Search - Caligula [Rated] [Widescreen] on DVD

MPAA Rating: R Content Advisory: Graphic Violence, Nudity, Strong Sexual Content, Rape & Sexual Abuse, Not For Children, Adult Language Movie Release: 1979 DVD Release: 11/30/1999 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Edition: Restored/Remastered,Special Collection SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 42 mins Studio: Image Entertainment Members Wishing: 21 Genres: Epic, Historical Film, Biopic [feature], Historical Epic, Sexploitation See Also: Caligula [Blu-ray] [Imperial Edition]

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, All Movie Guide

Malcolm McDowell - Caligula
Teresa Ann Savoy - Drusilla
Helen Mirren - Cesonia
Peter O'Toole - Tiberius
John Gielgud - Nerva
John Steiner - Longino

One of the most strikingly deviant films ever committed to celluloid, Caligula is now available in R-rated form courtesy of the folks at Image Entertainment. Presented in 1.85:1 widescreen and featuring an English Dolby Digital Stereo soundtrack, this release is sure to shock audiences despite the fact that more explicit footage was removed from this particular version of the film. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide