CALIGULA: THE ULTIMATE CUT Movie Review | Malcolm McDowell | Helen Mirren
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 12 сен 2024
- You may have seen the infamous "Caligula," but you've never seen this version. "Caligula: The Ultimate Cut" is a complete reconstruction of the shockingly graphic 1980 historical drama featuring unused footage and sound. The three-hour result aims to be a truer reflection of the filmmakers' original vision -- and it's far less sexual. Malcolm McDowell stars as the increasingly sadistic Roman emperor, who reveals that absolute power corrupts absolutely. Helen Mirren, John Gielgud, Peter O'Toole and Teresa Ann Savoy co-star. In theaters now.
#caligula #malcolmmcdowell #helenmirren
* Join our channel to get access to perks! Members-only videos, shout-outs, livestreams and more:
/ @breakfastallday
* Subscribe to our Breakfast All Day RUclips channel and join our community of engaged, passionate film fans!
* Subscribe to Christy's Saturday Matinee newsletter! christylemire....
* Want to review a movie with us? Here's how: We offer a service at Breakfast All Day called Table for One. You pick a film, we all talk about it together, then we send you the video to enjoy. It's been so much fun and a great way to get to know our viewers better. To find out more about scheduling and pricing, email us at bfastalldaypod@gmail.com.
* Follow us @bfastallday on Instagram, Facebook and BlueSky
* Follow Christy Lemire: christylemire...., RogerEbert.com
Cameo: www.cameo.com/...
* Follow Alonso Duralde: Linoleum Knife podcast, Maximum Film podcast, aduralde.bsky.social
* If you're loving how we look and sound these days, it's thanks to Riverside. This is the new platform we're using, which allows us to record in 1080p. You can meet and record for videos, podcasts, social media and more, and it's easy and fun to use. Get 15% off your membership with code BREAKFAST15. To find out more, visit: bit.ly/Riversi...
Some product links are affiliate links which mean if you buy something, we'll receive a small commission.
* If you're enjoying our news, reviews and other features, we'd appreciate it if you'd consider a Super Thanks. It's that icon just below the video with the ❤️ and the 💲. We'll be sure to give you a special shout-out to thank you for your support. We're so grateful to be able to engage with you all -- it inspires us and keeps us going!
* Join our Patreon! Members get exclusive access to our TV recaps, monthly Off the Menu selections our subscribers choose for us and more. Learn more at / bfastallday
* Enjoy longer versions of our conversations on our Breakfast All Day Podcast! Listen here or wherever you find your favorite podcasts: podcasts.apple...
My mother went to this with my grandmother in the 80s. They thought it would be like cleopatra.
My mother only made it like a half hour. My grandma stayed for the whole thing. She said it was ….. different.
OH BOY, been there done that...I was 11 and I begged my Grandmother to take me to see AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN...yeah, that was an uneasy moment 🙄
That made me laugh. Your grandma was brave.
😱
Grandma is too generous. “Different”. 😂
Sounds like people are still best advised to watch the 1970s BBC mini-series I, CLAUDIUS (featuring the young John Hurt as Caligula in the middle episodes). Funny thing is, where CALIGULA prided itself on production design, I, CLAUDIUS is memorable for its threadbare sets that you can see again and again were used for other locations - but this helps focus on the amazing cast.
Derek Jacobi (Claudius), Patrick Stewart (Sejanus), Brian Blessed (Augustus), Sian Phillips (Livia), Patricia Quinn (Livilla), John Rhys Davies, and dozens more. Still one of my TV top ten, unlikely to budge.
Still the best ... one of the best BBC series ever
Caligula: Was It Great or Were You 8?
Ha, it did come out in 1980 so it qualifies!
What an opportunity lost to talk about Tinto Brass...
@@Fafa-Fil Do you have any thoughts on him you'd like to share?
🤣 Good one!
