Caligula (film)

Caligula
A withered coin depicting the profile of Caligula has blood running down from the eyes.
American theatrical release poster
Directed byTinto Brass[a]
Written byGore Vidal[b]
Produced by
  • Bob Guccione
  • Franco Rossellini
Starring
CinematographySilvano Ippoliti[c]
Edited by
Music by
Production
companies
Distributed by
  • Produzioni Atlas Consorziate (P.A.C.) (Italy)[3]
  • Analysis Film Releasing Corporation (United States)[4]
Release dates
  • August 14, 1979 (1979-08-14) (Italy)[5]
  • February 1, 1980 (1980-02-01) (United States)[6]
Running time
  • 156 minutes
  • 178 minutes (Ultimate Cut)
Countries
  • Italy
  • United States
Languages
  • English
  • Italian
Budget$17.5 million[7]
Box office$10 million-$23.4 million[8][9]

Caligula (Italian: Caligola) is a 1979 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.[10]

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.[11] Despite a generally negative reception, the film has gained notoriety as a cult classic[12] with significant merit for its political content and historical portrayal.[13] 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.


Cite error: There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or {{efn}} templates on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=lower-alpha}} template or {{notelist}} template (see the help page).

  1. ^ William Hawes (2008). Caligula and the Fight for Artistic Freedom: The Making, Marketing and Impact of the Bob Guccione Film. McFarland. p. 233. ISBN 978-0-7864-5240-8.
  2. ^ Kristopher Spencer (2008). Film and Television Scores, 1950–1979: A Critical Survey by Genre. McFarland. p. 125. ISBN 978-0-7864-5228-6.
  3. ^ Annuario del cinema italiano & audiovisivi (in Italian), Centro di studi di cultura, promozione e difusione del cinema, p. 59, OCLC 34869836
  4. ^ Anthony Slide (2014). The New Historical Dictionary of the American Film Industry. Routledge. p. 11. ISBN 978-1-135-92554-3.
  5. ^ William Hawes (2008). Caligula and the Fight for Artistic Freedom: The Making, Marketing and Impact of the Bob Guccione Film. McFarland. p. 195. ISBN 978-0-7864-5240-8.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference Hawes196 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference whatwildectasy268 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Donahue, Suzanne Mary (1987). American film distribution : the changing marketplace. UMI Research Press. p. 291. ISBN 9780835717762. Please note figures are for rentals in US and Canada
  9. ^ "Caligula box office at the-numbers.com". the-numbers.com.
  10. ^ What Culture#14 Archived August 6, 2020, at the Wayback Machine: Caligula
  11. ^ "Film Censorship: Caligula (1979)". Refused-Classification.com. Retrieved June 9, 2012.
  12. ^ Hawes, William (2008). Caligula and the Fight for Artistic Freedom: The Making, Marketing and Impact of the Bob Guccione Film. McFarland. p. 1. ISBN 978-0-7864-5240-8.
  13. ^ Stephen Prince (1980–1989). A New Pot of Gold: Hollywood Under the Electronic Rainbow. p. 350.