At the age of 25 Gaius Caesar Augustus Germanicus (generally knows as: Caligula) became the fourth emperor of the big Roman empire (A.D. 37-41). Rather remarkable, because Caligula was an adopted child. In a world full of suspicion, violence and murder his character was formed. Due to the killing behaviour of Caligula's grandfather, the third emperor Tiberius, which leaded to the complete extermination of the whole imperial family, only two legal (male) heirs remained. Namely Caligula and his little cousin Gemullus. Tiberius did not want Caligula to be the future emperor and tried to assassinate him many times. However all attempts failed. Until the moment Tiberius was murdered himself. The last will of Tiberius was ignored and Caligula became the new leader of the Romans. Not much later he gave the order to execute his cousin Gemullus for treason. A sophism, because Caligula feared Gemullus and his possible power in the near future and therefore the threat.

History lets Caligula to be reminded as a cruel, dangerous and insane monster. Despite the fact he was very popular by the general public, because he regulary ridiculed the hated senators in a terrible way. Nobody mentioned his massacres, the intense love affair with his sister Drusilla, his need for torture and his sincere belief he was a God.

About the rise and fall of Caligula a movie has been made in 1979. A movie which aimed to show the true life of the emperor. A fifteen million dollar investment. In that time a rather big amount. But Caligula flopped dramatically. The mix of pure violence and porno was entirely ignored.

Caligula (1979) is a movie difficult to comprehend. A not uninteresting story with fine actors, nice music and beautiful scenery. All taking place in an atmosphere of fucking people, erections, vaginae and blowing scenes. Together with a long procession of sexfreaks (with two penises or three breasts), a bath of sperm to keep the skin healhty, blowing gays, lesbians and necro piss sex. Everything combined with chopped off limbs, castration and the most advanced decapitation machine in the history of film.

Despite (or thanks to) all elements mentioned above every person who calls himself a movie fan must see Caligula. A movie with a past, present and future. Rarely there has been so much arguments about one single movie. So take a look at it and let yourself bewildered.

- December 2002 -

Source: Dutch magazine Zone5300

Malcolm McDowell .... Caligula
Teresa Ann Savoy .... Drusilla
Helen Mirren .... Caesonia
Peter O'Toole .... Tiberius

Directed by: Tinto Brass
Produced by: Bob Guccione en Franco Rosselini
Written by: Gore Vidal

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