No history of troubled big-budget films is complete without the story of 1979 Caligulawhich was commissioned by Roof Magazine as an attempt to combine serious adult films with serious adult sex scenes. In the end, both the director (Tinto Brass) and the writer (Gore Vidal) demanded that their names be removed from the film, after RoofThe film’s Bob Guccione inserted all sorts of additional explicit material that was never originally intended to be included in the film.
Despite the turbulence (or perhaps because the turmoil got a lot of attention and actually created some excitement around the film), Caligula – which starred big names like Malcolm McDowell, Helen Mirrenand Peter O’Toole – did reasonably well at the box office. And although it has been released in versions containing more or less sexual material, Vidal or Brass’ original intention was never released before the newly restored “Ultimate Cut,” which hits theaters later this summer.
According to its distributor, the new version follows “closely to Vidal’s original script, especially with the addition of a prologue illustrating one of Vidal’s lost scenes, created by famed graphic artist Dave McKean (Grant Morrison’s Arkham AsylumNeil Gaiman Sand Man).” He is proud that the film’s reconstructionist discovered that “nearly 100 hours of original footage was uncovered” for the project, “which showcases astonishing performances from the film’s cast, fully realizing McDowell’s complex and charismatic ‘Caligula’ and resurrecting the arc of Mirren’s layered character, which now cements the film’s final hour.
The new cut claims to be “composed of 100% never-before-seen scenes” and features “alternative shots and camera angles” to reconstruct the initially intended plot.
Here is the trailer for Caligulafinal cut:
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There’s also a cool new movie poster illustrated by famous comic book artist Bill Sienkiewicz.
In the revised version, the film follows Caligula (McDowell) as he “eliminates his dishonest adoptive grandfather (Peter O’Toole) and takes control of the Roman Empire alongside his wife Caesonia (Helen Mirren) before spiraling into depravity. , destruction and madness.
The new version of Caligula played at this year’s Cannes Film Festival – supposedly to at least some strikes. But those who stayed gave very good reviews, and with all the talent involved (or just the general level of contempt), how could you no Want to see what was originally planned?
Caligula: the definitive cut It is scheduled to be released in theaters on August 16th. After that, it will be available digitally and on 4K Blu-ray Disc.
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Gallery credit: Emma Stefansky