Caligola (1979)

Directors:

Tinto Brass
Bob Guccione
(more)

Writer:

Gore Vidal (earlier screenplay)
(more)

Release Date:

15 February 1980 (USA)

Genre:

Adult | Drama | History

Tagline:

What would you have done if you had been given absolute power of life and death over everybody else in the whole world?

Plot:

Details the graphic and shocking, yet undeniably tragic story of Rome's most infamous Caesar, Gaius Germanicus Caligula.

Plot Keywords:

Caligula | Hardcore | Horse | Orgy | Emperor

Cast

Malcolm McDowell	...	Caligula
Teresa Ann Savoy	...	Drusilla
Guido Mannari	...	Macro
John Gielgud	...	Nerva
Peter O'Toole	...	Tiberius
Giancarlo Badessi	...	Claudius
Bruno Brive	...	Gemellus
Adriana Asti	...	Ennia
Leopoldo Trieste	...	Charicles
Paolo Bonacelli	...	Chaerea
John Steiner	...	Longinus
Mirella D'Angelo	...	Livia (as Mirella Dangelo)
Helen Mirren	...	Caesonia
Rick Parets	...	Mnester (as Richard Parets)
Paula Mitchell	...	Subura Singer
Osiride Pevarello	...	Giant
Donato Placido	...	Proculus
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Anneka Di Lorenzo	...	Messalina
Lori Wagner	...	Agrippina
Patrick Allen	...	Macro (voice) (uncredited)
Gerardo Amato	...	Roman Soldier (uncredited)
Pino Ammendola	...	Roman Soldier (uncredited)
Eduardo Bergara Leumann	...	High Priest of Rome (uncredited)
Signe Berger	...	Imperial Brothel Worker (uncredited)
Eolo Capritti	...	The Executioner (uncredited)
Valerie Rae Clark	...	Priestess of Isis / Imperial Brothel Worker (uncredited)
Maria Cumani Quasimodo	...	Priestess of Isis (uncredited)
Lucky Fellows	...	Man in Imperial Brothel (uncredited)
Jane Hargrave	...	Priestess of Isis / Imperial Brothel Worker (uncredited)
Henrietta Kelogg	...	Imperial Brothel Worker (uncredited)
John Francis Lane	...	Guest at Proculus' Wedding (uncredited)
Giuseppe Maffioli	...	Master of Ceremonies (uncredited)
Juliet Morris	...	Imperial Brothel Worker (uncredited)
Carolyn Patsis	...	Imperial Brothel Worker (uncredited)
Susanne Saxon	...	Imperial Brothel Worker (uncredited)
Melanie Sutherland	...	Imperial Brothel Worker (uncredited)
Bonnie Dee Wilson	...	Imperial Brothel Worker (uncredited)

Directed by
Tinto Brass		(principal photography)
Bob Guccione		(additional footage)
Giancarlo Lui		(additional footage)

Writing credits
Gore Vidal		(earlier screenplay)
Bob Guccione		(additional scenes) (1984 version) uncredited &
Giancarlo Lui		(additional scenes) (1984 version) uncredited
Franco Rossellini		(dialogue) (1984 version) uncredited

Produced by
Bob Guccione	....	producer
Franco Rossellini	....	producer
Franco Rossellini	....	line producer (uncredited)
Jack H. Silverman	....	executive producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Bruno Nicolai		(as Paul Clemente)
Renzo Rossellini		(1984)

Cinematography by
Silvano Ippoliti		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Nino Baragli
Enzo Micarelli		(1984 version)
Russell Lloyd		(uncredited)

Casting by
Paolo Heusch
Roberto Tatti

Art Direction by
Danilo Donati

Costume Design by
Danilo Donati		(uncredited)

Makeup Department
Giuseppe Banchelli	....	makeup artist (as Guiseppe Banchelli)
Iole Cecchini	....	hair stylist (as Jole Cecchini)

Production Management
Mario Di Biase	....	production manager
Sergio Galiano	....	unit manager
Augusto Marabelli	....	production supervisor
Alessandro Mattei	....	production supervisor
Franco Rossellini	....	post-production supervisor (1984 version)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Piernico Solinas	....	first assistant director
Luca Ronchi	....	second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Gianpiero Grassi	....	property master
Domenico Mancino	....	blacksmith
Giovanni Natalucci	....	architect
Luigi Urbani	....	set dresser
Franco Velchi	....	architect

Sound Department
Marco Di Biase	....	boom operator
Gerry Humphreys	....	dubbing mixer
Archie Ludski	....	dialogue editor
Claudio Maielli	....	sound engineer
Giuliano Maielli	....	boom operator
Stefano Morandi	....	sound mixer (1984 version)
Robin O'Donoghue	....	dubbing mixer
Winston Ryder	....	supervising sound editor
Roger Van Engel	....	sound editor

