Caligula (1979) (The Imperial Edition)

[The Duke]

Originally Posted by filmbuffTX

To answer your question, YES. The movie was produced by Penthouse and featured some of their "employees" in scenes.

What has always amazed me is that they got such respected actors as Peter O'Toole, John Gielgud and Helen Mirren to appear in this film.

As to Ray's question, I've walked out of 2 films at the cinema: Forrest Gump, for being too boring; and Caligula, for being too gross. I'm not religious, very liberal & open minded, but Caligula was just too disgusting for me. I won't spoil it for those who have been fortunate too never have seen it, but the scene where something is thrown to the dogs for a treat is the point where I said "That's it, I've had enough" and walked out.

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by The Duke

What has always amazed me is that they got such respected actors as Peter O'Toole, John Gielgud and Helen Mirren to appear in this film.

As to Ray's question, I've walked out of 2 films at the cinema: Forrest Gump, for being too boring; and Caligula, for being too gross. I'm not religious, very liberal & open minded, but Caligula was just too disgusting for me. I won't spoil it for those who have been fortunate too never have seen it, but the scene where something is thrown to the dogs for a treat is the point where I said "That's it, I've had enough" and walked out.

[ZoetMB]

Originally Posted by The Duke

What has always amazed me is that they got such respected actors as Peter O'Toole, John Gielgud and Helen Mirren to appear in this film.

As to Ray's question, I've walked out of 2 films at the cinema: Forrest Gump, for being too boring; and Caligula, for being too gross. I'm not religious, very liberal & open minded, but Caligula was just too disgusting for me. I won't spoil it for those who have been fortunate too never have seen it, but the scene where something is thrown to the dogs for a treat is the point where I said "That's it, I've had enough" and walked out.

I totally agree. I don't mind sex in films, I don't even mind fairly explicit sex, but Caligula was disgusting. There was nothing joyful, loving or even erotic about the sex scenes. I didn't walk out because I was with a friend who wanted to stay, but I really wanted to go.

That was the first time I got screwed by thinking that if Olivier was in something, it was probably good. I was in London many years ago and I noticed there was a play called "Time" written by Dave Clark (of the Dave Clark Five) and Olivier's name was above the title. So I bought a ticket. It turns out Olivier wasn't performing in the show -- he played a smoky projected apparition. And the show sucked. That was the second time I got screwed by Olivier.

I'm surprised the "famous" actors who were in Caligula didn't sue afterwards for ruining their reputations. As I remember it, most of those actors weren't actually in most of the sex scenes, aside from a random passing nude body. The sex scenes were mostly added afterwards.

[slimdude]

Originally Posted by ZoetMB

I'm surprised the "famous" actors who were in Caligula didn't sue afterwards for ruining their reputations. As I remember it, most of those actors weren't actually in most of the sex scenes, aside from a random passing nude body. The sex scenes were mostly added afterwards.

I'm quite sure the cast had an opportunity to read the script and all of its contents before they've agree to star in the movie. As far as suing for allegedly ruining, defaming their character and possibly their careers, they wouldn't had any legality to sue because of their contractual agreement. For example: Faye Dunaway couldn't sue Paramount Pictures nor the director: Frank Perry for Mommie Dearest, which she claimed Mommie Dearest had ruin her career. The main cast of Caligula continued to work and starred in copious of movies long after making Caligula. The movie may have given the cast more film roles and recognition. That's the chance you take, when an actor stars in any film! As you've stated the main actors and actresses (except for Malcolm McDowell) did not perform any simulated or real sexual acts in the movie. To this day, Caligula still remains an highly controversial film, and it always will be.

[dallywhitty]

Decided to see if there was any update on the 'Unmaking of Caligula' site that was radically overhauled earlier this year... and it's back

The would-be-writer posted this:

There have been adventures of late. They were not always good adventures. Some were pretty darned devastating adventures, emotionally draining, and most were tied to this book. So many novel (mostly bad) things happened from October 2016 through July 2017 that those nine+ months seem as long as fifteen years. 28 June 2017 through 10 July 2017 seems like two and a half years. So I decided: This book has caused me too many problems, has taken up too many years, has started too many arguments, has ended friendships, has prevented me from pursuing other activities, and has resulted in too many emotions. On top of that, it has cost me all my savings and then some. I’m tired. I am tired beyond description. This is a worthless endeavor. I hereby cut my losses.

Also this:

That’s it. No more. Until a recent series of devastating events, I wanted this book to be complete and to be published by a university press, as a real book with paper pages sewn between cloth covers, sold at retailers at a reasonable price. I have to be realistic. That will never happen. So this is all you get. I’m not trying to be mean. I would simply rather die than go through the agony of rewriting the coauthored chapters. Maybe I’ll change my mind after a several-year vacation from Caligula, maybe. Maybe not. Probably not. Over this past year or so my emotions have been twisted around so many times that I’ll probably wish never to think about Caligula again. I am entirely out of energy and every last drop of my enthusiasm has been drained away. My nerves are shot. I give up. It would be madness to continue. It is time to stop. There really does come a time to walk away. I have waited long past that time. I have now walked away. Now I’ll spend more time with my cat. There’s never been anybody in the world I’ve loved half so much as I love my cat. Time with her is my priority. She doesn’t twist my emotions around. I am now also freed to pursue other quests that have been on the back burner for over a decade. Hoorah!

I hereby demand a book about the unmaking of the 'Unmaking of Caligula'!

[mar3o]

Originally Posted by dallywhitty

Decided to see if there was any update on the 'Unmaking of Caligula' site that was radically overhauled earlier this year... and it's back

I hereby demand a book about the unmaking of the 'Unmaking of Caligula'!

I need to start reading that site I think. I read the main page and am already fascinated. It's too bad that it took such a toll on him. Is there another film that could possibly have as much dirt and controversy and mystery surrounding it than this one?

[dallywhitty]

Originally Posted by mar3o

I need to start reading that site I think. I read the main page and am already fascinated. It's too bad that it took such a toll on him. Is there another film that could possibly have as much dirt and controversy and mystery surrounding it than this one?

Turns out this unpublished tome's author (Ranjit Sandhu) was a guest on a podcast. It's a lengthy one, but I'm listening to it now.

EDIT: He finally speaks about seventy minutes in.