Caligula: The Ultimate Cut

This is a superb work of film forensics, creating a version of the film with the narrative cohesion that the original release sorely lacked. Cutting all the gratuitous porn plays a major part in giving the film that narrative cohesion and allows Gore Vidal's political themes to take centrestage. The performances truly shine, with original actors' vocal performances restored instead of the over-dubs used for some characters- especially good for Teresa Ann Savoy. Helen Mirren is given considerably more screentime, which is very welcome, and Malcolm McDowell's performance is revealed as the Oscar-worthy performance we deserved to see in 1980. The new music is also a huge improvement on the 'found' score of 1980.

However there are three exclusions that I didn't like. One was the death of Proculus, which gave some closure to the unforgettable marriage violation scene - and is an extraordinary scene in itself. I think it could have remained without the gratuitous bit with the naked ladies. The second was the scene with Ennia on the bed being 'serviced' by her male companions- it was not entirely clear what service they were providing! A re-edit could make this clearer without becoming porn. The most seriously disappointing ommission for me though was the conclusion of John Gielgud's performance - when Nerva and Caligula share a powerful moment. Given this edit's aim of enhancing the performances, it seems very strange to rob Gielgud of any screetime, given how brief his role is. Perhaps the restorers thought this moment made Caligula look too mad too early but I think it's a vital moment for both characters, and is reflected later in the aforementioned, also cut, Proculus scene. For an 'ultimate' cut I think this scene needs to go back.

In any case I think this is an amazing feat of restoration bringing this extraordinary film much closer to the one Tinto Brass and Gore Vidal intended it to be.

I watched Caligula for the first time in July 2023. Shortly after, I found out about a new version that had premiered at Cannes, but wasn't available to stream or purchase.

I did my research, found out about the man in charge of this restoration, Thomas Negovan, subscribed to his youtube and Patreon and just kept checking from time to time to see when I would finally be able to watch this.

The time finally came. This is a much better movie. It flows a lot better. Caligula's descend into madness and fear is far far better shown.

All of the new scenes are excellent. When you watch them, you realize how so many of the scenes in the original version were cut short.

For example, near the end, at the dinner after Britain's ''conquer'', in the original version he suddenly yells ''CRAWL CRAWL CRAWL!'', doesn't make a lot of sense. But in this new cut, they added the entire scene in which Caligula was playing ''Caesar says'' and commanding the people there to do different things. Such as ''Caesar says turn right, caesar says hop'' He finally snaps and that's when he screams ''CRAWL CRAWL CRAWL'' Just one of many examples.

There are however, a few things I liked more in the original. The final shot for example. It showed the blood dripping down the stairs with the dead bodies lying there, I think it is a great final shot. In this new cut they removed that.

I also miss the music from the original opening and the phrase that appears :''For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?''

The music in this new version was a bit tame in my opinion.

All the long porn scenes have been removed, no more 10 minute long blowjobs. However, I believe there were a few highly explicit very short scenes that I believe should have been left in. I think that explicitness added a lot.

I don't think it is a perfect film, but it is definitely superior to the original. You get a lot a lot more character development, overall, it just flows better.

As a huge caligula fan i own all there is to own about my fav roman emperor and so when i heard there is a new extended edition of the beloved 1979 film with around 20 or so new footage scenes i was excited and i immediately bought the new spanish blu ray release.

Sadly things did not went well with this.

This cut has a lot of flaws. In fact all went wrong if u exclude some new deleted scenes.

Those deleted scenes were the only worthy part of the film.

U get to see how caligula orders other people to worship his own statues which replaced those of the gods. This scene was great and there are a few more but the good things end here.

Unfortunately this is NOT the original take of the film and everything was changed.

What i mean is even the voices the way the actors performed was different than the theatrical version and that was not good.

More important the divine music which made the original film so much better was not here.

The music used here was boring and added nothing to the film.

I was tired watching this.

I will only keep this cut cause of the new footage and that's that.

I'm very disappointed of this new extended cut.

So i advise you to stick to the imperial edition of the film and the original 155 minutes long version.

They've recut Caligula. They could've made it shorter, but it's longer, clocking 3 hours. The point is, is it better? Surely it is, I mean everyone hated the original. There's still sex, blood and violence, but some of the OTT porn is gone and in fact I'm lead to believe that nothing from the original remains, this is all edited from scratch, from the original rushes, with additional CGI trickery to cover some of the many issues from the '79 version. Rome A. D. 37, a young Caligula (Malcolm McDowell) is a paranoid type. Protected by privilege and decadence, he's too much time on his hands. Time to fret about those who may try to harm him and time to sleep with his sister Drusilla (Teresa Ann Savoy). It's still not a particularly easy film to watch. Caligula is mocked by his aging and dying grandfather, the emperor Tiberius (Peter O'Toole) while he swims with dozens of naked people. He's a terrible role model, showing the impressionable youngster a world of vice. Considering this was panned due to its gratuitous sex scenes, this recut really doesn't fix that. It's clear that although most of the cast and crew disowned it, they knew what they were shooting. Caligula is hungry for power, hungry to see the back of the old guard like Nerva (John Gielgud). He see's what's coming, the sadistic nature of the powers that be and future of Rome. Not that we see an awful lot of Rome. This all largely takes place in carefully crafted mostly internal darkly lit sets. Which is probably just as well with the cast naked half the time. Wresting the emperors ring from his thought to be dead hand, Caligula finally tastes what he's been chasing, but is too cowardly to see the job through. That is left to the muscle, Macro (Guido Mannari). Setting forth a new era, hailed by the ominous early synth score. There's some arrestingly iconic shots for sure and McDowell conveys an entire world in that expressive face, but bloody hell this is still a slog. If it weren't for McDowell carrying this it would be excruciating. The best thing I can say about this is, watching McDowell's performance convey the power that begins to corse through Caligula. From his childlike cowardice to full blown corrupt madman, it's quite a transformation and he's quite mesmeric. For all its pomposity, there's some scenes that really ought to have been cut completely though. They serve little to the story but to shock. It shows no nuance at all, it's one very long decent into cinematic debauchery. Any film that reduces Helen Mirren (as Caesonia) into little more than yet another naked body, is pretty inexcusable. The only particularly likeable character is Longinus (John Steiner), he's the only one with anything close to a reasonable IQ. There's one shot, around the 2 and a half hour mark where he exchanges a quiet look with Chaerea (Paolo Bonacelli), as if to say, can you believe they're actually filming this!? So, is it an improvement? Well I can't recall much of its predecessor, it's been mercifully erased from memory, so yes. It's still indulgent though. Often dull. Occasionally shocking and seldom entertaining, but that doesn't make it a bad film. It doesn't make it a great film either, but it's better than mere porn it's excused of. I can't decide if I like it, it has too much of an air of foley, mimicking Caligula's. I don't hate it though and if you're so inclined it's worth a watch.

Having looked at the laserdisc R-rated version, the "Imperial" unrated version and the documentary promotional short featuring Guccione and Vidal attempting to explain, I find it very hard to see the "Ultimate Cut" as the new movie it is supposed to be. It does indeed appear to be made of elements previously unseen. This was never a terrible, but an unfortunate movie, born crippled over and over. We may never see the 4 hour masterpiece that (perhaps) could have been. In this version there is much to like, much beauty and humor. Maybe not the best takes, or camera angles, but more story. The whole thing makes more sense. Not subtle, but fun. Happily the actors have loads more screen time. Teresa Ann Savoy isn't just pretty and likable. As Caligula's calculating, patient, loving sister, she helps so much! If you have ever dreamed of being a movie editor because it looks easy, this movie and its difficulties will enhance your respect for the editor's art. Enjoy it some time when the children and the easily offended are not around.