Special Effects by
Franco Celli	....	special effects
Marcello Coccia	....	special effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Eddie Adams	....	special photographer
Jerry Bauer	....	special photographer
Giuseppe Di Biase	....	camera operator (as Pino Di Biase)
Bob Guccione	....	cinematographer: additional scenes
Giancarlo Lui	....	cinematographer: additional scenes
Stan Malinowski	....	special photographer
Claudio Patriarca	....	special photographer
Enrico Sasso	....	camera operator
Mario Tursi	....	unit photographer

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Gloria Musetta	....	wardrobe mistress (as Gloria Picone Mussetta)
Gregorio Simili	....	wardrobe master

Editorial Department
Peter Krook	....	assistant editor
Giancarlo Lui	....	post-production director
Enzo Natale	....	post-production coordinator (1984 version)
Stuart Urban	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Bruno Nicolai	....	conductor (as Paul Clemente)
Bruno Nicolai	....	orchestrator (as Paul Clemente)

Other crew
Walter Alford	....	unit publicist
Ferruccio Amendola	....	dubbing director (1984 version)
Carla Cipriani	....	continuity
Bruno Di Bartolomei	....	accountant
Leslie Jay	....	assistant to producers
Tito LeDuc	....	choreographer (as Tito Le Duc)
Giuseppe Maffioli	....	consultant: gastronomy
Pino Pennesi	....	choreographer
Franco Rossellini	....	director: additional scenes (1984 version)
Maria Ruhle	....	unit publicist
Louise Vincent	....	dialogue director
Masolino D'Amico	....	translator (uncredited)
Paula Mitchell	....	researcher (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Penthouse Films International
• Felix Cinematografica

Distributors

• Produzioni Atlas Consorziate (P.A.C.) (1979) (Italy) (theatrical) (as "Caligola")
• Analysis Film Releasing Corporation (1980) (USA) (theatrical)
• Seville Pictures (1980) (Canada) (theatrical) (Canada: Quebec)
• Ízaro Films (1981) (Spain) (theatrical)
• GTO (UK)
• Citadel Films (1981) (Canada) (theatrical) (Canada: English Canada)
• Gaumont Italia (1984) (Italy) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Independent Artists (I) (1999) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Vestron Video (1996) (USA) (VHS)
• Image Entertainment (1999) (USA) (DVD)
• Cine-Studio (1981) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Roadshow Entertainment (1981) (Australia) (theatrical) (re-edit)
• Tobis Filmkunst (????) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Tobis (1980) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Amuse Pictures (????) (Japan) (DVD)
• BRI Video (????) (USA) (VHS) (R version)
• Bitworks (????) (Japan) (DVD)
• Cine Video Corporation (CVC) S.r.l. (Italy) (VHS) (1984 version)
• Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) (2001) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Ekaterinburg Art Home Video (EAHV) (????) (Russia) (DVD)
• Ekaterinburg Art Home Video (EAHV) (????) (Russia) (VHS)
• Electric (????) (UK) (VHS)
• Filmco Sweden (????) (Sweden) (VHS)
• Future Film (2001) (Finland) (DVD) (2-disc edition)
• Future Film (2008) (Finland) (DVD) (3-disc edition)
• General Media International Financial Services (GMIFS) N.V.
• Hem Films/HemVideo Film (????) (Sweden) (VHS) (re-release)
• Home Video Hellas (HVH) (????) (Greece) (VHS)
• Image Entertainment (1999) (USA) (DVD) (widescreen)
• Image Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• KAVAN-Scanbox Entertainment (????) (Denmark) (VHS)
• Movies Select Video (1992) (Belgium) (VHS) (un-cut version)
• Movies Select Video (19??) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Paradox Entertainment Group (2007) (Canada) (DVD)
• Penthouse Video (1984) (USA) (VHS)
• Roadshow Home Video (????) (Australia) (VHS)
• Screen Multimedia-Metrodome Distribution (????) (UK) (VHS) (re-release)
• TV3 (1992) (Finland) (TV)
• Universal Video (UV) (????) (Italy) (VHS)
• Video Film Express (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD) (3-disc imperial edition)
• Video Screen (1984) (Belgium) (VHS) (cut version)
• Warner Vision Australia (2005) (Australia) (DVD) (cut)

