Caligula

Original title: Caligola

1979
X
2h 36m

IMDb RATING

5.3/10

39K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

507

151

Costume Drama Dark Comedy Epic Historical Epic Period Drama Drama History

A dramatization of the ascent to Caesar and subsequent reign of Caligula, one of the most notorious leaders of ancient Rome. We see his ambition, his scheming, his perversion and decadence, ... Read allA dramatization of the ascent to Caesar and subsequent reign of Caligula, one of the most notorious leaders of ancient Rome. We see his ambition, his scheming, his perversion and decadence, his brutality and his lunacy.A dramatization of the ascent to Caesar and subsequent reign of Caligula, one of the most notorious leaders of ancient Rome. We see his ambition, his scheming, his perversion and decadence, his brutality and his lunacy.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

5.3/10

39K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

507

151

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 2 nominations

Photos218

+ 210

Top cast78

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Malcolm McDowell

Caligula

Peter O'Toole

Tiberius

Helen Mirren

Caesonia

Teresa Ann Savoy

Drusilla

Guido Mannari

Macro

John Gielgud

Nerva

Giancarlo Badessi

Claudius

Bruno Brive

Gemellus

Adriana Asti

Ennia

Leopoldo Trieste

Charicles

Paolo Bonacelli

Chaerea

John Steiner

Longinus

Mirella D'Angelo

Livia
(as Mirella Dangelo)

Rick Parets

Mnester
(as Richard Parets)

Pola Muzyka

Subura Singer
(as Paula Mitchell)

Osiride Pevarello

Giant

Donato Placido

Proculus

Joss Ackland

Chaerea
(English version)
(voice)
(uncredited)

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Caligula

Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
Dame Helen Mirren described this movie as "an irresistible mix of art and genitals". Although many actors would regret their involvement with the film, Mirren has remained proud of her role as "the most promiscuous woman in all of Rome", as she believed European Cinema was reaching a benchmark in sex positivity and "it was the time to do nudity". She was, however, taken aback with the film's hardcore footage.

Goofs
Caligula squeezes a lemon over a captured slave. Lemons did not reach Europe until the 2nd century, at least 100 years after Caligula's death.

Quotes
[first lines]
Caligula: I have existed from the morning of the world and I shall exist until the last star falls from the night. Although I have taken the form of Gaius Caligula, I am all men as I am no man and therefore I am a God.

Crazy credits
Due to numerous pending lawsuits and settlements at the time of the film's release, no one is technically fully credited for writing and directing the finished film.

Alternate versions
The censored version of this film has been released of a few occasions in Australia. In March 1981, a censored, R rated release to cinemas was made by Roadshow. Roadshow Home Video subsequently released the same film version to video in September 1984. This version ran for 146 minutes (PAL). It was again re-released by a 'no name' video label in the late 1990's. The censored DVD version appeared in December 2004, released by Warner Vision. The uncut version has been released in Australia, this was the fully uncut, X rated 156 minute PAL version. It was released in January 1985 by 'Palace X Video' - a version that is now an extremely rare collector's item. The uncut version has since been rated R18+ by the Australian classification board in 2021.

Connections
Edited into Video Macumba (1991)

Soundtracks
Spartacus
(uncredited)
Written by Aram Khachaturyan
Conducted by Bruno Nicolai

User reviews357

Review

Featured review

7/10

unbelievably indulgent, however beautiful and captivating

Where to start..... First off, the sets are wonderful. They are lavish and look authentic of the time, except as if a madman on acid was given a gigantic budget and told to "go at it!" Peter O'Toole is wonderful as the aging Tiberius. Malcolm McDowell gives a great performance as the young Caligula who kills his way to the throne of the Roman Emperor and then soon leads a legacy of terror. The supporting actors do a fine job yet, most of the young ladies were actually Penthouse Pets and were there for eye candy and irrelevant sex scenes. Depending on which film you are watching, the uncut or the R-version, some scenes are extremely graphic. I would usually always recommend the uncut version as opposed to the chopped one, but in this instance, the full length film is purely indulgent. Scenes of sex and gore were added to satisfy the producers (Penthouse) and the expected audience, not to add anything to the story. However, I am and will always be a fan of excess, so get the full version! The story is strong and keeps you interested. McDowell is charming throughout, which is quite the feat considering he murders family members, rapes and molests men and women, and sleeps with his sister. For fans of excess and sleaze, i highly recommend. Viewers who are purely interested in the reign of the notorious ruler might want to skip this one.