![Is the X-rated 1970s movie Caligula a lost masterpiece?](https://cdn.magzter.com/1591272633/1723089125/articles/XHCvaouA01723093856804/IS-THE-XRATED-1970S-MOVIE-CALIGULA-A-LOST-MASTERPIECE.jpg)
When Malcolm McDowell first heard that a new cut of Caligula was being worked on, he simply rolled his eyes. "That's what I did," he says. "Because I never, ever wanted to talk about that damn film ever again.” The actor famed for roles in If… and A Clockwork Orange had high hopes when he originally signed up for Caligula, a portrait of the Roman emperor scripted by esteemed writer Gore Vidal, directed by the Italian filmmaker Tinto Brass and co-starring Helen Mirren, Peter O’Toole and Sir John Gielgud.
While Brass and Vidal didn’t exactly see eye-to-eye, the real problem came with the film’s financier, Bob Guccione, the founder of the erotic magazine Penthouse. McDowell had raised concerns even before the film was made, only to be told by a hopeful Vidal: “Think of him as one of the Warner Brothers.” But Guccione fell out with the director, firing Brass.
Worse was to come. After the film wrapped, Guccione covertly shot pornographic scenes with some Penthouse girls, and spliced the material into the film. When McDowell saw the final version, released in 1980 almost four years after shooting had concluded, he felt betrayed. “I advise people never to see it. It is a terrible film: exploitive and pornographic.” Mirren, who plays Caesonia, Caligula’s wife, took it in good humour, calling the film “an irresistible mix of art and genitals”.
But critics were appalled. “A trough of rotten swill,” wrote The New York Observer’s Rex Reed, while fellow reviewer Roger Ebert called it “sickening, utterly worthless, shameful trash”. McDowell was left shell-shocked. “I was really very depressed about it. Actually. I think I went into a depression. It affected me badly. Honestly, I think it was one of the reasons I left England.” The actor made a new home in Los Angeles.
This story is from the August 08, 2024 edition of The Independent.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the August 08, 2024 edition of The Independent.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
!['No thought' batting leaves England on brink of defeat](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1826441/XIn_3BwaF1725865463750/NO-THOUGHT-BATTING-LEAVES-ENGLAND-ON-BRINK-OF-DEFEAT.jpg)
'No thought' batting leaves England on brink of defeat
England were left facing an uphill battle to maintain their unbeaten Test summer after batting with \"no thought\" in the second innings.
![Sinner seals US Open with straight-sets win over Fritz](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1826441/LXWonpu2S1725865375926/SINNER-SEALS-US-OPEN-WITH-STRAIGHTSETS-WIN-OVER-FRITZ.jpg)
Sinner seals US Open with straight-sets win over Fritz
Jannik Sinner let his tennis do the talking as he won the US Open for the first time. The world number one came into the tournament under a cloud following his anti-doping scandal, where he escaped a ban despite two positive tests in March.
![Coach Carsley could signal end of the England manager](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1826441/DL2mupIKb1725865275000/COACH-CARSLEY-COULD-SIGNAL-END-OF-THE-ENGLAND-MANAGER.jpg)
Coach Carsley could signal end of the England manager
Lee Carsley has said he is more of a head coach than a manager and that the latter could become extinct in international football.
![Team GB's triumph goes far beyond the medal table tally](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1826441/uEQSojnkm1725864932267/TEAM-GBS-TRIUMPH-GOES-FAR-BEYOND-THE-MEDAL-TABLE-TALLY.jpg)
Team GB's triumph goes far beyond the medal table tally
In terms of weather, they've had the worst summer in nearly 140 years here in Paris, which is perhaps why Britain's Paralympians felt so at home.
![VENETIAN CLASS](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1826441/1Q85mLE9h1725864619350/VENETIAN-CLASS.jpg)
VENETIAN CLASS
Venice festivalgoers were treated to a first look at the actors and films in contention for Oscars, writes Geoffrey Macnab
![THREE'S COMPANY](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1826441/E3cl2bCKI1725864394368/THREES-COMPANY.jpg)
THREE'S COMPANY
Oliver Keens didn't set out to have threesomes this summer - from heterosexual couples 'seeking a third' to sex-positive 'MMF friendly' individuals, the opportunities found him...
![How William can live up to his father's wish for him to champion the marginalised](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1826441/vwqh5CZ391725864283705/HOW-WILLIAM-CAN-LIVE-UP-TO-HIS-FATHERS-WISH-FOR-HIM-TO-CHAMPION-THE-MARGINALISED.jpg)
How William can live up to his father's wish for him to champion the marginalised
Yesterday marked the second anniversary of Elizabeth II's death and the King's accession to the throne. In his first televised address to the nation as Charles III, he thanked his “darling Mama” for her love and devotion, quoted Shakespeare – “May flights of Angels sing thee to thy rest” – and assumed her mantle of a lifelong commitment to public service.
![Namibia to slaughter over 700 wild animals for meat](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1826441/P_z_nBcDk1725864075611/NAMIBIA-TO-SLAUGHTER-OVER-700-WILD-ANIMALS-FOR-MEAT.jpg)
Namibia to slaughter over 700 wild animals for meat
Plans by the Namibian government to kill 83 elephants and 640 other wild animals to feed the meat to people have sparked a fierce international row. The British high commissioner to the country is among those backing the idea but ecologists are warning of a colossal disaster” for Africa’s wildlife.
![Man accused of filming rape on Indian street is arrested](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1826441/KEbCrf8891725864012171/MAN-ACCUSED-OF-FILMING-RAPE-ON-INDIAN-STREET-IS-ARRESTED.jpg)
Man accused of filming rape on Indian street is arrested
Police in India arrested a man who allegedly filmed and shared a video of the rape of a woman on a street in a case that has sparked a public outcry.
![Pope hosts mass in remote Papua New Guinea town](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1826441/LHvS6rGOA1725862862478/POPE-HOSTS-MASS-IN-REMOTE-PAPUA-NEW-GUINEA-TOWN.jpg)
Pope hosts mass in remote Papua New Guinea town
Pontiff calls for end to tribal violence in nearby communities