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{{work}}
{{work|wppage=Caligula (film)}}
[[File:CALIGULA.jpg|thumb|300px]]
{{quote| ''"I'm not even kidding. My favorite film of all time is Tinto}}
Brass' Caligula. With a movie that combines the qualities of a lush big
budget studio Roman epic period piece, and the kind of exploitation that
Joe Dimodo would frequently get sued over, there is no other large scale
piece of high quality smut exploitation that I could possibly choose
over Bob Guccione's ode to paganism. This is fucking Caligula. A big
budget mainstream porno film that screwed it's way into worldwide
cinemas throughout the late [[The Seventies|70s]] and early [[[[The Eighties]]
80s]]. A movie to satisfy the tastes of auidences craving the finest in
beastiality, and the finest in Shakespearian actors."''
{{quote| [[The Cinema Snob]]}}


{{quote| "'''Caligula' is sickening, utterly worthless, shameful trash. If it}}
is not the worst film I have ever seen, that makes it all the more
shameful: People with talent allowed themselves to participate in this
travesty. Disgusted and unspeakably depressed, I walked out of the film
after two hours of its 170-minute length. That was on Saturday night, as
a line of hundreds of people stretched down Lincoln Ave., waiting to pay
$7.50 apiece to become eyewitnesses to shame. . . . 'Caligula' is not
good art, it is not good cinema, and it is not good porn. "This movie,"
said the lady at the drinking fountain, "is the worst piece of shit I
have ever seen."''"
{{quote| [[Roger Ebert]]}}


{{quote|''"What shall it profit a man if he should gain the whole world and lose his own soul?"''|'''[[The Bible|Mark 8:36]]''', [[As the Good Book Says...|quoted at the film's beginning.]]}}
[[Love It or Hate It]], never, in the history of the world, will there ever be
another movie like '''''Caligula'''''. And never, in the history of this
website, will there ever be a movie more difficult than ''Caligula'' to
describe.


'''''Caligula''''' is a 1979 Italian-American [[Porn with Plot|erotic]] historical drama film focusing on the rise and fall of the Roman Emperor [[Emperor Caligula|Caligula]]. It stars [[Malcolm McDowell]], Teresa Ann Savoy, Helen Mirren, [[Peter O'Toole]], John Steiner and John Gielgud. It is the only feature film produced by the men's magazine Penthouse.
It all began with Gore Vidal writing a screenplay about the life of the
infamous Roman Emperor [[Emperor Caligula|Caligula]] based on an
unproduced television mini-series by Roberto Rossellini. Though Vidal
and Franco Rossellini (Roberto's nephew) originally only intended for it
to be a modestly-budgeted historical drama; when they couldn't obtain
funding they went to none other than the founder of ''Penthouse
Magazine'' Bob Guccione. Guccione agreed to finance the film on
[[Executive Meddling|two conditions:]] 1, that it would be tarted up into
a lavish, flamboyant spectacle akin to the [[Sword and Sandal]] epics of the
50s; and 2, [[[[Hotter and Sexier]] that sex would be incorporated to promote
the magazine]].


It became very controversial for its violent and sexual content and had all sorts of legal issues at the time. The film is [[Vindicated by History|now seen]] as a [[Cult Classic]].
Federico Fellini's art director Danilo Donati was hired to build the
expensive and complex sets and costumes. Renowned acting talent,
including Malcolm Mcdowell, Helen Mirren, Peter O'Toole and Sir John
Gielgud were cast. Maria Schneider was originally cast as Caligula's
doomed sister Drusilla, but later dropped out and was replaced by Teresa
Ann Savoy. After Guccione was unable to come to an agreement with more
established directors John Huston and Lina Wertmuller, Tinto Brass, a
relatively young Italian director who'd produced an artsy big budget
[[Follow the Leader|progenitor]] to the [[Nazisploitation]] genre called
''Salon Kitty'' that Guccione had taken a shine to was made the head
instead. Caligula production was housed in Dear Studios, Rome, where the
infamous ''[[Cleopatra (Film)|Cleopatra]]'' was filmed thirteen years earlier.
Shooting commenced in September 1976, with plans for a 1977 release.