Wasn't the original a porn movie basically? Lol
A few months ago, I listened to an interview with Malcolm McDowell on Marc Maron's WTF Podcast and they briefly discussed the upcoming release of The Ultimate Cut. Having watched the OG only once, McDowell really sold me on this ultimate cut version of the film with unseen footage and Gore Vidal's original vision. I'm still interested in watching the film, but my expectation has been lowered, considering the repetitive themes and length.
Great review guys!!
It’s definitely not for everyone. It’s a psychological and metaphysical study, infinitely more Alejandro Jodorowsky than Ridley Scott. If you are interested in films that are absolutely gorgeous and might take you a couple of viewings to completely get your head around, you’ll love it because there isn’t anything else like it. You’ll be able to tell quickly why got invited to premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, and at the same time understand why it’s not playing in everyone’s local multiplex! It’s an absolutely insane movie, but if you take it in like a fable, there are a lot of really beautiful lessons about the nature of existence in there.
I'm pretty sure Joseph Quinn is channeling Caligula in the up and coming Gladiator sequal judging by the look of him.
Nero
I’m so glad y’all reviewed this!
Thanks Daniel, will you see it?
Malcolm McDowell was both adorable and creepy as fuck in this movie. I'm really only familiar with him during this period for this and A Clockwork Orange. Did he ever get to be cute and sweet when he was younger? I'd love to see that Malcolm McDowell.
Time After Time requires your attention ASAP!
If 1968 is really good
I'm so sorry you had to see this. It's not even fun enough to be camp.
Loved him in clockwork then he was in Halloween lol 🍭
Saw this with the late first boyfriend in 1980. To say it left us jaw-dropped is to resort to extreme understatement. Cannot imagine how Dame Helen managed to be her usual magnificent self amid the debauchery, but she does, McDowell is fine, The O'Toole and Sir John must have needed the paycheck, or sump'n. The John Hurt episodes of, nay, indeed, the entirety of "I, Claudius" outstrips it at pretty much every level, particularly in nuances of character and dramatic milieu. Will definitely be giving this new cut a pass. Thanks as ever, Christy and Alonso.
So sorry to hear of your loss, friend.
@@BreakfastAllDay ❤️❤️
The "debauchery" was added later, after the stars went home. Footage of a Nascar race could have been added, for all the actual stars knew. They found out later about the porn, and were not happy.
@@MrEdWeirdoShow Yes, we discuss that in our review, thanks!
Thanks team. I'd hope it would have been better. I may buy it on disc and watch for completist sake. I love so many of the cast.
You should watch it and see what you think. Some people love it, some people hate it, it’s most certainly not for everyone!
I was just thinking about Gore Vidal the other day because of the anniversary of his famous 1968 debate. Now you're talking about one of the films he wrote. That's funny. I wonder how he would have felt about this version. Also loved hearing Alonso discuss seeing it on his birthday. Great story.
My girlfriend (now wife) and I saw the original at a sorority sleepover way way back. Still laughing about it.
Party girls! Which sorority?
@@BreakfastAllDay Sigma Delta Tau. GREAT gals, one of whom has experienced innumerable films with me! To this day we host friends regularly for film nights.
Thanks for sharing your takes.
Whoa. X rated sleepover!
I saw the original Caligula about 10-15 yrs ago. What a piece of... There was no saving that film unless you had enough extra footage to make a completely new film. You cannot compare the TV Series I, Claudius and John Hurt's performance as Caligula. No shade to Malcolm- he did what he could with lousy script, etc. Thanks for your reviews. 🍿
I guess I'm gonna have to revisit Caligula in this ultimate cut now that your team and Mark Kermode, have piqued my interest in seeing what Gore Vidal and Tinto Brass would have wrought sans the producer's meddling touches. My ex-wife and I endured sitting through the original on a Sunday at a downtown Vancouver repertory theatre that had an exclusive 2 week-long engagement of this movie back in 1984. There was a fairly long queue for the mid afternoon showing and the theatre was jam-packed at our screening... When it was over, we were neither shocked nor outraged nor scarred by it, but as we left the venue, it did leave us asking: "What the all-encompassing fuck, did we just watch?" Later that same year, we saw a 3-D print of Hitchcock's "Dial M For Murder" at an IRL porno theatre that had a week long booking for it in another part of town. lol...
