Caligula Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		3.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		3.5

Caligula Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov November 23, 2015

Tinto Brass' "Caligula" (1979) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of French label M6 Video. The supplemental features on the disc include archival interviews with director Tinto Brass, writer John Steiner, and actress Lori Wagner; deleted scene; featurette; and more. In English, with imposed French subtitles for the main feature. Region-B "locked".

"What shall it profit a man, if he should gain the whole world and lose his own soul." Mark 8:36

Caligula is unquestionably Italian director Tinto Brass’ most polarizing film. Most people flat-out hate it. There are some that admire the fact that it does not play by the rules, but they are a minority. There are only a few that actually appreciate and understand what Brass tried to accomplish with it.

I am not attempting to make a case that Caligula is a misunderstood masterpiece. I think that at the very least the current uncut version -- which is mostly Bob Guccione’s version -- of the film lacks the coherence Brass would have demanded if he had the final say on it. But I think that it is an undeniable fact that its troubled production history has been conveniently used to dismiss it as a grandiose failure. This, I assure you, Caligula is not.

The current uncut version of the film is approximately 155 minutes long and features all of the explicit footage Guccione shot after he parted ways with Brass. It begins in pagan Rome at a time when Caligula’s grand uncle is no longer the great ruler he once was and people around him are sensing that it is only a matter of time before he is removed. When later on Caligula kills him and becomes Emperor, many of them become his trusted servants. From this point forward, the film essentially chronicles Caligula’s gradual descent into madness until his premature death.

The frequently very graphic footage that ensues is what many cite as the film’s biggest weakness. It is true that very little is left to the imagination, but the point that is missed here is that the excess and perversions are precisely what defined Caligula’s reign. He was not a great leader with a vision. He was a madman who managed to stay in power for as long as he did because the internal crisis in his empire created a dangerous vacuum. For a while he exploited it and successfully eliminated his real and perceived enemies.

Brass and production designer Danilo Donati’s vision of Caligula’s world is hugely impressive. This is what many of the film’s critics fail to acknowledge. Donati, who collaborated with Federico Fellini on some of his most visually striking films (Fellini Satyricon, Roma), is unstoppable here -- the sets, the decors and especially the costumes are some of the very best that you would see in a period film of this caliber. Also, there are hundreds of extras throughout the film and the choreography during the mass scenes is truly remarkable.

The main characters are played by numerous European stars: Malcolm McDowell (Caligila), Peter O'Toole (Tiberius), Helen Mirren (Caesonia), John Gielgud (Nerva), Teresa Ann Savoy (Drusilla), Adriana Asti (Ennia), and Mirella D'Angelo (Livia).

This release of Caligula features the fully uncut version of the film, which was endorsed by Guccione. In the United States, the uncut version of the film is also available on Blu-ray via Image Entertainment. The same release has the pre-release version of the film, which runs at approximately 153 minutes. Some years ago, Image Entertainment also released the short Rated-R version of the film on DVD.

Caligula Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in his original aspect ratio of 1.85:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Tinto Brass' Caligula arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of French label M6 Video.

The release is sourced from a pre-existing master, most likely the same master that was used to produce the old French DVD release of Caligula. While it is rather easy to tell because some extremely light noise occasionally sneaks in and shadow definition isn't as convincing as it should be, the film undoubtedly looks a lot better than it does on the Image Entertainment release. Depth and clarity are superior, but there is still plenty of room for sizable improvements. Colors are also better saturated, but a new scan of the original negative will certainly introduce a wider range of nuances. There are no traces of recent degraining and sharpening adjustments. However, the grain should be better distributed and resolved. Overall image stability is very good. Finally, there are no large debris, damage marks, cuts, or warps, but a couple of tiny flecks occasionally pop up here and there. To sum it all up, Caligula can look better on Blu-ray, but this is the best technical presentation of the film that I have seen to date. My score is 3.75/5.00. (Note: This is a Region-B "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-B player in order to access its content).

Caligula Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are two standard audio tracks on this Blu-ray release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and French DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. If you choose the original English audio, there are French subtitles that cannot be removed via the main menu or the remote control.

Depth and clarity are good. There is also a good range of nuanced dynamics. However, I think that if the audio is fully remastered some balance improvements will be made. This isn't to imply that there are any serious technical issues on the English track, but there is room for some minor improvements. The dialog is stable, clean, and easy to follow.

Caligula Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Making of - this long archival featurette takes a closer look at the unusual production history of Caligula. Included in it are interviews with writer Gore Vidal, Sylvana Foa (United Press International), theatrical agent Guidarino Guidi, and producer Bob Guccione, amongst others, as well as plenty of raw from the shooting of the film. In English, with imposed French subtitles. (57 min).

• Entretien avec John Steiner - in this archival interview, actor John Steiner (Longinus) explains how he entered the film business and discusses his contribution to Caligula. In English, with imposed French subtitles. (25 min).

• Souvenirs de Lori Wagner - in this archival interview, actress Lori Wagner (Agrippina) explains how she became a model and her pictures appeared in Penthouse, and recalls how she became involved with Caligula. In English, with imposed French subtitles. (29 min).

• Entretien avec Tinto Brass - presented here is an archival interview with director Tinto Brass. In French, not subtitled. (9 min).

• L'execution de Marco - a deleted scene with some additional graphic footage. In Italian, with imposed French subtitles. (5 min).

• Confessions de Tinto Brass - in this archival featurette, director Tinto Brass discusses his career and the production history of Caligula. In Italian, with imposed French subtitles. (35 min).

Caligula Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Tinto Brass' Caligula is a difficult film to enthusiastically embrace, but I think that it is a very impressive project. Danilo Donati's sets, decors and costumes really have to be seen to be believed. This French Blu-ray release has the best presentation of the film that I have seen to date, but the film can look quite a bit better in high-definition. RECOMMENDED.