{{Needs More Info}}
From the start, Caligula was plagued by difficulties. According to
Guccione in a 1980 ''Penthouse'' magazine interview, Vidal (whom
Guccione called a "''prodigious talent''") started trouble with a
''Time'' magazine interview in which he called directors parasites
living off writers, and that the director need only follow the
directions as provided by the author of the screenplay. According to
Guccione, an enraged Brass responded to Vidal's comments by throwing
Vidal out of the studio. Guccione was forced to side with Brass (whom he
called "''a megalomaniac''") because "''Gore's work was basically done
and Tinto's work was about to begin.''"


For the [[Troubled Production|troubled]] development history, see [[Caligula/Development History|here]].
Casting and logistical issues were problems. Uncomfortable with the sex
and nudity in the script, the female lead Schneider quickly resigned
from the film, to be replaced with Teresa as said earlier. It was soon
apparent to the filmmakers that the aggressive shooting schedule
developed by the inexperienced Rossellini and Guccione was unrealistic
for a film of such scope. Donati had to scrap some of his more elaborate
original ideas for the sets and replace them with such surreal imagery
as bizarre matte paintings, blacked-out areas, silk backdrops and
curtains. This resulted in significant script changes, with Brass and
the actors improvising scenes written to take place in entirely
different locations, and sometimes shooting entirely new scenes (such as
the frolicking scene that opens the film) in order to show progress
while the incomplete or redone sets were unavailable. The production was
plagued by delays due to disagreements between Brass and Donati over
Brass not using Donati's completed sets, as well as Brass and Guccione
disagreeing over the sexual content of the film.


{{tropelist}}
By the time the principal photography on ''Caligula'' had completed,
* [[Advancing Wall of Doom]]: The head chopping machine is a diabolically crafted work of art.
Vidal (having a previous issue with his involvement in the infamous
* [[All There in the Manual]]: According to the production notes, two of the characters played by Penthouse Pets were supposed to be Messalina (who would go onto marry Claudius) and Agrippina (mother of Nero).
''Myra Breckinridge'') was concerned about being associated with such an
* [[Aluminum Christmas Trees]]: The scene where Tiberius refers to the sex slaves in his bath as his "little fishies". Most viewers would think it's just another one of those over the top sexploitation scenes put in to shock audiences. In actual fact most historians will tell you he did have something like that, and they where mostly little boys. So this is one case where the movie actually ''toned it down'' from the real thing.
out-of-control production. Fearing the film would turn out incoherent,
* [[Ambiguously Gay]]: A gay sex scene involving Gemellus and one of the guards was actually filmed, but left on the cutting room floor. Some hints as to Gemellus's sexual preferences remain in the film, but nothing that specifically identifies him as being gay.
Vidal distanced himself from the project. Of Vidal, Brass concluded,
"''If I ever really get mad at Gore Vidal, I'll publish his script.''"

As the film entered post-production, Guccione took control of the film
footage, fired Brass for running up huge costs (Guccione claims Brass
shot enough film to "''make the original version of ''[[Ben Hur]]'' about 50
times over''"), casting actual criminals as Roman senators, and using
what Guccione considered "''fat, ugly, and wrinkled old women''" in the
sex scenes instead of his Penthouse Pets. Guccione hired friend
Giancarlo Lui to reedit the film. Lui was instructed to refashion the
film into something more in keeping with what Vidal had first scripted,
while delivering the sexual content demanded by Guccione; they shot and
added hardcore scenes.

With much footage improvised and rewritten from the original draft of
the film, Lui further scrambled, re-cut, and deleted scenes altogether.
Many of the disturbing sexual images shot by Brass were removed,
replaced by approximately six minutes of hardcore sex shot by Guccione
and Lui. In the end, the final cut of the film had strayed far afield
from what Brass had intended. Ironically, perhaps, it bore little
resemblance to what Vidal had scripted as well.