Other Companies

• Cine Audio Effects  sound effects and foley design
• Cinenoleggio  technical equipment
• Ferani Veste  costume rental
• L.C.P. di Pompei  shoes
• Rancati dei Fratelli Sormani  props (as Rancate of Sormani)
• Rocchetti e Carboni  wigs (as Rocchetti-Carboni)
• Royal Italian Symphonia  orchestra
• Soc G.E.S.C.A. S.p.a.  accounting (as Soc. G.E.S.C.A. Spa.)
• Twickenham Film Studios  sound re-recording (as Twickenham Studios, London, England)
• V.G. S.r.l.  titles and opticals (1984 version)

Also Known As:

Caligula (USA)
Caligula, My Son (UK)
Caligvla (International: English title) (alternative spelling)
Gore Vidal's Caligola (Italy) (working title)
Io, Caligola (Italy) (recut version)

Runtime:

156 min | Spain:137 min | USA:102 min (R-rated version) | 210 min (original cut) | Italy:123 min (recut version) | USA:148 min (re-release)

Country:

Italy | USA

Language:

Italian | English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby (re-release: 1999) | Mono (original release)

Certification:

Germany:18 (SPIO/JK) (cut) | USA:R (heavily cut) | USA:Unrated (uncut) | Spain:X | Italy:VM18 | Canada:R (Manitoba/Ontario) | New Zealand:R18 | Finland:K-18 (heavily cut) (1981) | Australia:Refused Classification (2005) | Belgium:16 (video rating) | Belgium:KNT (original rating) | Netherlands:16 | West Germany:18 (nf) | USA:NC-17 (original rating) | France:-16 | France:X (DVD release) | Japan:R-18 | UK:18 (uncut version) | Canada:R (Nova Scotia) (re-rating) (2007) | Brazil:18 | Portugal:M/18 (DVD rating) (uncut) | Spain:18 | Australia:(Banned) (original rating) | Australia:R (re-rating, cut) (1981) | Australia:R (Original rating) (uncut) | Australia:X (Video rating) (1984) | Argentina:18 | Canada:(Banned) (Nova Scotia) (original rating) | Chile:18 | Denmark:15 (DVD rating) | Denmark:16 | Finland:K-18 (uncut) (2001) | Hong Kong:III | Iceland:(Banned) (original rating) | Iceland:16 (cut) | Norway:18 | Peru:18 | South Korea:18 (cut) | Sweden:15 | USA:X (self applied MA for "Mature Audiences") | Australia:R (cut) | UK:X (original rating: 1980) (cut) | Germany:BPjM Restricted

Filming Locations:

Dear Studios, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company:

Penthouse Films International

Trivia:

The scene where Caligula gets a nervous breakdown during the thunderstorm was written by Malcolm McDowell himself.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Charea proclaims Claudius emperor after killing Caligula and his family. In reality, it was another Praetorian who proclaimed Claudius as emperor; Charea had been planning to kill Claudius as well to eliminate the entire imperial family.

Quotes:

[Caligula is sick with the fever]
Attendent: I offer my life if Jupiter will only spare our beloved Emperor!
Caligula: Jupiter accepts your offer.
[Caligula turns to his guards]
Caligula: Execute him.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: Catalina Caper (#3.4)" (1990)

Soundtrack:

We Are One

Beyond the controversy lies a good film

This film, as with all, has good points and bad points.

In general, I feel that the good ones far outweigh the bad.

The film simply gives the story of the rise and death of Emperor Caligula in a very straight-forward manner. Indeed, it can be seen as shocking, but I think that this is a side-effect of it's desire to be realistic, rather than a deliberate act on the part of the film-makers.

The cinematography and camera work is awful. The huge sets seem at times almost claustrophobic which is an absolute crime considering the magnificence of them. There is also too much emphasis on Caligula himself, to the detriment of revealing some important traits in other characters, making them seem somewhat shallow at times.

The sex scenes are very well placed within the context of the film. I thought that only two scenes stood out as being unnecessarily overt, but for the most part, the explicitness is on the fringe of the focus of each scene, while also playing a major part in the atmosphere.

Never once did I feel that any dialogue was out of place, nor did the acting strike me as being bad.

By far the biggest problem with this film is the fact that the sexual content is widely advertised and therefore anticipated before viewing. This may cause people to focus dominantly on those scenes without really looking at the film as a whole. For me, it enhanced the film. Not in a particularly titillating way, but in the fact that there was no compromise during scenes of sexual acts. Roman orgies are regarded to have been extremely opulent and promiscuous - I found it refreshing to see one as it may have actually been rather than lots of fully-clothed laughing fat men pouring red wine over their faces and eating grapes while draped with female automatons.

In summary, Caligula definitely has it's place in film history due to it's controversy, but if you look beyond that controversy, you should find a rather good film which neatly tells the story of how power can turn someone into a madman.