Ha, well said!
Saw this crazy ass movie when I was way too young ,haven't seen it since. Might be an interesting revisit, but I'm still traumatized by them grabbing that child by the ankles, and then bashing her head on the stairs of the Colosseum that was one of many things that have stayed with me from this film.
Great Review guys
I’m split on whether i want to see this. I love older historical epics (I even have a soft spot for Cleopatra), but I’m not sure if I’d want to experience this in the theatre. Might be a “watch at home with a friend and drink” kinda movie.
If you love historical epics, this one might not work for you! 😂 For as much as everyone talked about historical accuracy when they were making it, we do see a three-story tall decapitation machine, and Penthouse Pets running around in 4 inch platform heels! That said, it’s a beautiful and bizarre film.
I've been wanting to watch this movie for a while, which version is better? Original or Ultimate Cut?
Malcolm McDowell is not a fan of this. Called it garbage. The producer adding xxx scenes into the movie without telling the cast.
Yes, we address that, thanks!
That’s the 1980 release. For the ultimate cut, he appeared at the premieres and said that he loves it and that it’s the movie he believed he was making. Helen Mirren was on the BBC last week complementing it as well. It’s a completely different film!
@@thomasnegovanonline
Correct
I saw this movie when it came out. I was around 19 or 20, and fell in love with the British actress that plays Caligula's sister Drusilla. The movie as a story was over the top - regardless of the nudity - a lot of random imagery and some good acting on the part of the few (4) well established actors used. I left the theater disappointed that there wasn't a real character study on the main character, this emperor so negatively renown. Silly me to think there would be worthy history in the story. To my mind the best thing in the movie was the actress who played Drusilla; being that acting wasn't much of a concern in this production. That's how I remember it. Haven't seen it since.
Someone needs to find the original cut of The Magnificent Ambersons by Orson Welles and rerelease it
I don't think I have ever hated a movie as much as this one ...
WOAH. I never thought I'd see a review of..... THIS movie from you guys 😂 I watched it when I was 16
Ha we contain multitudes on Arthouse Tuesday!
Proscenium... ♥Alonso's vocabulary
Noooo thanks!!! At first I thought I should watch it, but once again your review has saved me … so thanks again for watching something so we don’t have to!!🙏🏻 Anyway, John Hurt’s Caligula from I, Claudius gave me enough to digest back in the day, and made it clear there are images I don’t need in my head! I‘ve learned plenty about Caligula anyway from the many truly outstanding Ancient Rome documentaries that I have thoroughly enjoyed over the years
Ha, thanks Bev! We're here to help.
The movie is that kind of psychological experience that you really need to make sure you need , because it will leave marcs on the audience, but not necessarily beneficial ones.
I got this on VHS. It is worn a bit.
And here I thought Caligula was a vampire movie 🤦
Tiberius was Caligula's uncle. Not his father.
Ah, thank you.
Biological uncle, adoptive grandfather. It’s very messy.
Would you be interested a top 10 list of Maligned Movies? Some of which may have been rediscovered?
I saw Caligula and I found it to be the most repulsive film I have ever seen. ZERO STARS.
I’m hoping to see this, but it’s not scheduled anywhere near us and at three hours, I’d rather wait anyway.
It's maybe stating the obvious but I just think that Fellini Satyricon is the film that delivers what Caligula attempts: an opulent 'head movie' that depicts the alien decadence and weirdness of ancient Rome. Obviously it is an even less conventional film than Caligula and, although sexually explicit, not distracted by crass soft porn indulgences.