In the unpleasant aftermath, both Brass and Vidal launched independent
tirades against the film and lawsuits against Guccione, delaying the
release of Caligula. Vidal, who was paid $200,000 for his script, agreed
to drop his contractual claim for 10% of the film profits in exchange
for having his name removed from the title of the film (original billing
was to have been Gore Vidal's Caligula). In 1981, Anneka Di Lorenzo, who
played Messalina, sued Guccione, claiming that he damaged her career by
using hardcore sexual scenes in the final cut of Caligula without her
knowledge, thereby associating her with a pornographic film. After a
protracted litigation, in 1990 a New York state court awarded her
$60,000 in compensatory damages and $4,000,000 in punitive damages. On
appeal, the punitive damages were determined to be not recoverable and
the court vacated the award.

So, just to recap, costume and set designer from Roman Period Epics,
Director from Italian Exploitation films, Shakespearian actors, and an
exectutive producer with a background in porn. Where else are you gonna
see that?

In late 1979, three years after production began, ''Caligula'' made its
debut.

It was used as the subject of [[The Cinema Snob]]'s
[[http://thecinemasnob.com/2010/08/16/caligula-part-i.aspx 100th
episode]]. In his introduction to the review, Brad Jones cited it as his
all-time favourite movie.

-----
=== This film provides examples of: ===

* [[Advancing Wall of Doom]]: The head chopping machine is a diabolically
crafted work of art.
* [[A God Am I]]: "''Aye!''" "''Aye!''" "''Baaaah!''" "''Baaaah!''"
* [[All There in the Manual]]: According to the production notes, two of the
characters played by Penthouse Pets were supposed to be Messalina (who
would go onto marry Claudius) and Agrippina (mother of Nero).
* [[Aluminum Christmas Trees]]: The scene where Tiberius refers to the sex
slaves in his bath as his "little fishies". Most viewers would think
it's just another one of those over the top sexploitation scenes put in
to shock audiences. In actual fact most historians will tell you he did
have something like that, and they where mostly little boys. So this is
one case where the movie actually ''toned it down'' from the real thing.
* [[Ambiguously Gay]]: A gay sex scene involving Gemellus and one of the
guards was actually filmed, but left on the cutting room floor. Some
hints as to Gemellus's sexual preferences remain in the film, but
nothing that specifically identifies him as being gay.
* [[Ancient Rome]]
* [[Ancient Rome]]
* [[Badass Boast]]: "I have existed from the morning of the world and I shall
* [[Badass Boast]]: "I have existed from the morning of the world and I shall exist until the last star falls from the night. Although I have taken the form of Gaius Caligula, I am all men as I am no man and therefore I am a God."
* [[Captain Obvious]]: Despite torturing and killing several people, not to mention making his horse Incitatus a senator, it's only after Caligula declares himself a god in front of the senate Longinus exclaims "he's mad!"
exist until the last star falls from the night. Although I have taken
** In fairness, the stuff Caligula had done until that point was apparently ''less'' crazy than what Tiberus had been doing in his final years. Declaring himself a god was probably the first sign that he was truly delusional, as opposed to just being a tyrant.
the form of Gaius Caligula, I am all men as I am no man and therefore I
am a God."
* [[Big Lipped Alligator Moment]]: Early in the film, there's a scene where
Tiberius and Caligula are, despite the copious amounts of sex acts
taking place in the background, having a serious discussion about how
