    Rick Parets
    • Mnesteras Mnester
    • (as Richard Parets)
    Paula Mitchell
    • Subura Singeras Subura Singer
    Osiride Pevarello
    • Giantas Giant
    Donato Placido
    • Proculusas Proculus
    Anneka Di Lorenzo
    • Messalinaas Messalina
    • Director
      • Tinto Brass(principal photography)
    • Writers
      • Gore Vidal(adapted from an original screenplay by)
      • Malcolm McDowell(additional dialogue) (uncredited)
      • Masolino D'Amico
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Pagan Rome, 37 A.D. With the reign of the frail, syphilis-ridden, half-mad Emperor Tiberius coming to an end, Prince Gaius Augustus Germanicus, aka Caligula, is summoned to the demented ruler's palace of sin on the island of Capri. After the murder of bedridden Tiberius, Caligula is proclaimed the new emperor, who, in turn, proclaims his beloved sister and lover, Julia Drusilla, as his equal, much to the disgust of the Roman Senate. Now, as a four-year reign of depravity and terror commences, allegiances turn into betrayal, virginities are destroyed, torture and execution weed out the competition, and dangerously megalomaniac Caligula declares himself a god. Can the Roman Empire tolerate the uncontrollable mania of the insane tyrant? —Nick Riganas
    • orgy
    • unsimulated sex
    • sex party
    • hedonism
    • sexual violence
    • 241 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • What would you have done if you had been given absolute power of life and death over everybody else in the whole world?
    • Genres
      • Drama
      • History
    • Certificate
      • Unrated
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The child-birth scene where Caesonia (Dame Helen Mirren) gives birth, was an actual child-birth, which was filmed in three takes using three different pregnant women extras and later edited together.
    • Goofs
      Most of the penises seen in the movie would appear to be circumcised, which would be inaccurate as circumcision was not practiced in Rome. However on closer inspection, you can see that the penises are intact with the foreskin retracted.
    • Quotes

      [first lines]

      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.

    • Crazy credits
      Due to numerous pending lawsuits and settlements at the time of the film's release, no one is technically fully credited for writing and directing the finished film.
    • Alternate versions
      The censored version of this film has been released of a few occasions in Australia. In March 1981, a censored, R rated release to cinemas was made by Roadshow. Roadshow Home Video subsequently released the same film version to video in September 1984. This version ran for 146 minutes (PAL). It was again re-released by a 'no name' video label in the late 1990's. The censored DVD version appeared in December 2004, released by Warner Vision. The uncut version has been released in Australia, this was the fully uncut, X rated 156 minute PAL version. It was released in January 1985 by 'Palace X Video' - a version that is now an extremely rare collector's item. The uncut version has since been rated R18+ by the Australian classification board in 2021.
    • Connections
      Edited into Video Macumba (1991)
    • Soundtracks
      Spartacus
      (uncredited)

      Written by Aram Khachaturyan

      Conducted by Bruno Nicolai

    User reviews328

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    unbelievably indulgent, however beautiful and captivating
    Where to start..... First off, the sets are wonderful. They are lavish and look authentic of the time, except as if a madman on acid was given a gigantic budget and told to "go at it!" Peter O'Toole is wonderful as the aging Tiberius. Malcolm McDowell gives a great performance as the young Caligula who kills his way to the throne of the Roman Emperor and then soon leads a legacy of terror. The supporting actors do a fine job yet, most of the young ladies were actually Penthouse Pets and were there for eye candy and irrelevant sex scenes. Depending on which film you are watching, the uncut or the R-version, some scenes are extremely graphic. I would usually always recommend the uncut version as opposed to the chopped one, but in this instance, the full length film is purely indulgent. Scenes of sex and gore were added to satisfy the producers (Penthouse) and the expected audience, not to add anything to the story. However, I am and will always be a fan of excess, so get the full version! The story is strong and keeps you interested. McDowell is charming throughout, which is quite the feat considering he murders family members, rapes and molests men and women, and sleeps with his sister. For fans of excess and sleaze, i highly recommend. Viewers who are purely interested in the reign of the notorious ruler might want to skip this one.
    helpful•32
    11
    • teamgomez99
    • Nov 10, 2010

    FAQ8

    • Is Bob Guccione the director?
    • Did Gore Vidal disown the film because Bob Guccione and Tinto Brass added explicit sex and gore to the film?
    • Is this film historically accurate?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 15, 1980 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • Italy
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Gore Vidal's Caligula
    • Filming locations
      • Dear Studios, Rome, Lazio, Italy
    • Production companies
      • Penthouse Films International
      • Felix Cinematografica
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $17,500,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 36 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Mono(original release)
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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