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Caligula

Original title: Caligola
  • 1979
  • X
  • 2h 36m
IMDb RATING
5.3/10
39K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
620
113
Malcolm McDowell in Caligula (1979)
Costume DramaDark ComedyEpicHistorical EpicPeriod DramaDramaHistory

A dramatization of the ascent to Caesar and subsequent reign of Caligula, one of the most notorious leaders of ancient Rome. We see his ambition, his scheming, his perversion and decadence, ... Read allA dramatization of the ascent to Caesar and subsequent reign of Caligula, one of the most notorious leaders of ancient Rome. We see his ambition, his scheming, his perversion and decadence, his brutality and his lunacy.A dramatization of the ascent to Caesar and subsequent reign of Caligula, one of the most notorious leaders of ancient Rome. We see his ambition, his scheming, his perversion and decadence, his brutality and his lunacy.

  • Director
    • Tinto Brass
  • Writers
    • Gore Vidal
    • Masolino D'Amico
    • Malcolm McDowell
  • Stars
    • Malcolm McDowell
    • Peter O'Toole
    • Helen Mirren
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • IMDb RATING
    5.3/10
    39K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    620
    113
    • Director
      • Tinto Brass
    • Writers
      • Gore Vidal
      • Masolino D'Amico
      • Malcolm McDowell
    • Stars
      • Malcolm McDowell
      • Peter O'Toole
      • Helen Mirren
    • 357User reviews
    • 134Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 nominations

    Photos218

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    Top cast78

    Edit
    Malcolm McDowell
    Malcolm McDowell
    • Caligula
    Peter O'Toole
    Peter O'Toole
    • Tiberius
    Helen Mirren
    Helen Mirren
    • Caesonia
    Teresa Ann Savoy
    Teresa Ann Savoy
    • Drusilla
    Guido Mannari
    Guido Mannari
    • Macro
    John Gielgud
    John Gielgud
    • Nerva
    Giancarlo Badessi
    • Claudius
    Bruno Brive
    • Gemellus
    Adriana Asti
    Adriana Asti
    • Ennia
    Leopoldo Trieste
    Leopoldo Trieste
    • Charicles
    Paolo Bonacelli
    Paolo Bonacelli
    • Chaerea
    John Steiner
    John Steiner
    • Longinus
    Mirella D'Angelo
    Mirella D'Angelo
    • Livia
    • (as Mirella Dangelo)
    Rick Parets
    • Mnester
    • (as Richard Parets)
    Pola Muzyka
    • Subura Singer
    • (as Paula Mitchell)
    Osiride Pevarello
    • Giant
    Donato Placido
    • Proculus
    Joss Ackland
    Joss Ackland
    • Chaerea
    • (English version)
    • (voice)
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Tinto Brass
    • Writers
      • Gore Vidal
      • Masolino D'Amico
      • Malcolm McDowell
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Caligula

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Dame Helen Mirren described this movie as "an irresistible mix of art and genitals". Although many actors would regret their involvement with the film, Mirren has remained proud of her role as "the most promiscuous woman in all of Rome", as she believed European Cinema was reaching a benchmark in sex positivity and "it was the time to do nudity". She was, however, taken aback with the film's hardcore footage.
    • Goofs
      Caligula squeezes a lemon over a captured slave. Lemons did not reach Europe until the 2nd century, at least 100 years after Caligula's death.
    • Quotes

      [first lines]

      Caligula: I have existed from the morning of the world and I shall exist until the last star falls from the night. Although I have taken the form of Gaius Caligula, I am all men as I am no man and therefore I am a God.

    • Crazy credits
      Due to numerous pending lawsuits and settlements at the time of the film's release, no one is technically fully credited for writing and directing the finished film.
    • Alternate versions
      The censored version of this film has been released of a few occasions in Australia. In March 1981, a censored, R rated release to cinemas was made by Roadshow. Roadshow Home Video subsequently released the same film version to video in September 1984. This version ran for 146 minutes (PAL). It was again re-released by a 'no name' video label in the late 1990's. The censored DVD version appeared in December 2004, released by Warner Vision. The uncut version has been released in Australia, this was the fully uncut, X rated 156 minute PAL version. It was released in January 1985 by 'Palace X Video' - a version that is now an extremely rare collector's item. The uncut version has since been rated R18+ by the Australian classification board in 2021.
    • Connections
      Edited into Video Macumba (1991)
    • Soundtracks
      Spartacus
      (uncredited)
      Written by Aram Khachaturyan
      Conducted by Bruno Nicolai

    User reviews357

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    7/10

    A tasteless and overblown farrago despite the presence of great actor as Gielgud, O'Toole, McDowell, and Helen Mirren

    The film builds around one of the most notoriously decadent of the Roman emperors, Caligula… The movie covers his rise to power, his four-year rule, and his bloody assassination… His vile deeds include crashing a wedding and sexually abusing the bride and groom, playing erotic fantasies with his sister (who is also his lover) and turning the Imperial Palace into an exclusive brothel…

    For a really big-money film, the treatment of the sexual scenes is daringly explicit, but somehow the obsession with it makes the film uneven… It blends very good actors, O'Toole and McDowell, with some simple-minded Penthouse models… The overall effect is disappointing...

    Guccione does deserve a hand for the exquisite sets, costumes, production values, and very fine cinematography
    • Nazi_Fighter_David
    • Sep 5, 2008
    • Permalink

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    FAQ27

    • How long is Caligula?Powered by Alexa
    • Does the edited R-rated version contain shots of the male anatomy or not? If so, wouldn't showing the male anatomy automatically guarantee an NC-17 or X rating?
    • Is Bob Guccione the director?
    • Did Gore Vidal disown the film because Bob Guccione and Tinto Brass added explicit sex and gore to the film?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 15, 1980 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • Italy
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official site (Germany)
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Calígula
    • Filming locations
      • Dear Studios, Rome, Lazio, Italy(Studio)
    • Production companies
      • Penthouse Films International
      • Felix Cinematografica
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $17,500,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 36 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono(original release)
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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