As a movie buff with over four decades of film-viewing experience under my belt, I can’t help but feel a sense of nostalgic intrigue when it comes to the infamous 1979 historical drama, Caligula. Having grown up in the era of VHS tapes and late-night cable viewing, this controversial film was one that managed to slip through the cracks and find its way onto my television screen, despite the best efforts of censors and moral guardians.
Similar to numerous individuals associated with the 1979 movie Caligula, its lead actor, Malcolm McDowell, expresses a rather negative perspective towards the contentious historical film. Known for his straightforward opinions, the actor’s attitude towards the film is frank and unreserved, going as far as to distance himself from it by saying: “I didn’t participate in that poorly made production.“
McDowell, primarily recognized for his performance in Stanley Kubrick’s “A Clockwork Orange,” featured in a controversial historical drama titled “Caligula.” This film combined elements of Caligula’s legendary reign and fall with an abundance of graphic sex and nudity that would leave the Targaryens embarrassed. Despite our ancestors being known for their lack of prudishness, “Caligula” seemed more focused on pushing the boundaries towards pornography in mainstream cinema rather than other concerns.
Originally penned by American author Gore Vidal and initially directed by Italian filmmaker Tinto Brass, the production of Caligula proved challenging. During filming, Tinto Brass was replaced as director by Bob Guccione, founder of Penthouse magazine. Unfortunately, this change resulted in a disastrous movie that both Vidal and Brass distanced themselves from. The edits made under Guccione were extensive, and the final product bore little resemblance to the original vision, becoming essentially a hardcore porn film featuring notable actors like Malcolm McDowell, Helen Mirren, and Peter O’Toole. Despite McDowell, who played Caligula, consistently criticizing the theatrical release, things changed in 2023.
As a cinephile conversing with The Guardian, I expressed my appreciation for the extended 178-minute cut of “Caligula,” painstakingly pieced together by producer Thomas Negovan from the original negatives. Indeed, this version has won my favor.
As a devoted cinephile, I must clarify that what’s being released isn’t a re-edited version of the original film, but rather an entirely new cinematic work. There isn’t a single frame from the Guccione’s Caligula in this fresh creation. This masterpiece has been meticulously assembled by the incredibly gifted filmmaker, Tom Negovan.
47 years ago, I poured my heart and soul into creating a film, only to find it overlooked and unappreciated. As a devoted cinephile, this experience left me disheartened. If critics were to revisit that era, they might question, “Why would Malcolm McDowell take on such an inferior project?” The truth, however, is far from that assumption. In reality, I didn’t create the subpar film; it was manipulated by a financially-driven producer who lacked artistic vision.
From ‘Caligula: The Porn Movie’ to Caligula: The Ultimate Cut
In the year 2007, an altered version of the movie “Caligula,” titled the “Imperial Edition,” hit the shelves as a physical media release. This edit excluded all explicit sexual content, and it bore similarities to Gabriele Albano-Verdini’s adaptation of Vidal’s script. A decade later, German director Alexander Tuschinski attempted another version of the film using Albano-Verdini’s original camera negatives; however, this edition remained unavailable and was solely explored in a documentary called “Mission: Caligula.”
In 2020, Negovan assumed control and worked on the movie that later screened at Cannes and earned McDowell’s approval. Although the public reaction hasn’t completely transformed, it’s intriguing to observe how Negovan’s version could significantly influence viewers’ perspectives of the film today. Given the numerous edits the film has undergone, it can be challenging to follow its evolution. However, Negovan might hold the answer to the mystery of which version of Caligula we are intended to watch. One point that remains clear: it’s not the Guccione cut.
The movie “Caligula: The Ultimate Cut” isn’t currently available for streaming, but it was bought for distribution within the U.S. this year. Some cinemas will show it in August 2024. A 4K Ultra High Definition Blu-ray version is planned for release at a later date.
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2024-08-06 01:02