MovieChat Forums > Caligola (1980) Discussion > ‘An irresistible mix of art and genitals...

‘An irresistible mix of art and genitals’: Caligula finally comes to Cannes

posted 2 years ago by Satan2016 (25525)
6 replies | jump to latest

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/may/19/an-irresistible-mix-of-art-and-genitals-caligula-finally-comes-to-cannes

Described by its screenwriter, Gore Vidal, as ‘easily one of the worst films ever made’, Caligula has been re-edited by Thomas Negovan and received its premiere this week. Here, he explains his decision to revisit the swords-and-sandals shockfest

Screened for the first time on Wednesday, the 2023 version is billed as Caligula: The Ultimate Cut, and Negovan is keen to point out that, “The thing that’s bizarrely unique about it is it’s almost like the version that was released in 1979 is the deviant version. Ours is closer to what was originally intended. Even the word restoration … I don’t know what word works, but it isn’t a restoration. I don’t know what to call it.”

A quick recap for the uninitiated: involving more drama than every season of Love Island combined, the 1979 swords-and-sandals shockfest Caligula has long been infamous as one of cinema’s most disastrous productions, its very title a byword for what can happen when a creative project spins out of control. Starring Malcolm McDowell, Helen Mirren, John Gielgud and Peter O’Toole plus a busload of porn stars, the lurid epic about the life of the mad Roman emperor Caligula, was a noble attempt to create the most explicit prestige picture in the history of the moving image.

An anonymous crew member described it as “not a shoot, it’s the Fourth Reich. Caligula Uber Alles”. The finished film itself was hardly less chaotic. With finance put together by Penthouse founder Bob Guccione, a script by the leftwing intellectual Gore Vidal, and Tinto Brass, a cult Italian film-maker famed for his erotic movies, in the director’s chair, perhaps on paper the film had a certain sort of bold logic to it. Theoretically, these three brought to the table the unique combination of hedonism, intellect and wildcard creativity that the decadent, explicit, historical epic would need. What could possibly go wrong?

[–] Satan2016 (25525) 2 years ago

‘Caligula’ Director Tinto Brass Slams ‘Caligula – The Ultimate Cut’ Screening in Cannes, Says He Is Taking Legal Action Against Penthouse Films

https://variety.com/2023/film/global/caligula-director-tinto-brass-slams-caligula-the-ultimate-cut-cannes-legal-action-penthouse-films-1235617481/

More than 40 years after his bitter battle with Bob Guccione over cult classic “Caligula,” Italian director Tinto Brass is still fighting.

[–] [deleted] 2 years ago

I didn't know old Tinto was still alive!

[–] Devilman (448) a year ago

Still alive but suffers from dementia based on multiple sources. I saw the promo it seems more promising than what was released four decade ago !

From all the interviews about the remastered re-edit. It will not feature any of the hardcore segments which is a relief.

[–] CalvinJarrett (451) a year ago

I wonder how much of the 90+ hours of footage Negovan unearthed was of the Imperial Bordello. I understand people's beef with its inclusion in the film. And perhaps it should not be included in this version, but if more footage exists than the 7 minutes or so we see in the film, I, for one, would pay to see it. I like it from a purely porn perspective, as I'm sure many other connoisseurs do. I think there would be a high demand for it, and if it exists, it should be made available at least as a separate video.

[–] Devilman (448) a year ago

I know many want the uncut and full segment of the scenes filmed by Bob Guccione. But I don't think it will ever see the light of day. Because there must be some legal issues behind that particular segment otherwise it would have surfaced years ago as extras or directors cut.

Of course there is a slight chance that all that footage was lost/destroyed years ago. Only one documentary shows different camera angles from that segment.

[–] CalvinJarrett (451) a year ago

Thanks, Devilman. I think I know what documentary you're talking about. Was it 'The Making of Caligula,' which was included as an extra on the unrated DVD? If not, if you could let me know the title and where it can be found, I'd at least like to watch that. Thank you.

I can't help but think that it's there. If anyone would have it, it would be Penthouse, right? In terms of legal issues, I wonder if that's really the case. After all they were able to include the double blow job, and plenty of the Penthouse Pets having unstimulated sex in the DVD and Blu-Rays. It doesn't seem as though there is any type of injunction or liability threat to releasing footage from the Guccione footage taken in early 1977. I think Anneka di Lorenzo attempted to sue over that footage in the early '80's, but she was unsuccessful. (Sadly, she died in an auto accident maybe 15 years ago or so.)