1 of 5 | Malcolm McDowell and Helen Mirren star in “Caligula.” Photo courtesy of Vitagraph Films
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 30 (UPI) — Caligula: The Ultimate Cut, which premiered at Beyond Fest in Los Angeles, will surely captivate fans of the notorious Penthouse production, offering an even more decadent and focused narrative.
The film depicts the rise and fall of Roman Emperor Caligula (Malcolm McDowell), exploring the carnal delights specialized by Penthouse magazine.
However, producer Bob Guccione took the film away from director Tinto Brass and introduced explicit sexual content to the orgy scenes. The Ultimate Cut consists entirely of alternate takes and unreleased footage, excluding Guccione’s additions.
Nevertheless, the essence of Caligula’s story remains intact. Caligula’s predecessor, Cesar Tiberius (Peter O’Toole), already indulged in a harem of sex slaves catering to his desires.
Regardless of the selected scenes, nudity, writhing, and simulated sex still abound among background actors. Some sexual acts are merely suggested in shadow.
Once Caligula assumes power, he revels in its abuse and disregards the responsibilities associated with his position.
Some absurdist elements persist, fitting for an epic centered around decadence.
Caligula dances and prances around, turning his palace into a Slip N Slide when it rains. Every time he turns around, McDowell inadvertently exposes his rear due to his short kilt.
This cut retains the most memorable scenes from the film, including the execution by decapitation machine and the assault on newlyweds Proculus (Donato Placido) and Livia (Mirella D’Angelo).
Additionally, much of the last hour of the film is restored for the first time, allowing Caligula’s descent into madness to unfold towards its inevitable conclusion.
McDowell effectively portrays Caligula’s megalomania through dramatic declarations like, “If only all Rome had just one neck,” as he declares himself a god.
The third hour also reinstates significant portions of Helen Mirren’s role as Caligula’s wife, Caesonia. It is surprising that Guccione would exclude erotic material involving his lead actors, particularly considering the softcore sex scenes they share in this section.
Caligula is far from dull. It can be overwhelming, with a runtime of over three hours plus an intermission. Perhaps a more concise version could have been created to enhance the viewing experience. Yet, Caligula seems destined to embrace excess by nature.
The only excessive aspect that feels out of place is the decision to begin the film with more than five title cards explaining the circumstances surrounding the original production. It is too much information to process at the film’s start.
This version of the film should simply be presented for audiences to discover anew or for fans to explore further before or after watching the film.
Even without Guccione’s interference, this edition of Caligula possesses an abundance of orgies and taboos. It will never be considered tame, even without the hardcore sex scenes added by Guccione.
Fred Topel, a film school graduate from Ithaca College, is an entertainment writer for UPI based in Los Angeles. He has been a professional film critic since 1999, a Rotten Tomatoes critic since 2001, and a member of the Television Critics Association since 2012 and the Critics Choice Association since 2023. Explore more of his work in Entertainment.
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