Caligula (1979)

IF YOU GET EASILY UPSET, STOP READING. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

The rule of Roman Emperor Caligula is as, if not, more fucked up than this film. Released in 1979 and starring several well known actors such as Malcolm McDowell, Helen Mirren, and Peter O’Toole, the film is notorious for multiple reasons. One such reason is the real and extremely graphic sex scenes that occur in the film. None of the A-list actors actually had sex, but numerous real sex scenes were filmed and inserted into the film by Penthouse during post-production. These scenes made it into the unrated version of the film, which lasts 2 hours 36 minutes, compared to the R-rated 1 hour 45 minute version. The film tells the story of Caligula (McDowell), from young, hopeful heir next in line to the throne from his Syphilis-ridden great uncle, Tiberius (O’Toole), to an insane ruler despised by his own men. Throughout the film, Caligula has a sexual relationship with his sister, Drusilla (Teresa Ann Savoy), but he ends up marrying Caesonia (Mirren). The film has a very hard to follow and virtually incomprehensible plot, and becomes what the screenwriters, Gore Vidal and Tinto Brass (who also directed the film), didn’t want it to become: a pornographic film. Many of the sex scenes have next to nothing to do with the plot, therefore ruining the film. McDowell’s performance is exceptionally good, however, as is Peter O’Toole’s. Their performances are one of the only good things that stand out in this film. Wanna watch a film with the family? I will personally smack you if you show this to your family. Want to watch a film by yourself? Don’t watch this film. Want to watch porn? Still don’t watch this film. All in all, the film has some good performances, but falls flat with the story and plot. I rate this film POOR on the scale.