the political system works in Rome. All of a sudden, Tiberius calls for
"more conviction," which leads to a three minute long orgy scene with
various reaction shots of Caligula and Tiberius interspersed. After said
orgy is over and done with, Tiberius and Caligula carry on with their
previous discussion as if nothing had happened.
* [[Captain Obvious]]: Despite torturing and killing several people, not to
mention making his horse Incitatus a senator, it's only after Caligula
declares himself a god in front of the senate Longinus exclaims "he's mad!"
** In fairness, the stuff Caligula had done until that point was
apparently ''less'' crazy than what Tiberus had been doing in his final
years. Declaring himself a god was probably the first sign that he was
truly delusional, as opposed to just being a tyrant.
* [[The Caligula]]: Three guesses, no prizes.
* [[The Caligula]]: Three guesses, no prizes.
* [[Classically Trained Extra]]: Half the Cast.
* [[Classically-Trained Extra]]: Half the Cast.
* [[Costume Porn]]: Caligula alone has roughly ten different costumes.
* [[Costume Porn]]: Caligula alone has roughly ten different costumes.
* [[Den of Iniquity]]: Tiberius's mansion.
* [[Den of Iniquity]]: Tiberius's mansion.
* [[Depraved Bisexual]]: Caligula.
* [[Depraved Bisexual]]: Caligula.
* [[Driven to Suicide]] {{spoiler|Nerva}} who has had enough of Tiberius's
* [[Driven to Suicide]] {{spoiler|Nerva,}} who has had enough of Tiberius's reign and can't bear the fact Caligula will be the next emperor.
* [[Droit du seigneur]]: Caligula exercises his right by {{spoiler|raping both Proculus and his new wife}}, [[Moral Event Horizon|a pretty sickening thing to do]].
reign and can't bear the fact Caligula will be the next emperor.
* [[Epic Movie]]: Possibly the only [[Epic Movie]], and the only movie starring
* [[Epic Movie]]: Possibly the only [[Epic Movie]] (and the only movie starring Malcolm Mcdowell, Helen Mirren, Peter O' Toole and Sir John Gielgud) to feature unsimulated hardcore sex.
<!--* [[Euroshlock]]: Its writer was American, but its director, setting and filming-location were Italian, and its actors were British. And its producer was American but of Italian descent. Therefore, it counts.-->
Malcolm Mcdowell, Helen Mirren, Peter O' Toole and Sir John Gielgud
* [[Everythings Funkier With Disco]]: The sound track is a combination of the kind of bombastic classical music you expect to see in a Roman period piece, and [[The Seventies|70s]] [[Bow Chicka Wow Wow|Porn Music]].
to feature unsimulated hardcore sex.
* [[Euroshlock]]: Its writer was American, but its director, setting and
filming-location were Italian, and its actors were British. And its
producer was American but of Italian descent. Therefore, it counts.
* [[Everythings Funkier With Disco]]: The sound track is a combination of the
kind of boombastic classical music you except to see in a Roman period
piece, and [[The Seventies|70s]] [[Bow Chicka Wow Wow|Porn Music]].
* [[Fan Disservice]]: And HOW!
* [[Fan Disservice]]: And HOW!
* [[A God Am I]]: "''Aye!''" "''Aye!''" "''Baaaah!''" "''Baaaah!''"
* [[Gorn]]
* [[Gorn]]
* [[Heroic BSOD]]/[[Villainous Breakdown]]: Depending on your character interpretation of Caligula, he suffers one of these following the death of {{spoiler|Drusilla}}.
* [[Hey Its That Guy]]: [[Salo Or The 120 Days Of Sodom|The Duke]] is the head of the
Pretorian guard.
** [[A Clockwork Orange|Alex DeLarge]] is Caligula, and he's married to
[[The Queen]]
** [[Lawrence of Arabia]] was the previous emperor and
he's best buds with [[http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Film/Arthur
Hobson]].
* [[Hey Its That Voice]]: Patrick Allen, famous for being Crane in the TV show
