IMDb >
Caligola (1979)
Watch It
Buy it at Amazon
Rent it at Blockbuster.com
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
BETA
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotesOverview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv scheduleAwards & Reviews
user reviewsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage boardPlot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotesFun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQOther Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDeskPromotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo galleryExternal Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clipsCaligola (1979) More at IMDbPro »
| Photos (see all 16 | slideshow) |
Overview
User Rating:
Directors:
Writer:
Release Date:
15 February 1980 (USA)
more
Tagline:
What would you have done if you had been given absolute power of life and death over everybody else in the whole world? more
Plot:
Details the graphic and shocking, yet undeniably tragic story of Rome's most infamous Caesar, Gaius Germanicus Caligula. full summary | full synopsis
NewsDesk:
(11 articles)
Mirren Awarded Life Achievement @ Wftv
(From SneakPeek. 7 December 2009, 12:21 PM, PST)
Helen Mirren to be honored with Career Achievment Award at Psiff
(From pretty-scary. 1 December 2009, 1:22 PM, PST)
(From SneakPeek. 7 December 2009, 12:21 PM, PST)
Helen Mirren to be honored with Career Achievment Award at Psiff
(From pretty-scary. 1 December 2009, 1:22 PM, PST)
User Reviews:
Beyond the controversy lies a good film
more (247 total)
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Malcolm McDowell | ... | Caligula | |
| Teresa Ann Savoy | ... | Drusilla | |
| Guido Mannari | ... | Macro | |
| John Gielgud | ... | Nerva | |
| Peter O'Toole | ... | Tiberius | |
| Giancarlo Badessi | ... | Claudius | |
| Bruno Brive | ... | Gemellus | |
| Adriana Asti | ... | Ennia | |
| Leopoldo Trieste | ... | Charicles | |
| Paolo Bonacelli | ... | Chaerea | |
| John Steiner | ... | Longinus | |
| Mirella D'Angelo | ... | Livia (as Mirella Dangelo) | |
| Helen Mirren | ... | Caesonia | |
| Rick Parets | ... | Mnester (as Richard Parets) | |
| Paula Mitchell | ... | Subura Singer |
Additional Details
Also Known As:
Caligula (USA)
Caligula, My Son (UK)
Caligvla (International: English title) (alternative spelling)
Gore Vidal's Caligola (Italy) (working title)
Io, Caligola (Italy) (recut version)
more
Caligula, My Son (UK)
Caligvla (International: English title) (alternative spelling)
Gore Vidal's Caligola (Italy) (working title)
Io, Caligola (Italy) (recut version)
more
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
156 min | Spain:137 min | USA:102 min (R-rated version) | 210 min (original cut) | Italy:123 min (recut version) | USA:148 min (re-release)
Colour:
Colour (Eastmancolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Certification:
Germany:18 (SPIO/JK) (cut) |
USA:R (heavily cut) |
USA:Unrated (uncut) |
Spain:X |
Italy:VM18 |
Canada:R (Manitoba/Ontario) |
New Zealand:R18 |
Finland:K-18 (heavily cut) (1981) |
Australia:Refused Classification (2005) |
Belgium:16 (video rating) |
Belgium:KNT (original rating) |
Netherlands:16 |
West Germany:18 (nf) |
USA:NC-17 (original rating) |
France:-16 |
France:X (DVD release) |
Japan:R-18 |
UK:18 (uncut version) |
Canada:R (Nova Scotia) (re-rating) (2007) |
Brazil:18 |
Portugal:M/18 (DVD rating) (uncut) |
Spain:18 |
Australia:(Banned) (original rating) |
Australia:R (Original rating) (uncut) |
Australia:R (re-rating, cut) (1981) |
Australia:X (Video rating) (1984) |
Belgium:16 (DVD rating) |
Argentina:18 |
Canada:(Banned) (Nova Scotia) (original rating) |
Chile:18 |
Denmark:15 (DVD rating) |
Denmark:16 |
Finland:K-18 (uncut) (2001) |
Hong Kong:III |
Iceland:(Banned) (original rating) |
Iceland:16 (cut) |
Norway:18 |
Peru:18 |
South Korea:18 (cut) |
Sweden:15 |
USA:X (self applied MA for "Mature Audiences") |
Australia:R (cut) |
UK:X (original rating: 1980) (cut) |
Germany:BPjM Restricted
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
John Gielgud was originally offered the role of Tiberius, but declined: he only accepted the smaller part of Nerva after being sent a letter by Gore Vidal.
more
Goofs:
Continuity: Caligula is stabbed many times by the guards, yet his robe shows no signs of damage.
more
Quotes:
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: Santa Claus Conquers the Martians (#4.21)" (1991)
more
Soundtrack:
Adagio Of Spartacus And Phrygia
more
FAQ
Is Bob Guccione the director?What is the music that plays during the opening credits?
Did Gore Vidal disown the film because Bob Guccione and Tinto Brass added explicit sex and gore to the film?
more
more (247 total)
Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Caligola (1979) moreRecommendations
If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
Show more recommendations
|
|
|
|
|
| Salò o le 120 giornate di Sodoma | Novecento | La noche del terror ciego | Paroxismus | La coda dello scorpione |
|
IMDb User Rating: |
IMDb User Rating: |
IMDb User Rating: |
IMDb User Rating: |
IMDb User Rating: |
Related Links
| Full cast and crew | Company credits | External reviews |
| News articles | IMDb Adult section | IMDb Italy section |
| Add this title to MyMovies |







This film, as with all, has good points and bad points.
In general, I feel that the good ones far outweigh the bad.
The film simply gives the story of the rise and death of Emperor Caligula in a very straight-forward manner. Indeed, it can be seen as shocking, but I think that this is a side-effect of it's desire to be realistic, rather than a deliberate act on the part of the film-makers.
The cinematography and camera work is awful. The huge sets seem at times almost claustrophobic which is an absolute crime considering the magnificence of them. There is also too much emphasis on Caligula himself, to the detriment of revealing some important traits in other characters, making them seem somewhat shallow at times.
The sex scenes are very well placed within the context of the film. I thought that only two scenes stood out as being unnecessarily overt, but for the most part, the explicitness is on the fringe of the focus of each scene, while also playing a major part in the atmosphere.
Never once did I feel that any dialogue was out of place, nor did the acting strike me as being bad.
By far the biggest problem with this film is the fact that the sexual content is widely advertised and therefore anticipated before viewing. This may cause people to focus dominantly on those scenes without really looking at the film as a whole. For me, it enhanced the film. Not in a particularly titillating way, but in the fact that there was no compromise during scenes of sexual acts. Roman orgies are regarded to have been extremely opulent and promiscuous - I found it refreshing to see one as it may have actually been rather than lots of fully-clothed laughing fat men pouring red wine over their faces and eating grapes while draped with female automatons.
In summary, Caligula definitely has it's place in film history due to it's controversy, but if you look beyond that controversy, you should find a rather good film which neatly tells the story of how power can turn someone into a madman.