Disc One

Unrated, Uncensored Theatrical Release Theatrical Trailers

Disc Two An Alternate Pre-Release version of the movie Audio Commentary with Malcolm McDowell moderated by film writer Nick Redman McDowell feels raped by the movie and what it evolved into. Audio Commentary with Helen Mirren, moderated by film writers Alan Jones and James Chaffin Helen doesn't have any negative feelings toward the film really. It just is what it is… Audio Commentary with Ernest Volkman Deleted and Alternate scenes (12 instances)

Disc Three

The Making of Caligula documentary 62 min. The Making of Caligula featurette Alternate 10 min. version My Roman Holiday with John Steiner Featurette 24 min.

The movie was released in 1979 and is still unfinished. The Director, Tinto Brass, is fed up and will not even bother with a Director's cut. The new owners of the bankrupt Penthouse assets are trying to piece together missing footage to realize a complete movie as intended. The movie was shot but never really assembled from one creative point of view. Although released commercially, the movie is the result of too many controlling interests, at odds with each other. The director Tinto Brass tried to put together a real movie, set in decadent, pagan Rome with enough historical accuracy to make the movie more than a mere fictional account of a this Roman Emperor, Caligula. Brass was interested in a movie exploring the "Orgy of Power" wielded by this young emperor. He didn't consider him insane, but a child like person that took "apart his toy which ultimately was his undoing." The Producers were of a different mind. They wanted the "Power of the Orgy" to be the driving motivation for the movie. Not surprising since the movie was funded by the Penthouse people of the magazine fame.

The magazine was a much raunchier version of Playboy, with explicit anatomical pictures of young willing photogenic women. Even though the sets are lush and wondrous, had principle characters played by pedigreed actors, the movie seems amateurish. The editing is distracting, the cut choices could be better BUT there are plenty of young men and women in various states of undress doing things that young men and women do if they "live" in pagan Rome. LOTS of things, graphically portrayed. Bob Guccione, the owner of Penthouse magazine, the funding source for the movie, stated he wanted to bring the adult movie into the mainstream of Hollywood movies, An Adult movie with a huge budget for the seventies. Definitely not for everybody, the movie works as an adult film though of the vilest kind. We are talking about some depraved stuff here. There are scenes of decapitation, bestiality, rape, evisceration, sadomasochism, and always a favorite, necrophilia as well as enough couplings to satisfy the most voracious appetite. This film is definitely not for the squeamish or those who value and have good taste. Malcolm McDowell, fresh off of his success in Clockwork Orange, is perfectly cast for the part of Caligula. Helen Mirren of Oscar fame is fetching to say the least. Peter O'Toole, though brief is at his overacting best. Someday, they may find all of the parts of the movie and assemble them into a coherent presentation. But until they do, this resurrection with discontinuity, questionable editing and no focus with any artistic value will have to do. ***

A brief synopsis of the film Caligula is an unflinching look at ancient, pagan Rome. Caligula, an actual historical figure, is thought to have been insane due to the chronicled events reported by an ancient writer, the only record of the young emperor's exploits. Here, the movie notes the violent methods that Caligula employs to gain the throne. Caligula gives his horse political office, showcasing the alleged insanity while he humiliates and executes anyone who even slightly displeases him. He also sleeps with his sister, organizes outrageous orgies, and begins an impossible invasion of England before his demise All the details of his cruel, bizarre reign are revealed right here. ***

Image & Sound:

The images are lush. The money that was spent on the sets and costuming is there on the screen. The audio is good. ***

My Roman Holiday with John Steiner Featurette 24 min. Played Longinus in the movie, Caligula's treasurer. He has an interesting take on Teresa Ann Savoy, who played Caligula's lover/sister. Her best feature seemed to be her bottom and not her talent. He also talks about his B movie career in Italy. He is not interested in the film whatsoever and thought Bob Guccione was a monster. He goes on to talk about the production and about the producers. Interesting to say the least. . ***

Caligula's Pet: A conversation with Lori Wagner Penthouse Pet of the Century. Guccione made her a Pet and then put her in Caligula. Agrippina was her character. The Pets were there to decorate the set and to provide the nudity from good looking extras. The Penthouse girls were a hit in Italy. Lori was in a lot of scenes but did not speak. She is most famous for the Lesbian scene she played with Anneka DiLorenzo. She also urinated on a dead guy as a film gag (a filmic term, not a funny story). She tells how the film affected her and how it changed her life. Bad audio hum at times in the clip. She became born again and didn't do anything like that again. ***

Tinto Brass: The Orgy of Power The stories surrounding this movie have almost turned into Urban Legend. Tinto was finishing an Italian movie called Salon Kitty, which also starred John Steiner. The producers approached him to direct this film. His mental version of the film focused on the Orgy of Power. Guccione and Rossolini, the Producers felt the film should be about the Power of the Orgy. The film was produced by Penthouse so it should not come as any shock. Brass saw Caligula as a child with a toy, not an insane individual, who later is "devoured by the toy he has taken apart". He had ideas about the script and its tone, communicated them to Gore Vidal the writer, whom he considered quite good and professional. The producers were okay with Tinto's vision but Gore was not. However, the real rift between the two artists was in the title for one. Tinto felt that Gore Vidal's Caligula was not appropriate. He was the writer yes, so it should read Caligula, Adapted from an original screenplay by Gore Vidal. Gore's opinion on the theory of cinema d'auterus differed from Tinto's. Gore thought a film was the work of the writer, Tinto thought a film was the work of the Director, taking the script given to him and then interpreting it with his, the Director's vision, his images. The point is somewhat compelling. Take the same script and give it to four directors. Wouldn't you have four different films? A good example of this kind of thinking is the prequel to The Exorcist. Two different directors were given the script but the results are two very different movies. Ego trips and additional filming changed Brass's movie into the fractured artwork which was presented to the public. Tinto later sued and won the suit but lost the film. Upon release, the film was confiscated and Tinto himself was brought up on charges concerning the obscenities. He defended himself successfully by saying he shot about 160,000 meters of film, abut only 4000-4500 were used. He was exonerated. ***

Behind-the-Scenes Footage This collection seems to be footage found in the vaults which was married to a music soundtrack and presented as filler for the Special Features. No informative dialogue or graphics. Fifteen clips seen of Rehearsals, filming, directing, prepping sets, actors, etc . ***

Still Galleries Pix from film production and other moments.

Press Kit Notes and Cast & Crew Biographies on DVD-ROM Screenplay Ver. 1.0 and Ver. 2.0

Penthouse "Making of Caligula 1980 Feature

Penthouse "Lori & Anneka" 1980 Feature

Penthouse "Lori Wagner Revisited"

1966 Feature Penthouse "Interview with Bob Guccione"

Movie Tie-In Novelization ***

Final Words: