During the glory days of Mom and Pop videostores when they had the “adults only” backrooms featuring X-rated VHS tapes, Caligula classed up the shelves that overflowed with the latest quickies from Seka, Ron Jeremy and Ginger Lynn Allen. A video box advertising the names of OToole, Gielgud and Vidal made the adult section seem adult. Caligula depicted a historical figure thus allowing a shop owner to truthfully say, “We got some educational videos back there.” Now the image from the constantly rented VHS tape has been upgraded to 1080p on Caligula: The Imperial Edition.
The short reign of Caligula over the empire of Rome (37 to 41 A.D.) is perfect fodder for an adult action feature. Instead of being known for bringing innovations to civilization, his time beneath the laurels was noted for depravity and debauchery. The film has no problem focusing on the carnal history that was recorded into annals with bodily fluids. This isnt Masterpiece Theater. This is the “love child” of Penthouse magazines Bob Guccione when he bred the art house with the porn theater.
Caligula shows how the young man (Malcolm McDowell) assumed power when Emperor Tiberius Caesar (Peter O’Toole) died. Tiberius wasnt quite dead, but he gets a helping hand to immortality to the delight of Caligula. While many wish for Caligula to take a wife so that he might have an heir, the new Emperor loves his sister too much. But no matter how debaucherous the times, Rome wont tolerate an incestious empire. He finally claims a bride (Helen Mirren) who is notorious for being a slut. Shes perfect for him and has no problems when he carries out his government duties. One of his official acts includes arriving at a wedding and claiming the virginity of both bride and groom. Caligula came out around the same time as Al Pacinos Cruising. What was in the water that made covering your hand in cooking fat and fisting a cinematic trend? Ouch!
Even with all the fun times, the Roman senators get pissed off at Caligula for various projects. He decides to invade England. He funds the campaign by creating a giant brothel and stocking it with the senators wives. Not a bad idea for how to fund a war. Instead of conquering England, he takes the army a few miles outside the city and attacks water plants. They return home as conquerers. Nobody is impressed. This pretty much seals his fate as the haters decide to break out the “Ides of March” commemorative daggers. Thus the good times end.
Malcolm McDowells Caligula character seems a continuation of his work in A Clockwork Orange. Caligula could be mistaken for an outtake from Alexs time in prison when he imagined himself as various madman from books. Peter OToole and John Gielgud dont stick around too long. Its easy to see why OToole took the role from his interaction with the fishies.
For fans of Oscar winner Helen Mirren, youll be pleased by her performance as Caligulas wife. She shines while being led around on a collar and leash. She has a naughty twinkle in her eye that makes her perfect in the role. She’s not Queen Elizabeth in this royal portrayal.
While some wish Caligula would be forgotten (including screenwriter Gore Vidal), this film does serve as a bridge between the lofty I, Claudius and HBO/BBCs Rome. Without Caligula, would we have seen Polly Walker as a ruthless sexual creature? Or would she have been noble and chaste as she screwed her son to the top?
Of the two versions featured on the DVD set, the Pre-Release version works better as movie. The events are ordered to make better story sense. The extra footage in the theatrical release is pure X-rated action. According to people interviewed in the bonus features, Guccione wanted to push the level of sexual intercourse in the film. Whats the point of getting an X Rating if you arent going all the way? After Brass was gone from the editing room, Guccione and crew shot plenty of insert shots that focused on insertion. If youre watching Caligula for historical knowledge, put in the Pre-Release DVD. If you want to enjoy classy adult entertainment, go for the Theatrical cut.
The picture is 1.85:1 anamorphic. The transfer is relatively clean through all the dirty action. The Blu-ray image averages about 20 Mbps. The earlier DVD was 5 Mbps. The smoke and soft focus keeps the film grainy. The soundtrack is in DTS-HD Master Audio 5.0 and Dolby Digital Mono. The levels are fine. You might have to turn down the volume to keep your neighbors from hearing the debauchery. The subtitles are in Spanish.
Three Audio Commentaries include two major surprises. Malcolm McDowell discusses the film with Nick Redman, a film writer. Malcolm points out that he got involved with the project when he thought it would be directed by Nicholas Roeg (The Man Who Fell to Earth). Even more surprising is Helen Mirren happily chatting about the film with Alan Jones and James Chaffin. She doesnt see this film as a stigma on her award winning career. The final commentary is from Ernest Volkman, the Penthouse reporter who covered the production for the magazine.
Deleted and Alternate Scenes (47:51) have been culled from the cutting room floor. Most extra scenes appear to have been early cuts using black and white dailies. All of them lack sound, but the DVD producers put music to the action. It almost looks like lost Josef von Sternberg film clips.
My Roman Holiday with John Steiner (24:14) is a confession of an English actor who was sucked into Italian filmmaking for decades. Hes really blunt about the quality of the films, but has fond memories of life on the set. He played Longinus, the bald advisor to Caligula. He hated the experience, but enjoyed the paycheck. Steiner points out how Guccione made the film for free since he used Italian tax credits involving Penthouse to fund the budget.
Caligulas Pet: A Conversation with Lori Wagner (28:18) introduces us to the Penthouse Pet of the Century and constant extra in the film. She shares great memories of the whirlwind of being a Pet in Rome. She finally gets her big break in the movie when the director wants her to give a tortured prisoner a golden shower. The director didnt want to use a special effect. Ewww. Shes also not a fan of her girl-girl scene. But she enjoyed her time with John Steiner.
Tinto Brass: Orgy of Power (34:26) gives us a recent interview with the man who took the helm of this outrageous production. Its easy to see how Gore Vidal locked horns with him. He speaks in Italian so the interview is subtitled in English.
The Making of Caligula: Documentary (1:01:46) was produced when Gore Vidal was still on good terms with Guccione. They build up the hype by interviewing all the Rome press that havent been allowed on the set. Theres amazing footage of the massive sets being built. They point out the historic significance of dirty statues.
Featurette (9:55) is the vintage promo film. Guccione talks about how he wants to make a film that merges the two film communities – commercial and porn. He came close.
Behind the Scenes (67:00) is raw silent footage shot by the crew that made the documentary. Theres bonus footage of Caligulas Crisco moment. Plenty of extra Isis Pool moments with the extras.
Theatrical Trailer (1:51) shows off the opulence of the sets. It must have been hard to find enough non-nude footage to create a green banded trailer.
Teaser Trailer (1:09) has Bob Guccione promising the viewing audience that he was making a controversial film that would change the viewing habits of the moving going public.
R-Rated Release Trailer (1:02) focuses on Caligulas insanity versus pushing his perverted nature. You can almost take your kids to see this cut.
Still Galleries has dozens of images taken for the film.
DVD ROM features this is packed with the press kit notes, the scripts, pdf files for the cast biographies and plenty of Penthouse articles dealing with the movie. You get an investigative pictorial of the girl-girl action from the set.
Caligula: The Imperial Edition brings this film that dared to mingle art aspirations with adult explorations into the world of Blu-ray. Most of the bonus features remain in standard def. Caligula is a movie that dared to remind us that the Romans werent the squeaky clean civilization as presented in high school textbooks. They were a carnal culture that conquered the known world. For folks who rented the VHS tape from the backroom for educational purposes, youll learn plenty about this production.
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Image Entertainment presents Caligula: The Imperial Edition. Directed by Tinto Brass. Starring Malcolm McDowell, Helen Mirren, Peter OToole and John Gielgud. Written by Gore Vidal. Running time: 156 minutes. Pre-release version: 144 minutes. Rated X. Released on DVD: November 4, 2008. Available at Amazon.
