> Released in 1980 after director Tinto Brass disavowed his credit amid extensive changes, the controversial classic made history as the most expensive independent film of all time. Gore Vidal‘s script centered on the corrupting influence of power and sexuality of the Roman court, with Malcolm McDowell, Helen Mirren, Peter O’Toole, and John Gielgud leading the cast. Yet the film was financed by Penthouse founder Bob Guccione, who took control of the negative and added graphic scenes of unsimulated sex and extreme violence. The cast and film team, including production designer Danilo Donati, rejected what the movie became, and Vidal sued to remove his name from the project. Of course, its notoriety led to a cult following.
>
> Decades later, almost 100 hours of original “Caligula” footage was discovered by art historian Thomas Negovan in the Penthouse archive. Negovan led the reconstruction of the film. Now, the “Ultimate Cut” has removed Guccione’s interference to bring the film closer to Vidal’s original script. Graphic artist Dave McKean added a prologue that illustrates one of Vidal’s missing scenes, and composer Troy Sterling Nies created a new wraparound score.
>
> Drafthouse Films will release “Caligula: The Ultimate Cut” in theaters nationwide on August 16, followed by a streaming and 4K UHD Blu-ray release that includes new cast and crew interviews.
assbot9000modelxc429 on
I tried watching this a few years back. Had a tough time. Excited to see it for what it was supposed to be!
2 Comments
> Released in 1980 after director Tinto Brass disavowed his credit amid extensive changes, the controversial classic made history as the most expensive independent film of all time. Gore Vidal‘s script centered on the corrupting influence of power and sexuality of the Roman court, with Malcolm McDowell, Helen Mirren, Peter O’Toole, and John Gielgud leading the cast. Yet the film was financed by Penthouse founder Bob Guccione, who took control of the negative and added graphic scenes of unsimulated sex and extreme violence. The cast and film team, including production designer Danilo Donati, rejected what the movie became, and Vidal sued to remove his name from the project. Of course, its notoriety led to a cult following.
>
> Decades later, almost 100 hours of original “Caligula” footage was discovered by art historian Thomas Negovan in the Penthouse archive. Negovan led the reconstruction of the film. Now, the “Ultimate Cut” has removed Guccione’s interference to bring the film closer to Vidal’s original script. Graphic artist Dave McKean added a prologue that illustrates one of Vidal’s missing scenes, and composer Troy Sterling Nies created a new wraparound score.
>
> Drafthouse Films will release “Caligula: The Ultimate Cut” in theaters nationwide on August 16, followed by a streaming and 4K UHD Blu-ray release that includes new cast and crew interviews.
I tried watching this a few years back. Had a tough time. Excited to see it for what it was supposed to be!