It’s been almost 50 years since an all star cast of respected British actors were duped into appearing in a film that would later add a whole load of hardcore porn scenes. That film, when it was finally released after years of legal wrangling, was Caligula. Since its delayed release in 1979 there’s been a several different versions of the film appear and all with a cast that quickly distanced themselves from it as well as both the writer and director taking legal action to have their names removed. But it was producer Thomas Negovan who discovered over 90 hours of ‘lost’ footage and announced to the world that he would put together a definitive version of the film based on the original script by Gore Vidal. It would be puerile to suggest that after his announcement the notorious porn fest would be ‘coming soon’ but that doesn’t usually stop us and now we finally get to see Caligula Ultimate Cut.
Opening with a new animated title sequence it sets up the background of Caligula as having been adopted by devious grandfather Julius Caesar. From there it immediately dives into controversy with Caligula (Malcolm McDowell) in bed with his sister Drusilla (Teresa Ann Savoy) post coitus and discussing why he should be the rightful heir as to Julius Caesar (Peter O’Toole) as Emperor. And it sets in motion his murderous rise to power and seizing of the role as ruler of Roman empire, his descent into madness, corruption, debauchery and eventual assassination.
It is an epic story told at a newly restored epic length of almost three hours and the opulence is there for all to see with magnificent sets populated by almost relentless full frontal nudity. You won’t have seen such an array of cocks on screen since the cast of The Only Way is Essex last appeared. It’s hardly surprising since this was directed by Tinto Brass a director whose previous films were more often awash with flopping fleshy appendages akin to a butcher’s bin and it makes it quite clear that Caligula’s reign was one of debauched partying, excessive money wastage and sexual shenanigans equalled only by Boris Johnson’s premiership. But the theme that runs through Gore Vidal’s script is that it is not just that power corrupts but here absolute power corrupts absolutely and McDowell is in his depraved element captures the madness well.
What made the porn version film more controversial at the time was the appearance of Peter O’Toole and Sir John Gielgud. O’Toole as Julius Caesar is deliriously OTT chewing on the scenery whereas Gielgud is only fleetingly in the first act of this new version and lends it momentary gravitas. Helen Mirren as Caligula’s promiscuous wife Caesonia has her role greatly expanded from the 20 minutes in the films initial release and was an actress on the ascent and here and it is a bold career move in a role involving much semi nudity and compromising scenes but her talent is clear that she was set for …ahem……bigger things. Weakest is Teresa Ann Savoy as Caligula’s sister delivering lines with all the apathy of an Evri courier.
First shown at this year’s Cannes Film festival it’s a remarkable achievement with the new picture and sound footage seamlessly restored. Rightly ridiculed and shamed on its original release Caligula Ultimate Cut with its near fifty years of controversy is the stuff of legend and its story of savage cruelty and subterfuge is compelling in what is a messy, sprawling and often slightly camp epic.
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Here’s the Caligula Ultimate Cut trailer ……..
