Travis Simpkins: Caligula

Saturday, June 25, 2016

Caligula (1979): Malcolm McDowell and Helen Mirren in Ancient Rome

Directed by Italian auteur Tinto Brass, and based on a screenplay by Gore Vidal, Caligula (1979) came about with the financial backing of Penthouse magazine publisher Bob Guccione. Chronicling the downfall of Roman Emperor Gaius Iulius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, better known as Caligula, the film is pure cinematic decadence... featuring abundant and gratuitous sex and violence. The movie is still banned in some countries and remains one of the biggest Cult films of all time. The story is off-putting yet intriguing, but the sets are impractical and stagy at times, hindering the sense of historical context. Nevertheless, Caligula stands out as one of the first films to blend legitimate, big name actors with risqué themes. The cast is great overall, including Malcolm McDowell as Caligula, Peter O'Toole, Helen Mirren, Teresa Ann Savoy and John Gielgud.