of the same name and the narrator of Blackadder dubbed Macro's voice.
* [[Heroic BSOD]] / [[Villainous Breakdown]]: Depending on your character
interpretation of Caligula, he suffers one of these following the death
of {{spoiler|Drusilla}}.
* [[Historical Villain Upgrade]]
* [[Historical Villain Upgrade]]
* [[Hollywood History]]
* [[Hollywood History]]
* [[Infant Immortality]]: Averted, in a fairly sickening manner during the
* [[Infant Immortality]]: Averted, in a fairly sickening manner during the film's ending.
* [[King Incognito]]: After {{spoiler|Druscilla's death}} Caligula takes to the streets in Rome.
film's ending.
* [[King Incognito]]: After {{spoiler|Druscilla's death}} Caligula takes to
the streets in Rome.
* [[Large Ham]]: Caligula.
* [[Large Ham]]: Caligula.
* [[Male Frontal Nudity]]
* [[Male Frontal Nudity]]
* [[No Just No]]: Malcolm McDowell's reaction to the originally scripted
* [["No. Just... No" Reaction]]: Malcolm McDowell's reaction to the originally scripted scene that would have involved him anally raping {{spoiler|Proculus}}. He eventually agreed to do it, just so long as Caligula was carrying out the rape with his fist rather than his dick (it isn't shown on-screen).
* [[Only Sane Man]]: Nerva seems to be both Tiberius's only real friend and the only person who dares criticize his reign to his face. {{spoiler|It still doesn't stop him committing suicide.}}
scene that would have involved him anally raping {{spoiler|Proculus}}.
He eventually agreed to do it, just so long as Caligula was carrying out
the rape with his fist rather than his dick (it isn't shown on-screen).
* [[Old Shame]]: For practically everyone involved. Except [[John Gielgud]] who,
during its release, claimed to like this film.
* [[Only Sane Man]]: Nerva seems to be both Tiberius's only real friend and
the only person who dares criticize his reign to his face. [[spoiler: It
still doesn't stop him committing suicide.]]
* [[Plot With Porn]]
* [[Plot With Porn]]
* [[Praetorian Guard]]: This being ancient Rome, they play a pretty big role.
* [[Praetorian Guard]]: This being ancient Rome, they play a pretty big role.
* [[The Queens Latin|The Queen's Latin]]: Malcolm McDowell, Helen
* [[The Queen's Latin]]: Malcolm McDowell, Helen Mirren, Peter O' Toole, and Sir John Gielgud.
* [[Rage Against the Heavens]]: Caligula trashes the statue of Isis after {{spoiler|Druscilla dies of the fever}}.
Mirren, Peter O' Toole, and Sir John Gielgud.
* [[Scenery Porn]]: Say what you will about what's happening in the film, many of the sets are rather beautiful.
* [[Rage Against the Heavens]]: Caligula trashes the statue of Isis after
** And in the case of the orgy scene, it takes on [[If You Know What I Mean|a literal meaning]].
{{spoiler|Druscilla dies of the fever}}.
* [[Schizo Tech]]: Wow, they never taught us in history class that the Romans
* [[Schizo-Tech]]: Wow, they never taught us in history class that the Romans had a giant wall/car/thing with lawnmower blades on the bottom that could move forwards and [[Off with His Head|decapitate people]] buried up to their necks in the dirt in front of it!
* [[The Starscream]]: Longinus. Macro is set up to be this early in the film, but Caligula decides that he's too much of a potential liability and disposes of him.
had a giant wall/car/thing with lawnmower blades on the bottom that
* [[Take That]]: According to MalcolmMcDowell's commentary track on the DVD, the scene where Caligula lines people up and has Gemellus identify the culprit who killed Tiberius, was a jab at Guccione who did something similar after one of the dancers shoved one of the Penthouse Pets.
