The name of Caligula is infamous. It conjures endless images of depravity. Even now, we may not be exactly sure just how far his deviance reached during his reign over Rome and which historical records are real. However, we can safely say the 1979 film Caligula has influenced our imaginations, whether or not we have been brave enough to see the film.

The stories behind the making of Caligula are as legendary as the film itself. Indeed, they could be the subject of a miniseries or film of their own. Most of these stories center around the behind-the-scenes drama born of producer Bob Guccione of Penthouse taking what was supposed to be the most daring historical drama ever made and turning it into pure pornography.

Screenwriter Gore Vidal paid to have his name removed from it. The stars were not privy to the insertion of the pornographic materials, infamously upsetting both Peter O’Toole and Sir John Gielgud. However, Helen Mirren described it best when she said the final product was an “irresistible mix of art and genitals.” This is why Caligula has become a rite of passage for film buffs.

However, the vision presented on screen was not what director Tinto Brass wanted. So now, in a bold move, Caligula has been reedited into something close to Brass’ original vision. It has also been reissued into theaters and on home video.

Cut footage has been reinserted, smut has been removed, music has been rescored and the film itself reedited. The end result is essentially a brand new film for audiences bold enough to experience it. And I must say that the results are honestly pretty damn impressive. 

I know that some will say the film loses its “bite” with the smut removed. To the contrary, the bite remains and is stronger than ever. The new film deeply examines the insanity that was Caligula’s rise to power. Not only how corrupted and depraved he was, but also how he likely suffered from mental illness in a time and place where his condition would be seen as mere madness. 

The new cut also allows us to focus on the actors themselves, who present incredible powerhouse performances. Malcolm McDowell is already one of my all time favorite actors, and this new cut allows us to truly appreciate his tour de force performance as Caligula. Helen Mirren is…well, she’s Helen Mirren and can basically act anything. However it is Peter O’Toole who gets to truly shine as the syphilis-infested Tiberius, Caligula’s grandfather by adoption. His performance is uncomfortable in all the right ways. Indeed, that is a fair summary of the film as a whole.

Caligula is not meant to be an enjoyable film, in the same vein as Gladiator. The Roman Empire was not a pretty place, nor a safe one, and this film captures that point perfectly. Even in this new edition, Caligula is not an easy film to sit through, but it is a rewarding one. So if you are brave enough, I highly suggest giving this a watch, and preparing to dive into the madness that is Caligula.

Caligula: The Ultimate Cut is now available on DVD, BluRay, 4K and streaming.