Caligula
Caligula Movie Details:
| Original title | Caligola |
| Country | Italy, United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Drama, History |
| Release date | August 14, 1979 (Italy) February 1, 1980 (United States) |
| Running time | 2hr 36min |
| Age rating | R |
| Starring | Malcolm McDowell Teresa Ann Savoy Helen Mirren Peter O’Toole John Steiner Guido Mannari Paolo Bonacelli Leopoldo Trieste Giancarlo Badessi Mirella D’Angelo Anneka Di Lorenzo Lori Wagner Adriana Asti John Gielgud |
| Directed by | Tinto Brass |
| Written by | Gore Vidal |
| Produced by | Bob Guccione Franco Rossellini |
| Cinematography by | Silvano Ippoliti |
| Edited by | Nino Baragli The Production |
| Music by | Bruno Nicolai (as Paul Clemente) |
| Production Company | Penthouse Films International Felix Cinematografica S.R.L. |
| Distributor | Produzioni Atlas Consorziate (P.A.C.) (Italy) Analysis Film Releasing Corporation (United States) |
Caligula Movie Cast & Characters:
- Malcolm McDowell as Caligula
- Teresa Ann Savoy as Drusilla
- Guido Mannari as Macro
- Patrick Allen as Macro (English dub voice)
- John Gielgud as Nerva
- Peter O’Toole as Tiberius
- Giancarlo Badessi as Claudius
- Bruno Brive as Gemellus
- Adriana Asti as Ennia
- Leopoldo Trieste as Charicles
- Paolo Bonacelli as Cassius Chaerea
- Joss Ackland as Cassius Chaerea (English dub voice)
- John Steiner as Longinus
- Mirella D’Angelo as Livilla
- Helen Mirren as Caesonia
- Richard Parets as Mnester
- Paula Mitchell as Subura Singer
- Osiride Pevarello as Giant
- Donato Placido as Proculus
- Anneka Di Lorenzo as Messalina
- Lori Wagner as Agrippina
- Valerie Rae Clark as Imperial Brothel Worker
- Susanne Saxon as Imperial Brothel Worker
- Jane Hargrave as Imperial Brothel Worker
- Carolyn Patsis as Imperial Brothel Worker
- Bonnie Dee Wilson as Imperial Brothel Worker
Storyline:
Pagan Rome, 37 A.D. With the reign of the frail, syphilis-ridden, and half-mad Emperor Tiberius drawing to a close, Prince Gaius Augustus Germanicus, aka Caligula, arrives at the demented ruler’s palace of sin on the island of Capri. And after the murder of the bedridden Tiberius, Caligula becomes the new emperor. Then, Caligula proclaims Julia Drusilla, his beloved sister and lover, as his equal, much to the disgust of the Roman Senate. And as the dangerous megalomaniac Caligula declares himself a god, he begins a four-year reign of depravity and terror, betraying allegiances, destroying virginities, and weeding out the competition through torture and execution. However, how much longer can the Roman Empire tolerate the insane tyrant’s uncontrollable mania?
About Caligula Movie:
Caligula (Italian: Caligola) is a erotic historical drama film about the rise and fall of controversial Roman emperor Caligula. The film stars Malcolm McDowell in the title role, alongside Teresa Ann Savoy, Helen Mirren, Peter O’Toole, John Steiner, and John Gielgud.
Original screenwriter Gore Vidal and film director Tinto Brass both disavowed the extensive changes to their contributions, with Brass dismissed prior to editing. Financier producer Bob Guccione, founder of Penthouse magazine, engaged Giancarlo Lui to film post-production scenes featuring hardcore sex, significantly altering the film’s tone and style.
Initially released to Italian cinemas in 1979, then screened in America the following year, Caligula was met with legal issues and controversies over its violent and sexual content. Different abridged versions were released worldwide, while its uncut form remains banned in several countries.
Despite a generally negative reception, the film has gained notoriety as a cult classic with significant merit for its political content and historical portrayal. A 178-minute Ultimate Cut, approved by McDowell and containing new footage not included in the theatrical release, premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2023.
About Caligula Movie:
| Budget | $17.5 million |
| Box office collection | $10 million-$23.4 million |