In 1980, one of the most controversial films of all time hit theatres, chronicling the vulgar reign of the Roman emperor Gaius Caligula. The film was filled with horrific sex, graphic violence and a pretty confronting scene wherein Helen Mirren’s character gives birth in front of the Roman senators. From the start of production, the film was a gamble, constant arguments, an exploitative audition process and late payments cursed any chance it ever had of releasing. Even after production, the film’s creators fought the classification board and censors to preserve what they believed to be an innovation of cinema, a blend of pornography and high-class sophisticated movie-making.
I can still remember the first time I saw a copy of the movie, I must have been maybe 12 or 13, I asked my father about it and he warned me of the disturbing nature. Years later in High School, I found it lying on Stan and feeling adventurous, I watched as Malcolm McDowell wreaked havoc on the Roman Empire, terrorising for his amusement. It was like nothing I had ever seen. When I planned to show my best friend the film, it was gone. That could have been the last time I ever watched ‘Caligula’.
Caligula is called upon by Tiberius, his mentor and grandfather via adoption, he watches and observes Tiberius’s debaucherous and pleasure-obsessed lifestyle, living amongst nymphs and torturing whomever he pleases. When Tiberius falls ill, Caligula and Macro kill him so Caligula can assume the throne. With Tiberius’s lifestyle remaining in his mind all the time and his obsession with Godly status, Caligula indulges in his power and playfully torments senators, soldiers and even his citizens, until the public decide that finally, enough is enough.
While I’m not too sure this is Malcolm McDowell’s greatest performance, it’s certainly his most interesting. He mirrors his Alex DeLarge portrayal but distinguishes just enough to set the pair apart. While DeLarge relishes in the action, Caligula relishes in the possibility, the knowledge that he can. Teresa Ann Savoy plays Druscilla, Caligula’s sister and lover. Savoy does a brilliant job as Caligula’s equaliser, the only woman who can keep him sane, and her soft voice and presence easily has you falling in love with her. Helen Mirren plays Ceasonia, but unfortunately, not much is done with her, even in the Ultimate Cut. She doesn’t contribute to the story as much as Druscilla and is mostly put onstage for Caligula to play with. The film’s graphic content means her most prominent scene is when she gives birth in front of Roman senators, with the camera hell-bent on showing you the child’s crown. Mirren is a phenomenal actress, but this film certainly did her dirty. Peter O’Toole plays Tiberius and while he’s only onscreen for the first half hour, he steals the show. Even without the exemplary makeup work by Giuseppe Banchelli, O’Toole’s degenerative body language, his crooked smile, his death stare and his broken walk is haunting and his acting in his death scene is almost terrifying.
In 2024, ‘Caligula: The Ultimate Cut’ was released, endorsed by McDowell and following the original screenplay by Gore Vidal, rather than the interpretation of director, Tinto Brass or producer, Bob Guccione. I sat down to watch the 3-hour epic and I was stunned. It was a masterpiece. Part of the Ultimate Cut release by Umbrella Entertainment was the inclusion of 5 different versions of the film: The Ultimate Cut, the Unrated Cut, the Pre-Release Cut, the Australian Cut and the Italian Cut.
The Ultimate Cut is without a doubt, the definitive version, following Gore Vidal’s original screenplay and adding an animated opening sequence. While it has the longest runtime, it won’t show you everything. Gone is the heavy pornography shot by Guccione as well as several acts of despicable power. Producer Thomas Negovan refused to use any of the footage used in previous cuts, and while it’s a cathartic and powerful method, I do prefer some shots used in other versions, such as the classic close-ups as Druscilla calls Caligula an amateur.
I recommend watching the Unrated and Pre-release cuts with commentary, both cuts are almost identical and include all the porn and violence. When I watched the Pre-release, I came to the realisation that the version I watched all those years ago was filth, the sex and blood is arguably needless when the Ultimate Cut takes the gold medal without it. The commentary helps greatly to take your mind off the film during the disturbing scenes of castration and sodomy, as well as flooding you with stories from the production that will doubtlessly interest you. I was chuckling hard as McDowell recounted how his father was present as he urinated on camera. If nothing else, these two versions have made me realise and re-evaluate the art of disturbing cinema.
The Australian Cut is the most tame, cutting most of the violence and pornography, despite a few acts being arguably necessary to the story. In a Q&A session at Fantastic Film 2023, he noted that an important part of the film is McDowell’s acting with his eyes which I believe is most prominent in the some scenes the Australian cut removes. This version could probably earn an M-rating nowadays.
The Italian Cut is, in my opinion, the most bastardised. It removes most of the pornography like the Australian and the Ultimate, but picks and chooses which explicit scenes enter the cut. It feels as if there’s no rhyme or reason to which scenes get shown outside of the main plotline. However, the dialogue changes in the Italian language make this a worthwhile watch. Most surprisingly, this version puts particular emphasis on the final scene, showing a closeup of a guard slamming Caligula’s infant child against the steps.
For my money, the Ultimate Cut, the Australian Cut and the Italian Cut are the only versions worth seeing, while there’s a sick sense of adventure enduring the vulgarity of the Unrated and Pre-release, the Ultimate, Australian and Italian cuts keeps their eyes on the mental and physical deterioration of the title character without needlessly extending the runtime with meaningless sex.
The one scene I will always remember, the one I consider the inciting incident, is a brief cut between McDowell’s piercing eyes and the disgusting sexual escapades of Tiberius’s subjects. I believe this is the moment Caligula changes, but unfortunately, only the Unrated and Pre-release cut include it.
Mason’s Top 3 Reasons to Watch ‘Caligula’
- A historical epic with an irresistibly interesting backstory
- Multiple versions tailor-made to your tastes, whether you prefer a much more mature and graphic film or a tamer, stylistically oriented film
- One of the best actor commentary tracks I’ve heard, filled with backstory on the film’s production
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