| Malcolm McDowell | Caligula |
| Teresa Ann Savoy | Drusilla |
| Helen Mirren | Cesonia |
| Peter O'Toole | Tiberius |
| John Gielgud | Nerva |
| John Steiner | Longino |
| Paolo Bonacelli | Cherea |
| Giancarlo Badessi | Claudio |
| Adriana Asti | Ennia |
| Leopoldo Trieste | Caricle |
| Mirella D'Angelo | Livia |
| Anneka Di Lorenzo | |
| Guido Mannari | Macrone |
| Osiride Pevarello | Giant |
| Lori Wagner | Agrippina |
| Tinto Brass | Director, Cinematographer |
| Bob Guccione | Director, Producer |
| Giancarlo Lui | Director |
| Giuseppe Banchelli | Makeup |
| Nino Baragli | Editor |
| Paul Clemente | Score Composer |
| Danilo Donati | Art Director, Production Designer |
| Silvano Ippoliti | Cinematographer |
| Tito LeDuc | Choreography |
| Franco Rossellini | Producer |
| Piernico Solinas | Asst. Director |
| Gore Vidal | Screenwriter |
Alric
Posted October 1, 2010
It's hard to view this film divorced from its controversy. To see spliced-in pornographic acts performed in a film so sumptuously photographed blurs our aesthetics; or it did mine, anyway. Still, it is never boring. Along with the nearly constant atrocities stemming from a complete abuse of power, it has stunning visuals going for it. After watching "Caligula: The Imperial Edition")[Blu-ray], and feting on all the extras, I've concluded that, despite its many flaws, it is indeed a good film. By all accounts, it should have been a GREAT film, but as often is the case with ambitious visions, conflicts led to too many unsatisfactory compromises. Regardless, it has its merits. <BR/><BR/>To sum it up, Malcolm McDowell plays Caligula as cruel, irreverent, and mirthfully insane. John Gielgud plays with erect Shakespearean dignity Tiberius' only friend, the wise Nerva, contemptuous of the inevitable scenario of Rome's further decline at Caligula's ascendancy. Peter O'Toole portrays Tiberius as sardonically embittered by the trappings of power, his face scabby and scalp clumpy from the ravages of syphilis. Once Tiberius dies -- all of the actors with major theater credentials exit relatively early -- Caligula has the playground of Rome all to himself.<BR/><BR/>I never saw the remastered DVD Special Edition released a couple of years ago, so I'm unable to compare this Blu-ray to it. But I can state with certainty that it's far superior to the initial DVD issued back in the 1990s. Art director and costume designer Danilo Donati gave cinematographer Silvano Ippoliti a lively palette and grand designs to work with, and it's illuminated here. The age of the print is apparent at times, but the hi-def transfer revives the lost vibrancy of the draped luxury and pillared architecture. And aside from the brighter picture, there's a cornucopia tucked away in the special features.<BR/><BR/>The extras include two versions of "The Making of Caligula"; interviews (about 30 minutes each) with director Tinto Brass, actor John Steiner (who portrayed Longinus), and Penthouse pet Lori Wagner (who in hindsight realizes she was in way over her head); three audio commentaries (McDowell, Helen Mirren, and on-set writer Ernest Volkman); an alternate pre-release version of the film; and the usual odds and ends (deleted scenes, theatrical trailers, and so on). This edition comes with a 15-page booklet detailing the film's troubled production, in which the essayist R. J. Buffalo concludes passionately that a full restoration to its original vision is in order. It's a hell-freezes-over probability. From the bonus features, it's obvious that two immutable creative forces were in direct conflict. Gore Vidal, who wrote the original screenplay, eventually disavowed the film when director Brass altered how Caligula himself was presented. It must have come down to an interpretation of the script, because Vidal's earlier version is included in the extras, and a lot of the dialogue was retained, some of it word for word. So on the one hand, you have Brass wanting a sexually explicit romp; on the other you have Vidal's depiction of Caligula as derisive of the ruling class, and abuses power as mockery. So the result is schizophrenic montage. In my judgment, Vidal's vision edges out ahead slightly, as by the time you get to all that explicit sex, they're not festivities you'd want to be invited to. So the question remains, to whose vision should a final edit be restored?<BR/>______
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted March 15, 2013
I saw this movie back when it first came out... what a joke it was. My friends & I had a toga party & a wild sex ride. It was the bizzare truth of what the USA has become today.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.JeffreyMO
Posted October 1, 2010
I Also Recommend:
I rated this funny because of the dated scenes and soundtrack. A boring movie, this is one to see if you are into shock factor comedy.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted October 1, 2010
Not for the faint of heart or prudish.
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted October 1, 2010
Caligula is one of the most outrageously famous and entertaining movies from the late 70's. And even today it holds up very well, but the R-rated version is extremely inferior to the original X-rated cut.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted October 1, 2010
This is the severely-edited version of Caligula. I do not believe that this version is to be purchased unless you are all too delicate for the genuine version.
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted October 1, 2010
If some times you like and enjoy bad smells, spoiled food, constant noise and miserable weather this Caligula DVD is for you.
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted November 2, 2009
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