could move forwards and [[Off With His Head|decapitate people]] buried up
** Likewise, Tinto Brass used plain-looking people in the orgy scenes and deliberately shot the sexual footage as comical and softcore to spite Guccione. This [[Bullying a Dragon|backfired]] horribly.
to their necks in the dirt in front of it!
* [[Scenery Porn]]: Say what you will about what's happening in the film,
many of the sets are rather beautiful.
** And in the case of the orgy scene, it takes on [[[[If You Know What I Mean]] a
literal meaning]].
* [[Take That]]: According to MalcolmMcDowell's commentary track on the
DVD, the scene where Caligula lines people up and has Gemellus identify
the culprit who killed Tiberius, was a jab at Guccione who did something
similar after one of the dancers shoved one of the Penthouse Pets.
** Like wise, Tinto Brass used plain looking people in the orgy scenes
and deliberately shot the sexual footage as comical and softcore to
spite Guccione. This [[Bullying a Dragon|backfired]] horribly.
* [[The Starscream]]: Longinus. Macro is set up to be this early in the film,
but Caligula decides that he's too much of a potential liability and
disposes of him.
* [[Tears of Blood]]: As seen on most of the film's poster art.
* [[Tears of Blood]]: As seen on most of the film's poster art.
* [[Three Way Sex]]: At one point Caligula has a threesome with his wife and
* [[Three-Way Sex]]: At one point Caligula has a threesome with his wife and sister.
* [[Vomit Indiscretion Shot]]: When {{spoiler|Caligula}} comes down with the fever he pukes into the camera.
sister.
** Making matters worse, according to Malcolm McDowell it was real vomit.
* [[Throw It In]]: After 'blessing' Proculus and Livia at their wedding
Malcolm McDowell ad-libbed [[spoiler: Caligula sticking a flower in
Proculus's ass.]]
** According to the audio commentary, Malcolm McDowell also
improvised kissing Macro to piss off that actor's boyfriend who was the
producer.
* [[Troubled Production]]: And how!
* [[Vomit Indiscretion Shot]]: When {{spoiler|Caligula}} comes down with the
fever he pukes into the camera.
** Making matters worse, according to Malcolm McDowell it was real
vomit.
* [[With Great Power Comes Great Insanity]]
* [[With Great Power Comes Great Insanity]]
* [[Your Head Asplode]]: {{spoiler|A baby's head is smashed on a staircase.}} Something the [[IMDb]] [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080491/parentalguide Parental Guide] makes sure to mark as "[[Gorn|UNRATED VERY BLOODY]] [[Nightmare Fuel|DISTURBING]].
* [[The Woobie]]: Proculus. For the simple "crime" of already being engaged
to a woman that Caligula likes the look of, he gets to [[spoiler:watch
her get brutally raped by Caligula, and then gets Caligula's fist up his
own anus]]. And following this humiliation, Caligula decides that he's a
traitor because he's too honest -- and therefore a bad Roman -- and has
him {{spoiler|castrated, killed, and urinated upon by two prostitutes}}.
In that order.
** Some versions of the film take this all the way to [[Shoot the Shaggy Dog]]
territory. The original introduction scene for Proculus had Caligula
ordering him thrown into the path of the decapitation machine mentioned
above, and he successfully climbed to the top of it and stopped the
machine, earning him the adulation of the crowd, but also pissing off
Caligula into later [[spoiler:raping his wife and fisting him on his
wedding day]].
* [[Your Head Asplode]]: {{spoiler|A baby's head is smashed on a staircase.}}
Something the [[IM Db]]
[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080491/parentalguide Parental Guide]
makes sure to mark as "[[Gorn|UNRATED VERY BLOODY]]
[[High Octane Nightmare Fuel|DISTURBING]].


