“Gore Vidal disowned the film because Brass and lead actor Malcolm McDowell changed the point of view of his screenplay. So, if not for the added sex scenes, what upset the creative team so much? In reality, only five or six minutes of the 156-minute version of the film was part of Guccione’s reshoot – that five or six minutes consists of the lesbian tryst in the secret room, and several inserts in the imperial bordello scene.Įverything else was shot by original Director Tinto Brass. “Despite popular beliefs, Gore Vidal and Tinto Brass did not disown this film because Bob Guccione inserted hardcore sex and graphic violence sequences and changed the point of the film.” So, Was The Film “Disowned” By The Creators?Įven though the Actors had no idea what was happening behind-the-scenes, apparently the film’s creative team wasn’t upset because of the sex. What happened was this: Penthouse publisher Bob Guccione added hardcore sex scenes into the movie – long after the original cast had finished filming – so those very big name Actors had no idea the film was being turned XXX-rated!Īcclaimed writer Gore Vidal did not want credit for his work on the screenplay, and legendary Actors Peter O’Toole and John Gielgud claimed to have been unaware hardcore sex footage was being shot for the film. The film was always intended to be a graphic look at this controversial leader, and the film’s original Director Tinto Brass had a long history making “softcore” erotica – but this went even too far for him! ROMAN ORGY SCENE IN THE FILM – CALIGULA (1979)ĬTD11873…Scarborough…North Yorkshire…England…Group Shot

There is also the legendary 160-minute “hardcore” version of the film, where xxx-rated sex scenes were added to the movie long after production had finished! Here is where the story of “Caligula” gets even more fascinating: there are various versions of the film, ranging from the “R”-rated version which was heavily edited to remove a lot of sex and graphic violence… Helen Mirren also starred in the film, which was the first mainstream movie produced by the Publisher of Penthouse magazine… Malcolm McDowell chews up the scenery in the film, which also starred such legendary Actors as Peter O’ Toole and Sir John Gielgud! He also sleeps with his sister, organises elaborate orgies and embarks on a fruitless invasion of England before meeting an appropriate end.” “The rise and fall of the notorious Roman Emperor Caligula, showing the violent methods that he employs to gain the throne, and the subsequent insanity of his reign – he gives his horse political office and humiliates and executes anyone who even slightly displeases him.

Now, the story behind one of the most notorious films in movie history!

Penthouse caligula full movie 1979