This is a sort of 'director's cut' of the notorious movie set in Ancient Rome, with the much-publicised porno scenes removed. It was produced by Bob Guccione, publisher of Playboy rival Penthouse - and almost everybody involved turned their back on the project when it was released. Scriptwriter Gore Vidal distanced himself from it, and director Tinto Brass wanted his name removed from the credits. Malcolm McDowell, as Caligula, the mad Roman emperor, is rather monotonous, while Peter O'Toole, as Tiberius, hams it up as only he can on a bad day. John Gielgud is the only star who maintains his dignity. With its worst excesses removed, this is still a disappointingly poor film, though. It may tempt the curious, but it won't hold them.

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