Caligula [Rated Version] [DVD] [1979]
SKU:8539708
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Description
This lavish big-budget epic was the pinnacle of a uniquely Italian subgenre, the historical hardcore gore/porn extravaganza. The star-studded cast, perhaps lured by the high-profile involvement of producer Bob Guccione and screenwriter Gore Vidal, includes such luminaries as John Gielgud, Peter O'Toole, and Helen Mirren. Director Tinto Brass, whose similar treatment of Nazi Germany in Salon Kitty won him the job, did his best with the mammoth enterprise, but numerous production problems and re-edits took their toll on the finished product. When Caligula works best, it works because of Malcolm McDowell, whose crazed portrayal of the title Emperor is the embodiment of villainous corruption. McDowell raises his performance level to match the gaudy spectacle around him, which led to charges of overacting, but there are moments when he is absolutely riveting. Some of the cast doesn't fare as well, as O'Toole makes a particularly unsubtle Tiberius. The sex is graphic and steamy, particularly a feverish lesbian interlude between Penthouse Pets Lori Wagner and Marjorie Thorsen (using the pseudonym "Anneka di Lorenzo"), and the various carnival freaks used as atmosphere imbue the film with a grotesque, Fellini-like opulence. There are many memorable scenes and a magnificent score by Paul Clemente, but the heady brew of historical epic, hardcore sex, and gory violence proved overwhelming to many viewers. Still, Gore Vidal's script is surprisingly accurate, and manages to be entertainingly vulgar while bringing a rather loathsome slice of human history to vivid life, warts and all. The more explicit scenes were directed by Bob Guccione and Giancarlo Lui, causing both Vidal and Brass to remove their names from the credits.~Robert Firsching
Details
- GenreDrama
- SubgenreHistorical Epic,Sexploitation,Biopic [feature]
- TitleCaligula
- Countries ProducedItaly,United States
- Duration150 minutes
- Year of Release1979
- Product TagsRated Version, DVD
- FormatDVD
- Program TypeMovie
- Sound FeaturesDolby Digital w/o sub-woofer channel, stereo
- Screen FormatEnhanced Widescreen for 16x9 TV
- LanguageEnglish
- Region Code0
- StudioImage
Other
- Product NameCaligula [Rated Version] [DVD] [1979]
- UPC014381414523
Customer reviews
4.0
Rating 4 out of 5 stars with 2 reviews
(2 customer reviews)100%
would recommend
to a friend
to a friend
The vast majority of our reviews come from verified purchases. Reviews from customers may include My Best Buy members, employees, and Tech Insider Network members (as tagged). Select reviewers may receive discounted products or points for an honest, helpful review.
Page 1 Showing 1-2 of 2 reviews
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
A classic Malcolm McDowell movie role
||Posted .The movie has a lot of nudity and sexuality but that makes it more historically accurate.
I would recommend this to a friendRated 4 out of 5 stars
Best release to date
Posted .Overall the blu ray version is really good. There are a few scenes where the focus is soft and don't look high def, but the movie is 30 years old. Image Entertainment did a great job.
This review is from Caligula [Blu-ray] [Imperial Edition] [1979]
I would recommend this to a friend
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