{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Caligula]]
[[Category:Caligula]]
[[Category:Film]]
[[Category:Film]]
[[Category:Formerly Banned On TV Tropes]]
[[Category:Films With Recuts]]
[[Category:Films of the 1970s]]
[[Category:Epic Movie]]
[[Category:Pornography]]
[[Category:Italian Films]]
[[Category:Independent Films]]
[[Category:Pages with working Wikipedia tabs]]
[[Category:Biopic]]
[[Category:Cult Classic]]

Latest revision as of 20:38, 21 May 2024
"What shall it profit a man if he should gain the whole world and lose his own soul?"
—Mark 8:36, quoted at the film's beginning.

Caligula is a 1979 Italian-American erotic historical drama film focusing on the rise and fall of the Roman Emperor Caligula. It stars Malcolm McDowell, Teresa Ann Savoy, Helen Mirren, Peter O'Toole, John Steiner and John Gielgud. It is the only feature film produced by the men's magazine Penthouse.

It became very controversial for its violent and sexual content and had all sorts of legal issues at the time. The film is now seen as a Cult Classic.

For the troubled development history, see here.

Tropes used in Caligula include:
  • Advancing Wall of Doom: The head chopping machine is a diabolically crafted work of art.
  • All There in the Manual: According to the production notes, two of the characters played by Penthouse Pets were supposed to be Messalina (who would go onto marry Claudius) and Agrippina (mother of Nero).
  • Aluminum Christmas Trees: The scene where Tiberius refers to the sex slaves in his bath as his "little fishies". Most viewers would think it's just another one of those over the top sexploitation scenes put in to shock audiences. In actual fact most historians will tell you he did have something like that, and they where mostly little boys. So this is one case where the movie actually toned it down from the real thing.
  • Ambiguously Gay: A gay sex scene involving Gemellus and one of the guards was actually filmed, but left on the cutting room floor. Some hints as to Gemellus's sexual preferences remain in the film, but nothing that specifically identifies him as being gay.
  • Ancient Rome
  • Badass Boast: "I have existed from the morning of the world and I shall exist until the last star falls from the night. Although I have taken the form of Gaius Caligula, I am all men as I am no man and therefore I am a God."
  • Captain Obvious: Despite torturing and killing several people, not to mention making his horse Incitatus a senator, it's only after Caligula declares himself a god in front of the senate Longinus exclaims "he's mad!"
    • In fairness, the stuff Caligula had done until that point was apparently less crazy than what Tiberus had been doing in his final years. Declaring himself a god was probably the first sign that he was truly delusional, as opposed to just being a tyrant.
  • The Caligula: Three guesses, no prizes.
  • Classically-Trained Extra: Half the Cast.
  • Costume Porn: Caligula alone has roughly ten different costumes.
  • Den of Iniquity: Tiberius's mansion.
  • Depraved Bisexual: Caligula.
  • Driven to Suicide Nerva, who has had enough of Tiberius's reign and can't bear the fact Caligula will be the next emperor.
  • Droit du seigneur: Caligula exercises his right by raping both Proculus and his new wife, a pretty sickening thing to do.
  • Epic Movie: Possibly the only Epic Movie (and the only movie starring Malcolm Mcdowell, Helen Mirren, Peter O' Toole and Sir John Gielgud) to feature unsimulated hardcore sex.
  • Everythings Funkier With Disco: The sound track is a combination of the kind of bombastic classical music you expect to see in a Roman period piece, and 70s Porn Music.
  • Fan Disservice: And HOW!
  • A God Am I: "Aye!" "Aye!" "Baaaah!" "Baaaah!"
  • Gorn
  • Heroic BSOD/Villainous Breakdown: Depending on your character interpretation of Caligula, he suffers one of these following the death of Drusilla.
  • Historical Villain Upgrade
  • Hollywood History
  • Infant Immortality: Averted, in a fairly sickening manner during the film's ending.
  • King Incognito: After Druscilla's death Caligula takes to the streets in Rome.
  • Large Ham: Caligula.
  • Male Frontal Nudity
  • "No. Just... No" Reaction: Malcolm McDowell's reaction to the originally scripted scene that would have involved him anally raping Proculus. He eventually agreed to do it, just so long as Caligula was carrying out the rape with his fist rather than his dick (it isn't shown on-screen).
  • Only Sane Man: Nerva seems to be both Tiberius's only real friend and the only person who dares criticize his reign to his face. It still doesn't stop him committing suicide.
  • Plot With Porn
  • Praetorian Guard: This being ancient Rome, they play a pretty big role.
  • The Queen's Latin: Malcolm McDowell, Helen Mirren, Peter O' Toole, and Sir John Gielgud.
  • Rage Against the Heavens: Caligula trashes the statue of Isis after Druscilla dies of the fever.
  • Scenery Porn: Say what you will about what's happening in the film, many of the sets are rather beautiful.
  • Schizo-Tech: Wow, they never taught us in history class that the Romans had a giant wall/car/thing with lawnmower blades on the bottom that could move forwards and decapitate people buried up to their necks in the dirt in front of it!
  • The Starscream: Longinus. Macro is set up to be this early in the film, but Caligula decides that he's too much of a potential liability and disposes of him.
  • Take That: According to MalcolmMcDowell's commentary track on the DVD, the scene where Caligula lines people up and has Gemellus identify the culprit who killed Tiberius, was a jab at Guccione who did something similar after one of the dancers shoved one of the Penthouse Pets.
    • Likewise, Tinto Brass used plain-looking people in the orgy scenes and deliberately shot the sexual footage as comical and softcore to spite Guccione. This backfired horribly.
  • Tears of Blood: As seen on most of the film's poster art.
  • Three-Way Sex: At one point Caligula has a threesome with his wife and sister.
  • Vomit Indiscretion Shot: When Caligula comes down with the fever he pukes into the camera.
    • Making matters worse, according to Malcolm McDowell it was real vomit.
  • With Great Power Comes Great Insanity
  • Your Head Asplode: A baby's head is smashed on a staircase. Something the IMDb Parental Guide makes sure to mark as "UNRATED VERY BLOODY DISTURBING.
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