I have to watch this based on the scope of the re-edit alone.
I think Malcolm McDowell was great as Caligula. He definitely was the right guy at the time to play him. And Malcolm tells hilarious stories about the filming (like how his father came to the set). He's a funny guy. Not at all like the characters he's known for. There are interviews with him on youtube telling about Caligula. Personally, I saw the original version (which is not the version Tinto Brass envisioned) and I thought it was a hilarious movie, mean spirited but hilarious 😁
Great Movie 9+
My local art house is playing it this weekend and I’m thinking I’m going to go , this review kinda has me on the fence cause the length kind of intimidates me , especially if it’s slow lol.
I don't think I knew Vidal wrote this, that was a surprise. This movie always felt like it should have been directed by Kubrick, it definitely would have been better. Glad "A Clockwork Orange" got a mention, one of my favorites.
Definitely some similarities here!
I agree. The sets. The sets were nice
So this is the 5th edit I've seen of this film. (R, X, restored with adult footage removed, Imperial cut, Ultimate cut) It's honestly - scene for scene - the same damn film, just different takes. It's missing some scenes. (Gielgud/death of groom) It's added some scenes. (Helen Mirren, more Helen Mirren) But mostly it just overly avoids the nudity and violence. This version's fine if you want the gore toned down. Otherwise the restored version with the adult footage removed (known as the Pre-Release Cut) seems more honest to what they were going for. Also as a side note the added "porn" was mostly naked dudes, some women, two gay oral sex inserts and one protracted lesbian sex scene.
Sounds like I'm just better off just rewatching I, Claudius...again
Oh yes, I'm in for this! A guilty pleasure for me in it's original big-dicks-and-penthouse-pets version and for Danilo Donati's Vegas floor-show production design. Malcolm McDowell does his thing with a lot of filthy flair and that's not necessarily a bad thing, and the astounding casting coup associated with the original production is worth the price of admission as well. I'm also curious to hear the new score, even though the needle-drop classical of the original has it's charms. It's no Ken Russell's THE DEVILS, but it's a porno peplum with lots of sandals and plenty of big swords (in its original form) and that makes this new rework an enticing curiosity.
The thing I remembered most about this movie (aside from the fisting) is that Gore Vidal tried to get his name taken off after seeing what Bob Guccione and Tinto Brass did with it: ruclips.net/video/NLyvszhFAC4/видео.html
Really funny review!
Ha, glad you enjoyed it!
Could someone shoot the missing scenes of Orson Welles' "The Deep"? & can we ever see Morton Heilig's "Once"? The sole known print is at USC. Couldn't Spielberg & Scorsese spend whatever it takes to restore it? Both of those interest me far more than Lewis' Clown movie.
I'm around the same age as Alonso, so I was too young to see in theaters in 1980, but I do remember seeing the trailer in a movie theater. I can't remember the name of the movie we were there to see, but I remember the controversy around the title of the film. About 15 years ago, I rented a DVD version, which wasn't the Penthouse version it did contain nudity, but nothing too explicit! I did like McDowell's performance. I'm not sure anyone can edit together a cohesive film from any existing footage! I'm not sure I will invest the time it will take to view this version either! 😮
We had nearly 100 hours of footage, well over an hour is completely new narrative.
How would you guys compare this film to Visconti’s Ludwig?
You seriouly want to compare Visconti to Tinto Brass?
Ludwig is by far the better film. Just for the cinematography alone (agree with Alonso Caligula is very flat). Also, Visconti just has so much more to say.
@@1marcelo I know Visconti is better. The Leopard is my all time favorite film. Just thought the films might be similar in content and themes. Haven’t seen Ludwig
Agreed with this review and all points. I watched the 'Ultimate cut' in the cinema. Came out wondering what I'd 'experienced' rather than 'seen'. Film is largely incoherent. Mainly style over substance.
Wow - now this is a movie review!
