Anyone who loves movies knows the thrill of coming back to watch old favorites over and over again. You’ll be able to appreciate things you’ve been missing out on. Or you can rewatch a bad movie (or at least one you hate) and find a new perspective on it. But that comes with the risk that it still turns out to be a terrible movie and ends up wasting several hours. That I can never go back.
But what if it was a “bad” movie that wasn’t technically the same movie anymore? Is it worth giving it another chance?
No, it’s not a riddle. Think twice before deciding whether to experience the newly re-edited and re-imagined 4K re-release of 1979’s Caligula. The film is a boldly stylized reimagining of the setting of ancient Rome, an infamous historical epic about the titular Roman emperor, famously free-spirited. , a youthful Malcolm McDowell plays the title role, and is flanked by a cast of notable British actors vying for fame. Controversial even before the cameras started rolling, this is an ambitious multinational production that spares no expense in bringing the personal rise and fall of a despot to the screen in all its extravagant and debauched glory. Yes, it was invented by none other than porn mogul Bob Guguone. Founder and Editor of Penthouse Magazine.
Like the original version directed by Italian filmmaker Tinto Blas, the film begins as Caligula. Caligula is the heir to the throne of his increasingly insane great-uncle, Roman Emperor Tiberius, who rules from a private island sanctuary and spends most of his time satisfying himself. Perverted Sexual Desires – Fear that the old man sees you as a threat to his power and is trying to get ahead of the problem by getting rid of you first. This, of course, makes Caligula the new emperor, and from there the story charts the chronology of Caligula’s reign, in which his own desire for power, among other things, transforms him into a corrupt tyrant. That’s not good for Rome, of course, but it’s even worse for Caligula. I won’t spoil what happens, but if you want to know, you can look it up in any history book about the Roman Empire.
The production was a mess, to say the least. Guzzione hired Brass to direct and contracted famous writer Gore Vidal to write the screenplay, but the two fell out over creative differences. Vidal was ultimately fired, leaving Blass to adapt his script, but ultimately conflicts over the approach to sexual content led Guccione to remove Blass from the process and hire a team of editors. He decided to put together the final cut according to his own specifications. He also snuck into the studio during after-hours to film additional scenes of unsimulated sex featuring several hand-picked “penthouse pets.” These scenes were then inserted into the film to provide a flavor of the soft-core eroticism that he assumed audiences would expect from his work. brand. “
He may have been right about the audience. Caligula was a huge hit at the box office, but its status was undoubtedly fueled by the international outrage of conservatives who denounced the film as “pornographic.” It was the most expensive independent film of all time, and although it recouped some of its costs, critics largely dismantled Guccine’s long-held project (legendary film critic Roger Ebert dropped out of the project). (famously), it quickly acquired the status of a highly embarrassing “flop” for defenders.
But moviegoers have a tendency to reappraise the failures of previous generations in a positive light, and inevitably Caligula has earned a reputation over the years as just that kind of film. Thomas Negovan is a film historian who discovered nearly 100 hours of unused footage (rejected takes, deleted scenes, and other material abandoned in Guccione’s final vision for the film) that was originally conceived. He began a complete reproduction of “Caligula.” In order to bring as much of screenwriter Vidal’s original concept to life as possible, every frame of the 1979 film was replaced with an alternate take, and abandoned elements were reincorporated to create a stunningly restored new film. I created a version.
The resulting film was named “The Ultimate Cut” and premiered at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival, marking the success of restoring both the film’s artistic integrity and thematic unity, as well as the film’s It received praise from critics for its expanded introduction to powerful performances. McDowell (who was fresh off her breakthrough “A Clockwork Orange” role when cast here) and future Oscar winner Helen Mirren as Caligula’s wife Caesonia. The work restores at least some of Vidal’s intended themes of highlighting the corruption that comes with absolute power, but the openly gay author also emphasizes homosexual and bisexual intimacy. Despite the fact that it actively incorporates queer sexuality, it does not emphasize queer sexuality, which is the main point of contention with Guccine. Those moments occur mostly as part of the background, establishing the moral decadence of the title character’s reign and, like all the sex in the film, creating a fetish for a queer coupling that seems more performative than passionate. It is a landscape element that presents expression.
Still, the film is better than before, especially in the restored version that emphasizes the rich colors of Silvano Ippoliti’s cinematography and production designer Danilo Donati’s “70s-chic” reimagining of ancient Rome. It has become a movie. Seen fully fleshed out for the first time, McDowell’s performance regains a coherent arc missing in the original cut, while Mirren’s work is expanded upon as well, giving both ends of the film some form of recognizable humanity. It reveals the multilayered nuances that are fixed. Moreover, Negovian’s work in deconstructing and reconstructing the original film is admirable for its meticulousness in providing a unified whole.
At the same time, there are some mistakes that can’t be corrected with alternative footage. “Caligula” still plays like a muddled art-house costume drama tricked into becoming an exploitation film. Illicit sex and excessive violence remain the main tactics for eliciting audience reactions, and even legendary Hamm Peter O’Toole’s “star” performance as Tiberius is unfettered but captivating. A case study in overacting, the elegantly trashy visual aesthetic lends the piece some artistic dignity, but it completely undercuts the dishonesty inherent in its mixture of “serious” themes and overtly exploitative underpinnings. cannot be overcome.
All of this raises the same questions posed in the classic thought experiment called “The Ship of Theseus.” It asks us to ponder whether a ship with all its parts replaced over time can still be considered the same ship. However, this point is debatable. This is because “Caligula,” which director Blass denied even in his new work, is still plagued by creative contradictions that hindered its production. Its various elements seem to be working for confusing purposes, undermining any effort to impose any real depth or artistic unity, and despite the enthusiastic contributions of many participants, remain cynical. It leaves us with what feels like an effort to deceive. Porn dressed up as art.
That’s not what we judge. In fact, we recommend watching Caligula: the Ultimate Cut during its roadshow run in theaters, which began earlier this month, and before its subsequent release on VOD and streaming platforms. It may still be trash, but it’s luxury trash, and it’s always worth seeing on the big screen.
