Caligula, to sum up an epic mess, is one of the worst films ever put on celluloid. The entire production has an epic story behind it, one more interesting than the film itself. Gore Vidal wrote the original script. He had become friends with Bob Guccione, Penthouse publisher, who gave a ton of money towards the project. Original director Tinto Brass was signed on to bring the Roman Empire to life. However, each of these three principle members wanted their own way. Vidal wanted the film to stick to the script he had worked so hard on. Guccione wanted a porn, dressed up as a lavish period piece. Brass wanted to create the lavish period piece but was not so insistent on the excess amounts of flesh. The result is Caligula, a clashing of three people unable to work creatively. The film shows this in every frame. Nothing really makes narrative sense. The scenes often seem out of order, the plot stays fairly stagnant, and the sex scenes are graphic with little context to the movie.
The remaining plot of the film is about Caligula becoming Caesar and ruling Rome. He is completely mad and his judgment is poor as soon as the crown is upon his head. The entire movie is a disgusting portrayal of a man with too much power. Except the story never has the sense to show drama or emotion. Instead, when someone is dead, the film cuts to another visually unstimulating sex scene. No longer should this film be called anything but a porno.
The real question is why did no one pull the plug on this fiasco? This is the most repugnant, obscene, and painfully dull film ever created. There is absolutely no entertainment to be found. In this film, you will see full nudity (both male and female), midget fellatio, genitalia removal, incest, child birth, crushed children, beheadings, ejaculation, urination and plenty of other tasteless material. Some of these taboo scenarios have been done in other films and worked because the filmmakers knew how to stage shock properly.
The movie was expensive to make although it really does not show. The sets look pretty hokey compared to these days. The costumes probably cost a pretty penny – though they do not stay on long – so it is hard to tell. The acting is pretty awful all around. Malcolm McDowell emulates a homosexual Roman, dancing around like a princess and fisting men. He just looks embarrassing. His dance for the previous Caesar, Tiberious (Peter O’Toole), is the one scene that is absolutely hilarious. Whoever choreographed it should never work again. Helen Mirren shows up here and there, with little to do or say. Peter O’Toole’s character dies early on. The rest of the actors are mainly Penthouse pets or other people willing to shed their clothes for the Roman “god.”
There is absolutely nothing positive to say about the movie. Even on the filmmaking side, there are plenty of errors in continuity and multiple other gaffes. The cinematography is nothing special, often making the rich empire look bland.
Caligula is a film that has only one thing spectacular about it. It falls tremendously on its ugly, brutish face. The story is terribly incomplex and unsatisfying, the filmmaking uninspired and even the sex scenes are not particularly sexy. This turgid piece of porn cinema fails completely on all levels. Caligula says, “I have existed from the morning of the world, and I shall exist till the last star falls from the night.” Thankfully, this is not the case for this sad excuse for a film.
Special Features:
This is where Caligula rises from the grave and does something right. The DVD from Image Entertainment is perfect for those who are fans of the film or just interested in its history. The DVD certainly earns its title of “Imperial Edition”. Whether or not anyone really needs a deluxe edition of Caligula is what is highly debatable.
Disc one contains the uncensored, hardcore version of Caligula. Also included on the disc are all of the trailers for the film. Disc two has the alternate version of Caligula that has some of the excess trimmed out of it. There are also three commentaries included. The first and best of which has Malcolm McDowell on it. The second commentary has Helen Mirren discussing her involvement with the production. The final commentary has Ernest Volkman, who has a genuine love for the film. He is also the spokesman for Penthouse. I have to admit I am a bit puzzled that McDowell and Mirren did not realize they were making such a graphic film. Sure, a lot of the nudity was probably done in pick ups or away from the two actors. However, McDowell does his fair share of nastiness. Mirren is in the same boat, though she is more of a bystander of the events. Also included on the disc is a bloated amount of deleted scenes that should whet the appetite of the hungriest fan.
Disc three has the Making of Caligula documentary and featurette. The Making of Caligula documentary is an hour long and covers more of the secrecy on the set. The featurette is a quick montage of rare footage not in the documentary. Caligula’s Pet: A Conversation with Lori Wagner is an interesting featurette on the Penthouse Pet in the film who urinates on a dead guy. My Roman Holiday with John Steiner is a featurette with Steiner discussing his acting work in films. Tinto Brass: The Orgy of Power is Brass’s take on the production and how everything went horribly wrong. Also included on the third disc is some more behind the scenes footage, still galleries and a DVD-ROM feature with the script and some extra material.
Overall:
Caligula: The Imperial Edition is for hardcore fans of the film or hardcore fetishists only. All others, need not bother. There is a wealth of material to be found here but only those truly devoted will care.
– G. Brandon Hill (www.MoviePulse.net)