I saw the original and walked out after less than an hour. The worst possible combination of gross and boring.
A question for the crowd, though: am I the only one who sees a connection between the original Caligula and Game of Thrones? After all, the latter managed to blend hifalutin dialogue and Big Ideas with copious amounts of graphic sex and violence that didn’t feel any less gratuitous than it was in Caligula, just more skillfully integrated and executed.
can't believe yall watched this. I saw it in theaters the other night and there was so much nudity it almost felt like I was watching porn in public LOL
And this is tame compared to the original!
Back in the day (1960s-early 1980s) watching "porn-in-public" (porn movie theaters) was the way most people watched porn.
And occasionally soft-core porn films were shown in mainstream theaters.
@@keng4847 yeah good call, it’s just so foreign to me now
It is interesting that this came out in a UK and the film critic I watch said more or less a the same thing. It is still a mass but in a different way.
That said depending what it streams on I might see it. I saw the original and was neither shocked nor impressed by it.
Ah, was that Mark Kermode?
It sounds like a 3 hour episode of House of Dragons
I tried to watch this years ago and it was gross and boring then. I've never had an appetite to try it again.
Sooo many PHALLUSES
Adopted son❤
This movie was above your intellect and so... your take on it is obscene and childish. Good luck.
Why tho?
Would probably be better off renting/buying the miniseries I, Claudius on Prime Video. Claudius was Caligula's disabled uncle who
succeeded him. Portrayed as a much better person. Still lots of R rated sex. Rome was what it was.
I went to see this back in 1980 with two women co-workers. I sat in the middle and it was all a bit much!! lol It's so long ago, I can't remember what exactly we were expecting, but I clearly remember seeing a graphically depicted blowjob and being a kinda shocked!! The harder scenes were put in there pretty artlessly and almost pointlessly, so the movie was a real slog. The idea that they put together something resembling Vidal's intent is interesting, but the reactions have been fairly tepid so I doubt I'll be watching this anytime soon.
That sounds ... awkward.
@@BreakfastAllDay Oh..it was!! Haha! We had a good laugh about it afterwards though!
I was about 20 when the original came out. I was so excited to see it because I was a history buff and I liked period movies. I had already read all about Caligula. I knew he was a class A jerk and a sexually depraved freak, but all the Emperor's were then. Wow!!! I was not even prepared for what came on the screen. I thought they would just 'Imply' that he was a sexual sadist. NOPE!!! Straight up in your face and graphic. People were walking out in disgust, but I stayed to the bitter end. The rape scene of the virgins who just married made my stomach turn. I still remember it 45 years later and it still bothers me. To me, it was just a porno movie with way too much violence with the intent of shocking the audience. It was a horrible movie. If the new one is cleaned up a little and more a historical movie, I might give it a look. I think you guys said it was toned down some, but a 5 is a pretty bad review.
That rape scene is still in there, and it's definitely stomach-turning. Thanks for your thoughts, Glenda!
I watched it in the 90s on VHS. God it was awful. Took all the joy out of the sex, very systematically, as is common with mainstream films and especially art films. Never again.
Oh i remember seeing the original version and was pretty boring, even with all the boobs (and im a guy thag enjoys boobs) so curious to see what can be done to this film
The film’s production value and Malcom and Helen save this insipid mess
It’s a curious time piece but as an actual film it’s a bloated bore
I don't like Joe Biden, but even I wouldn't compare him to Caligula.
Ha, we see what you did there.
Sorry...this movie sucks!Bob's home movie!
I'm sticking with the original version, warts and all. Tinto Brass is no longer around, and trying to make this a "respectable" version further increases the value of the original. This movie was notorious because of it's excess and imperfections, something contemporary taste cannot polish or correct. Give me the sex and depravity.
Getting through the original version was a slog, regardless to what they've done to it, there's no way that I'm going to watch it again!
It's a lot, for sure. Time is valuable!